SAN FRANCISCO — Retirement will have to wait a little while longer for Matthew Stafford. After being named NFL MVP for the first time in his 17-year NFL career, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback announced on the NFL Honors stage that he will be back for the 2026 season. Before this announcement on Thursday night, Stafford’s playing future had been up in the air ever since the Rams’ season ended in the NFC Championship.
“I’ll see you guys next year,” Stafford said with the MVP award in hand and four daughters alongside him.
“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about,” Stafford told reporters after receiving the award. “Talking with my family about even before the season ended, whether or not they wanted me to continue to play and whether or not it felt like I wanted to keep playing. I ended the season on a healthy note and was a part of a great team. I had a bunch of teammates in the crowd, coaches in the crowd, and it just felt like the right thing to do at the right moment.
“It’s a family decision. I have my girls with me, so it just felt right. Happy to be coming back.”
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Stafford, 37, just completed a prolific 2025 season that found him voted as a first-team All-Pro along with this MVP honor. His 46 passing touchdowns were a franchise record and a career high for the former No. 1 overall pick in 2009. He was also just the fourth quarterback all time with at least 45 passing touchdowns and under 10 interceptions on the year.
“This game takes a lot out of you,” Stafford said when asked why he considered retirement after a season where he played at such an elite level. “You saw the people, the four little girls that were standing on stage with me, and I want to be as big a part of their life as I possibly can be. That’s really important to me, and if they weren’t supportive of me playing, I wouldn’t do it.
“I’m lucky to have little girls that want their dad to do what he loves to do. They love cheering me on and all my teammates. It’s a special thing to have that, but it’s not something I’m willing to lose over a game that I love to play there’s no question about it but if they weren’t behind me in that decision, I don’t care how good I played that year or the year before or whatever it is, you know, we’d have some real talks.”
Stafford is also just the 15th quarterback ever to win MVP and have a Super Bowl on his résumé. Ten of those other 14 players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while three of the ones currently on the outside looking in are simply not eligible, but will get in (Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes).
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With that in mind, Stafford has positioned himself quite nicely to one day be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, but the clock for his eligibility won’t start ticking quite yet.
Australian Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke announced at a news conference Tuesday that another Iranian women’s soccer player and a team staffer have accepted asylum in Australia amid fear of punishment upon returning to Iran after five players accepted asylum on Sunday.
Burke added that almost all the Iranian players and many of the support staff were taken aside, individually, as they passed through Australian Customs at an airport before they boarded their flight back to Iran.
And they were each given the opportunity to accept an asylum offer without Iranian state officials present, but other players or staff accepted the offer to stay.
Iranian players react during their national anthem ahead of a Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Dave Hunt/AAP Image via AP)
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed. Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump later wrote, “I just spoke to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, of Australia, concerning the Iranian National Women’s Soccer Team.
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“He’s on it! Five have already been taken care of, and the rest are on their way. Some, however, feel they must go back because they are worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don’t return. In any event, the Prime Minister is doing a very good job having to do with this rather delicate situation. God bless Australia!”
The team arrived in Australia before Israel and the U.S. launched a joint offensive against Iran Feb. 28. The strikes led to the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iranian players during their national anthem ahead of a Women’s Asian Cup soccer against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.(Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP)
Iranian players refused to sing their national anthem before an opening loss to South Korea March 2, which was viewed by some as an act of resistance dubbed by an Iranian commentator to be the “pinnacle of dishonor.”
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The team didn’t qualify, but the players sang the anthem and saluted before their losses to Australia and the Philippines.
“These women are tremendously popular in Australia, but we realize they are in a terribly difficult situation with the decisions that they’re making,” Burke said. “The opportunity will continue to be there for them to talk to Australian officials if they wish to.”
The Australian Iranian Council launched an online petition urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain.
“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position,” the petition added. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”
Iranian players pose for a team photo ahead of a Women’s Asian Cup soccer match against the Philippines in Robina, Australia, Sunday, March 8, 2026.(Dave Hunt/AAPImage via AP, File)
Iran head coach Marziyeh Jafari was quoted as saying on Australia’s national news agency that the team wants “to come back to Iran as soon as we can.”
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Newcastle vs Barcelona LIVE Streaming, UEFA Champions League: Barcelona take on Newcastle United in the first-leg of a highly-anticipated UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. It is the second time that the Blaugrana will take on the English side in the competition, having earlier defeated them 2-1 in the group stage. The Spanish giants enter the game in good form, having won their last four matches. Hansi Flick’s side will be banking on the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri to shine, but also have a long injury list, headlined by the absences of Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde. On the other hand, Eddie Howe’s Newcastle will have to manage without star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, but will hope for an inspired showing from forwards Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade.
