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Leao suspended for Milan-Bologna, will return in time to face … Bologna – Football Italia – May 5 latest

Rafael Leao will be suspended for Milan’s upcoming Serie A match against Bologna in Serie A on Monday night, but will now be fully rested and is expected to return to the starting line-up in time to face Bologna again in the Coppa Italia final next Wednesday.

The Portugal international was left among the substitutes for Milan’s 2-1 win away against Genoa on Monday night, but was introduced earlier than expected after half an hour as Youssouf Fofana was forced off through injury.

Leao then scored the equaliser for Milan with a quarter of an hour left to play, before an own goal by Morten Frendrup handed the Rossoneri all three points.

Leao suspended for Milan-Bologna

Rafael Leao of Milan looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa and AC Milan at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on May 5, 2025 in Genoa, Italy.

Leao picked up a booking with eight minutes of regular time left to play, his fifth of the season in Serie A, which means that he will now be suspended for the upcoming league match against Bologna on Friday night.

He will serve a one-match ban, which means that he will be eligible to feature in Milan’s next game after Bologna, which coincidentally happens to be against the Rossoblu, as the two teams will meet next Wednesday in the Coppa Italia final in what will be a double-header of Milan-Bologna matches.

It was Loftus-Cheek who stood in for Leao in the starting line-up on Monday night, but with concerns over Fofana after his first-half substitution, the Englishman may be required to play in his natural position in central midfield.

That means that there is a decision to make for Sergio Conceicao on the left wing: Pulisic could play there with either Samuel Chukwueze, Yunus Musah or Alex Jimenez on the right.

Riccardo Sottil missed out on Monday night, so is unlikely to be fit enough to start on Friday. He would be the most natural replacement on the left wing.

May 5, 2025

GdS: ‘The new Leao’ – Rafa aims to lead Milan to Europe by continuing away trend

It has been a strange season for Rafael Leao on a personal level, one where a lack of home comforts have been contrasted by strong away performances.

As La Gazzetta dello Sport state, Milan will obvious be playing away from San Siro tonight in Genoa. They will do so again on Wednesday 14th in Rome against Bologna, in the Coppa Italia final, and on Sunday 18th at the same stadium (the Olimpico), this time against Roma.

Leao wants to make a difference and lift the third trophy of his Milan adventure after the 2020-21 Scudetto and the Supercoppa Italiana last January. The Portuguese is approaching the final act of the cup with the desire to be a protagonist, as he was in the title run-in and in the Riyadh final.

Qualifying for next season’s European competitions through league finish remains complicated, so the number ten intends to take the three points tonight above all to show Sergio Conceiçao that he is in shape and raring to go in the Coppa Italia finale.

Yesterday the coach called Leao and his wing-mate Theo Hernandez ‘two of the best in the world’ and the Portuguese does not intend to contradict his coach. Furthermore, he would like to break a drought: the last time he scored at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was almost five years ago.

Vincenzo Italiano head coach of Bologna

In the current Serie A, Leao has only scored away from home (seven times), but he failed to score against Venezia last Sunday, in a match in which he also disappointed in terms of the performance offered.

Tonight in Genoa, in the dress rehearsal for the Coppa Italia final, the motivation will also be greater for Rafa. Since wearing the Rossoneri shirt, he has never had such a high percentage of goals scored away from San Siro: including cups, he is at eight out of eleven.

These numbers bode well, especially in view of the match that is worth the second trophy of the season. The positive trend of away goals makes Leao think positively in view of the match in a stadium, the Ferraris, where Rafa wants to end his fast.

In the Genovese stadium he has scored only once in his career: in July 2020, during the season broken in two by Covid. On that occasion (a 4-1 victory) he was facing Sampdoria, while he has not scored against Genoa in that ground.

la gazzetta dello sport 5 may

Leao also wants double figures for goals in Serie A and he is on seven. Last year he stopped at nine, while in 2022-23 – his best year since he has been in Italy – he reached 15 goals in the league and 16 in all competitions. In 2021-22 he hit 14 in total and 11 in Serie A.

These are numbers that are not easy to replicate this season, but still one more reason to think of a great finale; five games to show a true Leao. Maybe to create a series of wins and above all to lift another trophy and achieve qualification for the Europa League.

