Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Dearing set to become first black woman to represent Team GB in Olympic swimming

Dearing set to become first black woman to represent Team GB in Olympic swimming

ALICE DEARING has sealed her place at Tokyo Games starting next month and will be the first black woman to represent Great Britain in an Olympic swimming event.

The 24-year-old finished fourth in Saturday's qualifying event in Setubal, Portugal. She was competing in a 10 kilometre marathon race where the top nine finishers earned a place at the Games.


There was one spot to grab and for which she was competing with fellow British swimmer Danielle Huskisson, who finished 13th in the field of 47.

Dearing, a world junior champion in 2016, told British Swimming after the event: "I'm really excited, relieved, grateful, it's a huge mix of emotions.

"I can't quite believe it, I've been daydreaming about this day for the past year and a half, ever since the first lockdown came in.

"So to have the day arrive, have everything fall into place, thankfully, have such a great team around supporting me, to get in, swim to my potential and qualify the Olympic Games place is just a bit surreal right now, I can't quite process it. It'll probably take me quite a while to sleep tonight!

"I'm just so grateful to everybody who has helped me along the way, everyone who has believed me, encouraged me.

"When I was younger, I never really thought about being an Olympian - I thought, 'oh wow, it would be so cool', but I knew how much hard work went into it and honestly didn't think I was cut out for it.

"So I'm really proud to have proved myself wrong, in a way, and to achieve beyond my wildest dreams.

"I was happy to make nationals, I was happy to make regionals, I was happy to make counties - and to be put up for selection for the Olympics, it's an incredible achievement and I'm so relieved and grateful and happy for everything I've invested."

Moreover, to promote inclusivity and diversity in the sport, she has co-founded the Black Swimming Association.

More For You

Wadhera-IPL-Getty

Nehal Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis of Punjab Kings celebrate their team's win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18, 2025, in Bengaluru. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Punjab beat Bengaluru by five wickets in rain-shortened IPL game

PUNJAB KINGS defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by five wickets in a rain-affected IPL match on Friday.

The game, reduced to 14 overs per side, saw Punjab restrict Bengaluru to 95-9 before chasing down the target with 11 balls remaining.

Keep ReadingShow less
“Cricketers sent me nude photos”: Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar’s child, opens up on gender transition

Anaya also highlighted the issues of toxic masculinity and insecurity within the cricketing environment

Instagram/ anayabangar

“Cricketers sent me nude photos”: Anaya Bangar, Sanjay Bangar’s child, opens up on gender transition

Anaya Bangar, the child of former India cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has shared her journey of gender transition, including hormone replacement therapy and gender reaffirming surgery. Previously known as Aryan, Anaya is currently based in Manchester, United Kingdom, and has spoken openly about the challenges she has faced, both personally and professionally, since coming out.

Anaya, an athlete and left-handed batter, once followed in her father’s footsteps by playing age-group cricket. She has represented clubs such as the Islam Gymkhana in India and the Hinckley Cricket Club in Leicestershire. However, she revealed that pursuing a cricket career after her gender reaffirming surgery has come with several hurdles.

Keep ReadingShow less
Will-Jacks-Getty

England all-rounder Will Jacks played a key role, picking up two wickets to help restrict Hyderabad to 162 for five and then scoring 36 off 26 balls during the chase. (Photo: Getty Images)

Will Jacks leads Mumbai to four-wicket win over Hyderabad in IPL

MUMBAI INDIANS registered a four-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League on Thursday, with contributions from both their batters and bowlers.

England all-rounder Will Jacks played a key role, picking up two wickets to help restrict Hyderabad to 162 for five and then scoring 36 off 26 balls during the chase.

Keep ReadingShow less
starc-ipl-getty

Mitchell Starc was named player of the match. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starc shines in Super Over as Delhi go top of IPL table

DELHI CAPITALS defeated Rajasthan Royals in a Super Over on Wednesday, the first of the IPL 2025 season, after both teams finished their 20 overs on 188 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

Mitchell Starc, who had earlier helped restrict Rajasthan to 188-4 while defending Delhi's 188-5, returned to bowl the Super Over and kept things tight once again.

Keep ReadingShow less
ICC funding gives Afghan women cricketers new hope

FILE PHOTO: Afghanistan Women's XI players pose for a team photo during the cricket match between Afghanistan Women's XI and Cricket Without Borders XI at Junction Oval in Melbourne on January 30, 2025. (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)

ICC funding gives Afghan women cricketers new hope

A FUNDING pledge from the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Afghanistan's exiled women cricketers hope of recognition and the chance to play on the international stage in defiance of the Taliban.

The game's global governing body said last Sunday (13) it would set up a dedicated fund to support the Afghan women, most of whom have resettled in Australia after fleeing Afghanistan when the Taliban swept to power in 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less