Newcastle United vs FC Barcelona LIVE Streaming, UEFA Champions League Round Of 16 LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How to Watch
When will the Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match take place?
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The Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match will take place on Wednesday, March 11 (IST).
Where will the Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match be held?
The Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match will be held at St. James’ Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
What time will the Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match start?
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The Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match will start at 1:30 AM IST.
Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match?
The Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match will be televised live on the Sony Sports network.
Where to follow the live streaming of the Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match?
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The Newcastle vs Barcelona, Champions League Round of 16 first-leg match will be live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website.
(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)
Gonzaga has won 22 West Coast Conference Tournament championships over the years, including 17 of the past 23 titles. It’s been an incredible run.
But it’s coming to a close.
That is, of course, because the Zags are moving to the remade Pac-12 after this season, meaning their appearance in Tuesday night’s championship game of the WCC Tournament will be their last. Tipoff is scheduled for 9 ET. The opponent is Santa Clara.
Santa Clara?
Yes, the opponent is Santa Clara, which upset Saint Mary’s 76-71 in Monday’s WCC Tournament semifinal to move to 26-5 on the season and, more importantly, into the projected bracket at CBS Sports. The Broncos are now one of the “last four in” the tournament field, according to CBS Sports Bracketology. That suggests Santa Clara’s at-large hopes will be alive but very much up in the air if the Broncos lose to the Zags. If they win, though, they’ll be guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.
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That’s great stuff from Broncos coach Herb Sendek.
Saint Mary’s losing to Santa Clara opened a spot in Tuesday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings that I opted to fill with BYU. The Cougars are coming off of Saturday’s 82-76 win over Texas Tech at the Marriott Center. They’ll return to the court Tuesday to play Kansas State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, where they’re listed as 10.5-point favorites. If they win, they’ll play West Virginia on Wednesday.
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; General view down the line of scrimmage as Green Bay Packers center Elgton Jenkins (74) prepares to snap the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Gone is Ryan Kelly, the rugged veteran who occupied for the C1 spot for a single season (with no shortage of injury turmoil). Minnesota could opt for one of Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, or Zeke Correll. None can match Kelly, though.
Would anything have been different by adding Elgton Jenkins?
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The large lad has been an excellent player for the Packers for a long time. He’s one of the few who can match — or surpass — Brandel’s versatility. Bringing him to the Twin Cities to lock down the center spot had merit until it evaporated.
“The #Browns are expected to sign former #Packers Pro Bowl C Elgton Jenkins,” Rapoport begins, “per me and @TomPelissero. He can play guard or center for Cleveland. It’s a 2-year, $24M deal with $20M guaranteed.” At least in a general sense, the Jenkins deal mirrors Kelly’s insofar as it involves a veteran interior lineman playing on a two-year deal and for a similar financial commitment (Kelly was sitting at $20 million).
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Mark Hoffman-Imagn Images
In Mr. Jenkins, the Browns are getting a good one. Not as well-known as many of the NFL’s top talents, but someone who has been rock solid for a little while. His résumé shows a pair of trips to the Pro Bowl.
Consider what he has done across his career in terms of snap counts across the o-line positions:
LT: 524 Snaps
LG: 4,161 Snaps
C: 906 Snaps
RG: 2 Snaps
RT: 374 Snaps
Cleveland would be wise to play to Jenkins’ strengths, allowing him to settle into where’s he’s comfortable. Seldom, though, are the Cleveland Browns a wise football team. For his part, Elgton Jenkins has proven to be quite selfless and team first in his approach, rightly commanding a pile of respect.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Around Minnesota, there’s ongoing concern about what’s going to take place at quarterback, especially with the Geno Smith surprise. Whoever is passing the ball is going to have a better time if the o-line is solid.
Starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw has had his deal restructured. He’s not going anywhere. Left guard Donovan Jackson is coming off an impressive rookie season; right guard Will Fries will want to bounce back from a modest effort in 2025. Meanwhile, Brian O’Neill is still doing his thing. The only factor that appears likely to get adjusted is his deal, which expires after the season. Look for an extension.
The opening at center is where things get uncertain.
At the very least, the Vikings can proceed with the understanding that the floor is known. The 2025 season offered a ton of tape on what Jurgens and Brandel can do at center. Did either show enough to fully settle the debate? Or, perhaps, did the coaching staff see the exact opposite, red flags that need to get addressed?