Since he feels like a fixed point for the Milan of the future, he absolutely does not want to go a year without playing in any European competitions. It happened in 2019-20, just after arriving at Milanello, and now he has the ambition to perform consistently on the most important stages.

The Champions League would have had a different flavour of course, but playing in the UEL would be better than staying every evening during the week sitting on the sofa at home.

May 5, 2025

State of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 roster: Position battles, depth analysis

Breaking down the 2025 Detroit Lions roster, biggest position battles ahead, and assessing the team’s depth at each position.

With the 2025 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, most of the Detroit Lions’ roster acquisition is done. There will still likely be a signing or two before training camp, but what you see with the Lions 2025 depth chart is pretty much what you’re going to get this season.

So on this week’s episode of the PODcast, we’re taking inventory of the entire roster. Where are the Lions the strongest? Where are they the most vulnerable? Where are they set up for the future? And where do they still need to ensure they find long-term solutions?

Plus, we dip our toe into the spots on the 53-man roster that are still up for grabs. While the core of this team is stronger and deeper than ever, there are still those roles—like TE3, OL10, WR6, S3—that will be won and lost in training camp. And there are even a few starting positions (see: guard) that will be determined in the upcoming months.

Overall, the exercise is to assess each position, but to also underline that this Lions roster is robust. Yes, it’s not perfect—no roster is. But in terms of the amount of blue-chip players, quality depth, and shrinking amount of needs from 1 to 53, the Lions are in a pretty darn good spot.

You can listen to our entire assessment of the Lions roster in the embedded player below or on any of your favorite podcasting platforms.

If you’d rather watch the PODcast—with plenty of in-between segments bonus content, you can check out this week’s show on YouTube or Twitch.

May 5, 2025

Olympic star Quincy Wilson dethroned by Jayden Horton-Mims for U.S. No. 1 in 400-meter

Passing the Torch: Jayden Horton-Mims takes over U.S. No. 1 in 400m, but Quincy Wilson’s star still burns bright.

Apr 5, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tywan Cox of Miami Northwestern (left) defeats Quincy Wilson of Bullis on the anchor of the boys 4 x 400m relay, 3:08.74 to 3:09.97, during the Florida Relays at James G. Pressly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Apr 5, 2025; Gainesville, FL, USA; Tywan Cox of Miami Northwestern (left) defeats Quincy Wilson of Bullis on the anchor of the boys 4 x 400m relay, 3:08.74 to 3:09.97, during the Florida Relays at James G. Pressly Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In a season already filled with historic performances, jaw-dropping splits, and national records falling like dominoes, another headline just etched itself into the ever-evolving narrative of high school sprinting greatness.

On a brisk spring afternoon, Jayden Horton-Mims blazed a 45.24-second 400-meter dash to leap into the No. 1 spot in the United States, overtaking none other than Quincy Wilson — the Olympic gold medalist and teen phenom who has captured the hearts of fans across the country.

While Jayden’s performance deserves every bit of the spotlight, the moment doesn’t come without reflection on what Quincy Wilson has done to elevate the standard. These two titans, each remarkable in their own right, are now linked in the story of one of the most competitive 400m seasons in U.S. high school history.

Jayden Horton-Mims: The Statement Performance

Let’s start with what just happened.

Jayden Horton-Mims, already a rising force in sprint circles, went head-to-head with national sensation Quincy Wilson and came out on top in one of the most electric 400-meter showdowns of the season.

In a race that felt more like a championship final than a regular-season clash, Horton-Mims battled stride for stride with Wilson through the curve before surging ahead down the homestretch. Crossing the line in a personal best of 45.24 seconds, Horton-Mims didn’t just win—he dethroned the reigning U.S. No. 1, resetting the national standard and proving he belongs in the same breath as one of the most celebrated young sprinters in the country.

It wasn’t just the time that it was how it was run. Horton-Mims attacked the curve aggressively, gliding down the backstretch with smooth efficiency and transitioning into the final 150 meters like a seasoned pro. His form never broke, his pace never faltered. By the time he entered the homestretch, the race was about keeping the focus on his technique as Quincy Wilson was right on his tail.

