Olympics: Gymnast Sent Home After Drunken Spree

Dutch gymnast Yuri Van Gelder, dubbed the ‘Lord of the Rings’, returned home in disgrace Tuesday after being kicked off his country’s Olympics team for a night out drinking in Rio.

The 2005 world men’s rings champion had sealed a place in Rio in the men’s rings finals, after coming seventh in Saturday’s qualifiers.

But flouting strict rules imposed on the Dutch team he then went out to celebrate in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, failing to return until the early hours of Sunday.

“This has been a very difficult decision for us,” Dutch team ambassador Maurits Hendriks said.

“I think this is really terrible for Yuri, but such behaviour is unacceptable. It does not belong in the Olympics or any kind of sporting competition.”

The Dutch Olympics team said Van Gelder, 33, who had finally realised his dream to compete in his first Olympics, had admitted “consuming alcohol” outside the Olympic village and had been “withdrawn from the competition.”

Hendriks added the team leadership “had been left with no choice” but to bar Van Gelder from continuing in the Games.

It’s not the first time that Van Gelder has landed himself in hot water.

In 2009 he tested positive for cocaine use during the Dutch championships and was suspended for a year. He was treated for addiction in France.

The gymnast’s manager Orlando van den Bosch told the Dutch news agency ANP that Van Gelder had been “dealt a heavy blow” as he had high hopes of winning a medal.

His place in next Monday’s rings final will go to France’s Danny Pinheiro Rodrigues, the second replacement athlete added to the final. After France’s Samir Ait Said broke his leg in qualifications, Ukraine’s Igor Radivilov took his place.

“I Never Lost Faith, Always Kept Fighting And Never Ever Gave Up ! So Proud To Be Here #teamnl #rio2016,” Van Gelder had tweeted on his arrival in Rio.

The Dutch men have another medal hope in Rio despite failing to qualify for Monday’s team final, with Olympic champion Epke Zonderland, known as “the flying Dutchman”, defending his horizontal bar title.

Bart Deurloo qualified for Wednesday’s all-around final.

It was the second setback for the Dutch Olympics squad, after Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten landed in intensive care after a horrific crash on Sunday.

She was leading the 137km women’s road race when she slipped on a dangerous descent just 10km from the finish and tumbled head first over her handlebars suffering three cracked vertebrae.

Dutch team-mate Anna van der Breggen went on to win the race — the first and so far only gold for The Netherlands.

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Why Wenger is finding it “very difficult” to Sign quality players

Arsene Wenger has admitted he is finding it “very difficult” to find quality players in the transfer market – but hasn’t given up hope of doing so.

Speaking to Sky Sports reporter, the Gunners manager said; “We want to spend the money when we have it.”

“What is very difficult today is to find the quality of the players who are available and if you look well despite all the money that is available in England there is very little movement since the start of the transfer market.

“We are in the transfer market and on one side we are focused and concentrated on the players we have to get them in a fantastic shape. On the other hand, of course we are looking outside to strengthen.”

Arsenal has signed just two players in this year’s transfer window; Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach for £30m and 21-year-old striker,  Takuma Asano.

Fans have grown increasingly impatient with Wenger as they believe a genuine title challenge requires the Arsenal squad to be strengthened even further.

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Claudio Ranieri Signs New Four Year Contract With Leicester

Leicester City head coach, Claudio Ranieri has signed a new four-year contract with the 2015/2016 Premier league champions.

The 64-year-old Italian was the brains behind Leicester’s shock Premier League win last season, with a string of impressive performances from the foxes with bargain players. The Foxes will be challenging for the top flight again this season and having been able to hold on to striker, Jamie Vardy, they will be hopeful of their chances.

It remains to be seen if they can keep hold of Riyad Mahrez who is seen as key if they’re to mount a successful title defense.

The club said in a statement: “Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce that its first-team manager, Claudio Ranieri, has signed a new contract with the Premier League champions.”

Ranieri who will now stay at the club until 2020 said, “From the moment I talked to the owners about their vision for Leicester. I knew it was something I wanted to be part of for a long time,”

“The energy that exists at this club – from the owners and the staff, to the players and supporters – is something very special. I am very happy and proud that I will be part of it for years to come.


“Last season, that spirit and our hard work helped us to achieve something magical. If we can continue to work hard, maintain our passion and continue to fight with all our hearts, I am sure we can continue to be successful together.”

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Mourinho to axe 4 first team stars after completing Pogba’s world record transfer

After completing the signing of Paul Pogba – Jose Mourinho is ready to axe FOUR first-team stars before the transfer window closes, says the Daily Telegraph.

The British newspaper say, the Portuguese is willing to let Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Juan Mata find new clubs.

Schweinsteiger has already been cut from the first team while Mata was substituted on and then off again in United’s Community Shield victory over Leicester.

The Portuguese is reportedly willing to keep Mata, Rojo and Blind if he has to, but wants Schweinsteiger to leave in this window.

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Pep Guardiola Puts 3 Man City Stars Up For Sale

Reports from Manchester indicate Pep Guardiola is eager to sell the trio of Samir Nasri, Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony.

An insight into the manager’s plan was revealed yesterday when the players were left out of City’s squad for next week’s Champions League clash against Steaua Bucharest.