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Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) is pressured by the Green Bay Packers defense during the second half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Elgton Jenkins, 30, comes in at 6’5″ and 311 pounds. The Packers gained cap space by moving on but aren’t as good as they were with him on the roster.
Welcome to our weekly PGA Tour gambling-tips column, featuring picks from GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator, Brady Kannon. A seasoned golf bettor and commentator, Kannon is a host and regular guest on SportsGrid, a syndicated audio network devoted to sports and sports betting, and is a golf betting analyst for CBS Sportsline. You can follow Brady on Twitter at @LasVegasGolfer, and you can read his picks below for the 2026 Players Championship, which gets underway Thursday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s granddaddy event, is here. And what a glorious one it is. It’s not a major championship, and I hope it never becomes one despite the recent push for such. TPC Sawgrass is a remarkable golf course, without a doubt one of the finest in the world and is world-class designer Pete Dye’s masterpiece. Can we just leave some things in sports alone? The Players is affectionately known as “the fifth major” and I would just love to keep it that way — please. The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and Open Championship are different. The Players is brilliant just the way it is, and the best of the rest.
Okay, off the soap box and on to the handicap. TPC Sawgrass is indeed a masterful design. Dye was brought in to PGA Tour headquarters in Ponta Vedra Beach, Fla., to build exactly this, a stadium-like showcase venue that tests every fiber of one’s game. No two holes run in the same direction. Outside of the four par 3s, half of the holes favor a draw and the other half cater to a fade. Water comes into play on all but one of the 18 holes. It is an intense examination of precision, nerve, and stamina. The finishing stretch, holes 16, 17, and 18, are arguably the finest closing holes in the game, with 17 being the globally recognizable island green.
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The golf course is a par 72 that measures close to 7,400 yards. The fairways are relatively narrow, bordered by thick rough, and the Bermudagrass greens are smaller than average size. The weather forecast is calling for temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s all week with winds in the range of 10-20 mph.
The results over the years at The Players are wild. Just about everyone that has done well here has also missed multiple cuts. We’ve had marquee winners like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy. We’ve also seen Stephen Ames, Jerry Kelly, Ian Poulter, Fred Funk, and Tim Clark seemingly play well here at TPC Sawgrass every time. Predicting the winner at The Players feels to me like one of the bigger challenges on the entire Tour calendar but that is not to say that the formula around here is a mixed bag. Rather, it is pretty straightforward as to what needs to be done around this track. Ball-striking is A, No. 1. Iron play, approach shots — if the ball-striking is not spot on, it is not going to be your week. Off the tee, accuracy is preferred over distance, and finally, Scrambling. Getting oneself out of trouble needs to be executed successfully time and time again.
The correlations are strong and some are just simply other Pete Dye designs we see regularly on Tour, like TPC River Highlands (Travelers Championship), and Harbour Town (RBC Heritage). Sedgefield Country Club (Wyndham Championship) has an incredible amount of crossover success with TPC Sawgrass. I also looked at Innisbrook (Valspar Championship), Waialae Country Club (Sony Open), and I did not rule out success at the American Express in La Quinta, Calif., either as two of the four rounds there are played at Dye’s Stadium Course at PGA West.
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Russell Henley (30-1)
Henley was quite impressive in his title defense last week at Bay Hill, finishing sixth. He ranked 13th in the field for SG: Off the Tee and was No. 1 in Scrambling. His record at the correlated courses is tremendous, with top 10 and top-20 finishes up and down the board. He’s been runner-up at TPC River Highlands and at Sedgefield, and he’s won the Sony Open. Henley finished eighth at the American Express earlier this season. He does everything very well, he is one of the most accurate off the tee in the game, and in 2026 the putter is firing too, ranking 24th on Tour in SG: Putting.
Rickie Fowler (50-1)
Yes, I’m going to go there. It has been a while but it sure would be something to see Fowler add a second Players Championship to his resume and with the way he’s going lately, it’s enough for me to risk a few shekels on him doing it again. Fowler is yet to miss a cut all season and was ninth last week in Orlando, where he ranked ninth for SG: Off the Tee, was second in Scrambling, eighth in Greens in Regulation, and was fifth in Driving Accuracy. Like Henley, everything is working well along with the putter. After last week’s top-10 finish at Bay Hill, Fowler has vaulted to No. 60 in the OWGR. He has three more events to either win or crack the top 50 in order to qualify for the Masters. I’m betting the push continues.