And then came the clock: 45.24.

A new U.S. No. 1. A new chapter for the Nike Elite Athlete and former Imhotep Charter Panther, who is now competing for the Center of Education (NJ). But what makes this moment special isn’t just that Jayden took the No. 1 ranking—it’s who he took it from.

Quincy Wilson: Still the Benchmark

To understand the magnitude of Jayden Horton-Mims’ feat, you have to understand who Quincy Wilson is.

At just 17 years old, Wilson has already amassed a résumé that most athletes dream of. He made Olympic history in Paris as the youngest male athlete to win gold in track and field since 1928. He’s a national champion, a record-holder, and the kind of athlete whose mere presence on a heat sheet causes everyone else to step up.

Earlier this season, Wilson torched a 45.13 indoor 400m—a national record—and followed it up with blistering relay legs that have become the stuff of legend. Just a week ago, he anchored the Bullis School 4x400m to a national record at the Penn Relays, splitting an absurd 43.99 seconds. He’s already established himself as a once-in-a-generation talent.

So when a performance comes along that surpasses Wilson’s, it doesn’t diminish him. It raises the bar for everyone—including himself.

This is not the story of a fallen star. It’s the story of healthy, elite-level competition pushing both athletes to greatness. And it’s a reflection of Wilson’s influence that Jayden Horton-Mims had to reach this level to even join the conversation.

Let’s be clear: Quincy Wilson’s season is far from over. He still holds the fastest indoor mark ever by a high schooler and remains a favorite in every race he enters. The U.S. No. 2 tag doesn’t feel like a step down, but more so fuel for what’s next. If history tells us anything, it’s that Wilson is going to answer.

Iron Sharpens Iron: The Beauty of Competition

There’s a reason why fans love rivalries, and while Horton-Mims and Wilson aren’t in a direct rivalry in the traditional sense, their paths are now intertwined in the purest form of competitive excellence.

Track and field is an individual sport, but no athlete reaches their peak in isolation. Jayden’s surge is a direct response to the standard Wilson has set. And if you’ve watched Quincy Wilson race—even once—you know he thrives on being challenged.

We’re now entering a stretch of the season where these two could very well meet on the track. Whether it’s at New Balance Nationals, Nike Nationals, or even the U.S. U20 Championships, the possibility of Horton-Mims vs. Wilson is tantalizing. Imagine two sub-45 second talents pushing each other down the homestretch with national and possibly world junior records in sight.

And let’s not forget, both athletes are just getting started.

The Legacy of the Lap

In the last decade, we’ve seen the high school 400 meters slowly evolve. Athletes like Tyrese Cooper, Elija Godwin, Justin Robinson, and Sean Burrell set the tone. But it’s Wilson, and now Horton-Mims who are redefining what’s possible at the high school level.

For years, a sub-46 performance was rare air. Now, we’re seeing not just one, but multiple athletes making it look routine as the top 7 in the US are below this mark. And what’s more—these guys aren’t just 400-meter specialists. They’re anchoring relays, doubling in the 200m, and dominating across the board.

Jayden Horton-Mims may have the title of U.S. No. 1—for now—but Quincy Wilson has helped create the platform on which this title holds value.

As the outdoor season heats up, fans should brace for fireworks. Horton-Mims will carry the weight of being the nation’s fastest into every meet. But with that comes the target on his back—and no one is better equipped to aim at that target than Wilson.

Could we see a new national record before the season’s end? Absolutely. Could it come from either of these two? Without a doubt.

What we’re witnessing isn’t just fast times. It’s the emergence of a generation of sprinters who refuse to settle. Jayden’s 45.24 may be the top mark today, but with Wilson in the picture—and others like Da’Mari Thomas, Nyckoles Harbor, and Rodrick Pleasant looming—tomorrow is never guaranteed.

And that’s the beauty of it all.

Final Thoughts

Jayden Horton-Mims’ 45.24 is a milestone—a bold statement in an already blazing season. He deserves every accolade coming his way. It’s a defining moment that will live in highlight reels and social feeds for years to come.

But let’s not forget the foundation laid by Quincy Wilson. The times he’s posted. The records he’s broken. The excitement he’s brought to the sport. Even in a moment where he’s been passed, his legacy is being extended—not erased.