Guardiola did not include them among the 21 players registered with UEFA, but new signing John Stones did make the cut, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Nasri, Mangala and Bony are all expected to leave the Etihad Stadium before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

Injured duo Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan have also been left out of the play-off squad, but can be added to it ahead of the group stages should City progress.

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Woman Proposes To Her Olympian Girlfriend At Rio 2016

Isadora Cerullo, a member of the Brazilian women’s team which finished ninth place in the first-ever Olympic rugby sevens event might not have a won a medal but received a far greater gift.

After the match between New Zealand and Australia, Cerullo’s longtime girlfriend, 28-year-old Marjorie Enya took the pitch and popped the big question!

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Arsenal Turn Their Attention From Riyad Mahrez To This Premier League Attacker

Reports indicate Arsene Wenger has finally given up on his pursuit of Riyad Mahrez after Leicester turned down a £30million bid for their attacking player.
Arsenal will now try and land Manchester City outcast Wilfried Bony, according to the Daily Star.

The Ivorian is out-of-favour with new manager Pep Guardiola and could be the man that answers Arsene Wenger’s call for new striking power.

It is believed that Arsenal could launch a bid totalling as much as £30million for the 27-year-old.

Bony is reportedly considered by Gunners chiefs as the best possible option, given that he is one of only a few strikers available right now.

Meanwhile, defender Gabriel Paulista is facing up to two months out with an ankle ligament injury which he sustained in last Sunday’s pre-season game against Manchester City.

Wenger is determined to land a new defender by Friday with the Gunners going into their season opener against Liverpool on Sunday without a senior centre-half.

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Michael Phelps Wins His 21st Olympic Gold Medal!

Michael Phelps might very well go down as the greatest Olympian of all time! I do not envy anyone who aims to beat his record as the American swimmer won his 21st Olympic gold medal on Monday night.

It was his second gold medal of Tuesday night as the US team won the men’s 4×200 metres Olympic freestyle relay in what is his fifth Olympic Games.

As it stands, only three countries have more gold medals than Phelps in the history of the Olympics! If that’s not an impressive feat, I don’t know what is!

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Everton Sign Swansea Captain Ashley Williams

Everton are splashing the cash following their big-money sale of 23-year-old center back, John Stones!

Remember the Toffees are already finalizing a deal for Yannick Bolasie? Well, they’ve wasted no time in signing a replacement for Stones.

Koeman’s side have signed Swansea captain, Ashley Williams on a three-year deal in for a reported £9m. It’s a beautiful piece of business, replacing an underperforming Stones with the more experienced Swansea captain!

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Health Tips That Will Help You Deal With Grief

All humans have had to grieve at one point in our lives. Losing a job, a property, an opportunity, a pet, and above all a loved one can cause us to grieve. At that point, we feel pain, sadness and sometimes anger. 

A lot of people today are dealing or coping with grieve, that's why I decided to write about useful health tips for grief.

You see, grieving is a natural thing, we all have had to pass through difficult circumstances. Before I delve into the health tips that'll help you cope with grief, I will like for you to understand what grief is and some other important points.

Grief

Grief is the natural emotional pain that arises from misfortune or personal loss, when something or someone you love is taken away. Naturally, the more important the loss is, the more intense the grief will be.
Now here are some important points to note.

• Don't ignore the pain, to effectively deal with grief you must face it, and overcome it.

• Everybody grieves differently, there are mental differences. For example, someone that doesn't cry in the face of loss can't be said  to be feeling less sad.

• Recovering from grief takes time, but doesn't have a time frame.

Please keep these points in mind as we then consider these beneficial health tips.

Health Tips For Grief

1. Associate with friends and family.
One of the best things to do while grieving is to turn to your relatives, colleagues and buddies for support. We all need each other, especially when we are undergoing trials and difficulties.

2. Avoid drugs and alcohol
Believe me, abusing drugs and alcohol won't ever help you to cope with the pain or depression you are feeling. Although it might provide temporary relief, it will quickly disappear and later cause you harm.

3. Express your feelings through writing
Writing down our thoughts can prove to be essential when dealing with painful situations. Write down how you feel now and how you would want to feel. It helps you to clear your mind.

4. Cling to your faith
If you belong to a religious denomination, you should endeavor to draw comfort from your faith. For example reading the Bible or Koran, praying and meditating. You should also talk to your religious leaders for help.

5. Remember to eat healthy
When someone is aggrieved, the person finds it difficult to eat properly. You can't tell if you are full or frequently lose appetite. Please, eat mindfully because you could cause your body much harm, when you don't eat properly.

6. Participate in support groups
Sharing your sorrow with others who have experienced similar losses can help you cope and successfully recover from grief.

ALSO READ: 10 Things That Will Make You Happy Right Now

7. Exercise
Exercise is what the body always needs, because it helps you deal with stress. Depression also affects you physically, and exercising habitually with help you checkmate that.

8. Practice meditation
Meditation helps in relieving the mind from stress. It will be very handy when grieving. Find a quiet place to meditate and clear your head.

9. Talk to a medical professional
It is also very advisable to let out your heart to a psychologist, counselor or mental health professional for medical help. They can help you deal with the stages of grief.

Life is tough, we are bound to face painful situations once in a while. In all these situations, remember to keep being tough, happy and above all healthy!

Thanks for taking time to read.

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