Maverick McNealy (65-1)
McNealy missed a great deal of the 2023 season with injury but since then, we have seen him become one of the best players in the world, currently 25th in the OWGR. He’s been as high as ninth here at Sawgrass and has twice finished top 5 at Harbour Town. McNealy was 10th earlier this season at Torrey Pines and has finished 13th twice, including last week at Bay Hill. He ranks 53rd on Tour for SG: Approach, 30th in SG: Off the Tee, is 36th in Scrambling, and 40th in Par 4 Scoring.
Shane Lowry at the 2026 Genesis Invitational.
Getty Images
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Shane Lowry (70-1)
The Irishman missed the cut last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and I’m not all that surprised with the way it went down the week before for Lowry at the Cognizant Classic. But I expect him to be ready to bounce back this week at a place he’s finished as high as eighth and top 20 another four times. He’s been top 10 at all of the correlated courses and has twice finished third at the RBC Heritage. Lowry has been playing fantastic golf so far this season and different from last year, the putter has also found its groove in 2026, ranking 35th on Tour for SG: Putting. I was hoping to get 50-1 this week on Lowry, so 70 feels like an excellent bargain.
Adam Scott (80-1)
The 45-year old Australian was another Tour veteran that came to mind for me this week, much like Fowler. Both of these former Players champions have been playing exceptional golf so far in 2026. Scott was fifth in the field last week at Bay Hill for Driving Distance. Amazing that this guy can still really bang it. You recall, he was right there in the mix for the U.S. Open last year at Oakmont. In addition to his win at TPC Sawgrass, Scott has finished top 10 another three times and top 20 six times. He’s also finished runner-up and seventh before at the Wyndham Championship. Four weeks ago, Scott was fourth at Riviera. Last week he was 11th at Arnie’s place, where he ranked 12th in the field for both SG: Approach and Scrambling. Scott ranks 26th on Tour in Ball Striking.
Sahith Theegala (92-1)
It has been a minute since the star from Pepperdine University has been a factor on the PGA Tour but it appears now that he is back. Theegala has three top-10 finishes already this season, including eighth at the American Express and sixth last week at Bay Hill, where he ranked eighth for SG: Approach and 10th in Scrambling. He’s been as high as ninth here at the Players and has been runner-up at both Harbour Town and TPC River Highlands. Off the tee has been a bit of a shaky area for Theegala early this season but he gained over a half stroke on the field last week. It that continues this week, he will be in the mix again.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout (100-1)
To the triple-digits we have arrived. Bezuidenhout finished 13th here at Sawgrass in back-to-back visits in 2023 and 2024. He was eighth last week in Puerto Rico where he ranked 12th in the field for Driving Accuracy and was fourth for Greens in Regulation. Bezuidenhout ranks 56th on Tour this season for SG: Approach, 21st for SG: Putting, is 33rd for Driving Accuracy, and is 45th in Scrambling. He’s been top 10 before at the Valspar Championship and was runner-up at the American Express in 2024.
DOHA, QATAR FEBRUARY 12:
Iga Swiatek of Poland is seen during a press conference following her loss to Maria Sakkari of Greece in the quarterfinal on Day Five of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on February 12, 2026 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has praised her next opponent, Karolina Muchova, describing her as the “Roger Federer of women’s tennis” ahead of their fourth round clash at the BNP Paribas Open.
Swiatek made the comment during her press conference after defeating Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last 16 in Indian Wells. Muchova also advanced comfortably after beating Antonia Ruzic 6-0, 6-3.
Although Swiatek leads their head-to-head 4-1, the Polish star expects another tough match.
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“She’s an amazing player, and most of the times we played really tight matches,” Swiatek said. “It’s going to be tough, and I’m ready for the battle.”
Swiatek went further in her praise, highlighting Muchova’s intelligence and style on the court.
“Honestly, I love playing against her. I also love watching Karolina. It’s nice to see someone who plays so smart and so smooth. She’s like women’s Roger Federer.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot calls for improvement from both his players and the officials, after the Reds 1-0 first leg defeat to Galatasary in Istanbul.
Russian tennis player Alana Tuayeva has been banned from professional tennis for three years and nine months after admitting to match-fixing offences.
The sanction was confirmed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which announced that Tuayeva accepted the punishment along with a £22,000 fine, part of which has been suspended.