In many ways, this isn’t a baton handoff but a relay in motion.

And the next leg might be the fastest one yet.

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May 5, 2025

8 free agents the Detroit Lions could sign post-draft

A look at eight free agents the Detroit Lions may be interested in after the 2025 NFL Draft.

Halfway through the 2025 NFL Draft, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes reminded the media that the player acquisition phase does not end with the draft.

“We’ll keep looking. I mean, we’ll turn over every stone. There are other avenues in the player acquisition process, so it doesn’t stop at the draft,” Holmes said.

Though the Lions are at their maximum of 90 rostered players right now, they will undoubtedly be looking for every opportunity to improve their roster from top to bottom. So here are eight free agents the Lions should consider adding now that the draft is over.

I am centering my focus on what I believe the Lions’ only two real remaining needs: edge defender and safety.

EDGE Za’Darius Smith

Let’s just get this one out of the way. According to Lions general manager Brad Holmes, the ball is in Smith’s and his agent’s court. Smith produced 4.0 sacks and 40 pressures in eight games with the Lions last year. Detroit clearly has a price limit on Smith after cutting him earlier this offseason—saving them $11 million over two years—but it’s unclear where Smith’s priorities currently lie.

EDGE DeMarcus Walker

The Lions hosted Walker for a free agency visit back in April. Walker brings some inside/outside versatility along the defensive line. And while he only has 7.0 sacks in the past two seasons (as a starter with the Bears), his size (6-foot-4, 280) and violence make him an above-average run defender.

EDGE Von Miller

I find it pretty hard to believe the Lions would be interested in Miller at this stage in his career (36 years old). But if they just wanted a situational pass rusher, Miller did produce 40 pressures and 6.0 sacks in just 332 snaps over 13 games (about 25 snaps per game).

EDGE Matthew Judon

Judon struggled last year with the Falcons but had a strong career with the Ravens and Patriots. In his best season—2022—he produced 15.5 sacks, 69 pressures, and even an above-average PFF run defense grade (67.0). Judon will be 33 before the season starts, though.

S Marcus Williams

I believe the Lions could use a veteran in the safety room, not just to provide much-needed experience behind their two starters but also to help get rookie Dan Jackson up to speed.

Williams has five years of experience in this defense from his days with the Saints—four of which directly overlapped with Dan Campbell’s time in New Orleans. The biggest downside here is that Williams may be seeking a starting role and hasn’t regularly played on special teams since 2018.

S Justin Simmons

Simmons may be in the same boat as Williams—seeking an opportunity to start. He’s just a year removed from a Pro Bowl season, but he’s a physical run defender who has plenty of ball skills, too (21 interceptions in the last five seasons). Last year, he signed a one-year, $7.5 million, fully guaranteed deal, so he’d likely only cost slightly less than that—probably too much for a backup role.

S Rayshawn Jenkins

Jenkins may be a more realistic target. Though he was a full-time starter since 2019, his last year with the Seahawks, he accepted a more situational role after being overtaken by Coby Bryant.

Jenkins, too, is a physical run defender who is probably more fit to be a box safety than single-high, but he has plenty of experience and has played a decent amount of special teams his entire career.

S Marcus Maye

Maye has two years of experience in the Saints defense (2022-23), so there is some schematic overlap even though he wasn’t in New Orleans when Campbell was. At 32 years old, Maye has struggled with injuries for much of his career, but he played in 15 games last year—starting four.

He played over 100 special teams snaps last year. It’s worth noting back in 2023, he was suspended for three games as a result of a DUI incident in 2021 and was arrested for aggravated assault in a road rage incident in 2022, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.

May 5, 2025

Leclerc makes feelings clear on Lewis Hamilton after Ferrari team orders drama

Ferrari team-mates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton walk through the paddock at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

Ferrari team-mates Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton

Already not where they wanted to be running at the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari team orders impacting Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc did little to improve the mood.

However, Leclerc has made it clear that he has “no bad feelings” towards Hamilton after the Miami Grand Prix, the Ferrari drivers swapped around twice without success on the way to a P7 finish for Leclerc and Hamilton P8.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc cool, but how do Ferrari bounce back?

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Blackstock

Ferrari split strategies for the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton starting on the hard tyre, and Leclerc on mediums.

But after the sole round of pit stops were complete, Hamilton came up behind Leclerc on theoretically the faster tyre, but was left frustrated when Ferrari told him to hold position.

Hamilton continued to argue his case and Ferrari did a U-turn, ordering Leclerc to yield, but with Hamilton unable to ditch his team-mate, then Leclerc felt like he was being held up, and asked to be let back through by Hamilton, which ultimately happened.

Leclerc crossed the line 1.5 seconds behind the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli in P7, as Hamilton narrowly held on to P8 under late pressure from Carlos Sainz in the Williams, which included being speared by Sainz at Turn 17 on the last lap.

But, while Leclerc is frustrated over a lack of pace in the Ferrari – McLaren, Red Bull and Mercedes having been quicker in Miami – he made it clear than none of that frustration was directed towards Hamilton.

Asked by the media, including PlanetF1.com, whether he considered letting Hamilton through before Ferrari asked, Leclerc replied: “I mean, not really, because I knew Lewis was on a medium, so if anything, he would struggle a bit more to go to the end than me, so we had to take care of tyres.

“But I understand as well that he wanted to try and do something different. So I appreciate that. I mean, I would have done the same thing if I was him, and trying to be a bit more aggressive with the medium tyres.

“There’s no bad feelings with Lewis. Not at all. I understand that he wants to try and optimise as much as I want to try and optimise the car potential. The car potential is just this, which is frustrating.”

Asked if he had the chance to speak with Hamilton after the race, Leclerc confirmed: “No, no.

“We saw each other quickly, but he went to get changed, I think, and I came here, so we don’t have enough time to really speak.”

The frustration of the Ferrari drivers played out over team radio at times during the race, that especially true for Hamilton.

And Leclerc agreed with the suggestion that this is a consequence from the lack of performance.

He added: “There’s the frustration already that I was fighting for P8 at the time, and I was not making any gains, so there’s a frustration of that, and then all the rest, and it all adds up.

“So, the radio doesn’t always… In this case, probably… But the radio is not always the real picture.”

Ferrari sit P4 in the Constructors’ Championship standings, already 152 points behind leaders McLaren.

May 5, 2025

Eight more Grand Slam Track champions crowned in Miami Noel Francis Last updated: May 5, 2025 9:25 am By Noel Francis

Miramar, Florida – Eight champions were crowned on the final day of the Miami Grand Slam Track meeting on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Olympic silver medallist Bednarek, having sewn up the 100m on Saturday, returned to his 200m specialty to wrap up the sprint double. He wasted no time as he flew around the bend like a shot out of a cannon, passing Tokyo Olympic champion Andre de Grasse on his outside with consummate ease. As he transitioned into the home straight, the challenge appeared to his left from Jamaica’s Oblique Seville and Britain’s Zharnel Hughes. Bednarek powered away from them to cross the line in 19.84 seconds, the fastest time in the world.

“Running these fast times this early, doing it against this field and running comfortably just says that I am in excellent shape,” said Bednarek, who also won the Men’s Short Distance Race Group in Kingston last month. “I felt pretty good throughout the first race and second race. Everything felt smooth, felt easy, I’m in really good shape right now. This race was just to execute and dominate the field, and that’s what I did.”

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Hughes and Seville looked inseparable as they crossed the finish line together. Although they had identical times of 20.13, Hughes came out on the right side of the photo finish for second.

Paulino and dos Santos in smashing form

Dominican Republic’s Marileidy Paulino set a national record in the 200m, 22.30 seconds (1.0 m/s), en route to the women’s Long Sprints title. The Olympic champion collected a maximum of 24 points, having dominated the 400m on Friday.

Marileidy Paulino

Alison dos Santos ran like a man on a mission in the 400m for the Long Hurdles championship decider. After coming off the top bend with a marginal lead, dos Santos was joined by Chris Robinson, who pushed him to a new personal best of 44.53 seconds. Robinson was second in 44.86. “I knew Chris was in good shape and he can finish pretty strong, so I didn’t want to give him any hope,” reasoned dos Santos.