According to the ITIA, the 26-year-old admitted to fixing two of her own matches on the ITF World Tennis Tour in 2023 and 2024. By accepting the charges, Tuayeva also waived her right to a hearing before an independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer.
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Tuayeva, whose highest singles ranking was No. 1282 in the world, has already been under provisional suspension since December 19, 2025. That period will count toward her ban, meaning she will be eligible to return on September 18, 2029, provided any outstanding fines are paid.
While serving the suspension, Tuayeva is prohibited from competing in, coaching at, or attending any event sanctioned by major tennis bodies, including the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and the International Tennis Federation.
The case forms part of ongoing efforts by tennis authorities to combat corruption and protect the integrity of the sport at all levels.
Tottenham replaced goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in just the 17th minute of their Champions League last-16 tie at Atletico Madrid after conceding three goals inside the opening quarter of an hour.
The Czech Republic stopper, 22, endured a nightmare start and interim boss Igor Tudor quickly replaced him with Guglielmo Vicario.
Italian Vicario has started the majority of Tottenham‘s games this season but was dropped for Tuesday’s first-leg tie in Madrid after being criticised for poor performances.
However, Vicario also conceded five minutes after coming on as Atletico stormed into a 4-0 lead by the 22nd minute, before Pedro Porro reduced the deficit by half-time.
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Tottenham signed Kinsky from Slavia Prague in a deal worth about £12.5m in January 2025.
His first error – a slip – led to Marcos Llorente making it 1-0 in the sixth minute, before Antoine Griezmann added a second eight minutes later.
Kinsky – who last started in October for the second of two Carabao Cup games this season – was also at fault for Atletico’s third goal, gifting the ball straight to Julian Alvarez to finish easily in the 15th minute.
The keeper had his head in his hands after that horror show and was taken off less than two minutes later, going straight down the tunnel.
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BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty, who was at the match, said: “I’ve watched a lot of football but not sure I’ve ever witnessed anything quite like this.
“Not just those mistakes, but Igor Tudor’s decision to take Antonin Kinsky off.
“What a horrible night for the young keeper. The Atleti fans actually gave him sympathetic applause but not sure how he can be consoled after that.”
BBC Sport’s Spanish football reporter Elizabeth Conway, also at the match, added: “Kevin Danso, Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro went straight over to Antonin Kinsky as he left the pitch to show their support.
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“It was a disastrous 17 minutes for the 22-year-old Czech.”
After training with ChatGPT over the last six months, Ukrainian biathlete Maksym Murashkovskyi won a silver medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Paralympic Games.
Murashkovskyi, 25, said he used the AI chatbot in a variety of ways throughout his training.
“For the past six months, I have been training with ChatGPT,” Murashkovskyi said, according to The Athletic. “It was not only tactics. It was half of my training plan, motivation, etcetera. So it was a huge volume of all of my training.
Silver medalist Maksym Murashkovskyi of Team Ukraine and guide Vitaliy Trush celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Para Biathlon Men’s Individual Visually Impaired on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 8, 2026.(Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
“I used it as a psychologist, coach and sometimes, as a doctor.”
Murashkovskyi won a few medals at the Para Biathlon World Cup in January and gave credit to ChatGPT for his success.
“I also won a few medals there, and even a gold. So I can give great credit to ChatGPT,” he said. “I believe in it, it is a revolutionary technology.”
Gold medalist Hesong Dang of Team People’s Republic of China and guide Hongda Lu, silver medalist Maksym Murashkovskyi of Team Ukraine and guide Vitaliy Trush, and bronze medalist Dmytro Suiarko of Team Ukraine and guide Oleksandr Nikonovych pose for a photo on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Para Biathlon Men’s Individual Visually Impaired on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 8, 2026.(Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Murashkovskyi was asked if AI could replace coaches, psychologists and doctors, and he agreed to an extent.
“Not completely for five to 10 years. But part of it, definitely.”
Maksym Murashkovskyi of Team Ukraine approaches the finish line with guide Vitaliy Trush during the Para Biathlon Individual Visually Impaired on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy, on March 8, 2026.(Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Murashkovskyi competed under the NS3 classification, which is applied to athletes with the lowest level of visual impairment. He ran the race alongside his guide skier, Vitaly Trush. For the NS2 and NS3 competitors, guide skiers are optional, but are mandatory for NS1 athletes.
Murashkovskyi finished with a time of 33:41.1 in the men’s individual vision-impaired event on Sunday. He was just over two minutes behind Chinese gold medalist Dang Hesong, and beat his compatriot Dmytro Suiarko for second place.
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