In the women’s equivalent, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran a season’s best 49.69 to wrap up her second Grand Slam championship. “Just happy with where we’re at. I think it was a good progression from the first slam until now. It shows you what you have to work on, shows you where you’re at,” said McLaughlin-Levrone.

Sydney McLaughlin

Trey Cunningham, who came into Grand Slam Track as a challenger, capitalised on the opportunity. Cunningham, who equalled his PB in the 110m hurdles on Saturday, returned on Sunday to surprise the field in the 100m, clocking a lifetime best 10.17 seconds for the win.

“I sprint a lot at practice. I’ve ran a 150 at 14.7 before, which was like a month ago. I’ve done a lot of speed work, so I was prepared for this,” said Cunningham, the 2022 World silver medallist. “It’s just a different environment and atmosphere because I don’t have barriers in my way that can mess me up. I had a fumble 30 through 40 meters. I didn’t really transition appropriately, but I got a PB, so I’m excited.”

American Grant Fisher made light work of the 5000m field to be crowned the Long Distance champion. Fisher made a decisive move with four laps remaining, and no one could live with him. He had the luxury of slowing down and waving to the crowd in the final 100m as he came home in 13:40.32, almost six minutes ahead of compatriot Cooper Teare. “With four laps to go, you start thinking a little bit so I wanted to squeeze them hard,” Fisher explained. “I got some daylight and kept on the gas for quite a while. When we got to about 100 to go, I realised I had enough cushion that I could chill out that last 100.”

In the women’s 3000m, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich captured the women’s Long Distance championship after another impressive display of tactical running. Ngetich, who won the 5000m on Friday, pushed the pace for long periods, trying to take the sting out of her opponents’ legs.

The race intensified with 250m to go when the Ethiopians made their move. First, Tsige Gebreselama swept into the lead. This triggered an immediate response from compatriots Medina Eisa and Hirut Meshesha, but Ngetich was hanging tough. Meshesha separated herself from the pack thanks to her foot speed to win in 8:22.72, a new PB with Eisa (8:23.08 PB) edging Ngetich (8:23.14 PB), who clinched the overall Grand Slam Track title ahead of Meshesha, who also tallied 18 points. The tiebreaker was decided by the athletes’ best combined times.

“I think in Kingston, it was the fastest event of the year, and I just opened the season, so I didn’t know where my body was on the track,” said Ngetich. “I went back and continued training and working for speed. I knew 3000m would be tough, so I wanted to be in the top three to secure the title. I am so happy that I won today at Grand Slam Track. I’m so excited. The track was tight, everyone was strong, and I thank God I managed to get the points here.”

May 5, 2025

Inside Gout’s plans to stun World Champs, as fastest Aussie ever backs teen to break his record

Australia’s teenage athletics sensation Gout Gout will balance his studies with his sprinting as he prepares for his World Championships debut in Tokyo in four months time.

Australian Athletics high performance manager Andrew Faichney said the exciting 17-year-old’s preparation will bear a difference to some of his older peers given his age.

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But the certainty provided by his selection last week will allow the Oceanic 200m record holder and his coach Di Shepperd an extended runway to the biggest event of his fledgling career.

“He will prepare himself in a few different ways,” Faichney told foxsports.com.au.

“He is still at school, so he will be attending school a lot of the time between now and the World Championships, which is a bit different to most people.

“I understand he will has a couple of commitments overseas. He will go to Europe for a couple of meets over the school holidays to have a couple of races over there.”

A silver medallist in the World U20 Championships last year, Gout Gout recently met with Australia’s fastest ever man Patrick Johnson after returning to school in Brisbane.

Johnson said last December that the teenager, who will feature on Fox Sports’ The Back Page on Tuesday night, had the capacity to break his national record of 9.93 seconds for the 100m.

“I hope so, because he’s really proved that he’s got the talent and ability [to break my record],” Johnson told ESPN.

“But we should also make sure that we don’t put too much pressure on him too early. He’s still young and that is going to be the big thing now — how we nurture and support him.

“He is still a kid, so we need to let him enjoy being a kid, because the world will come very quickly at him and ask him to perform under the spotlight and the pressure. When he joins the circuit and the intense racing overseas, it’s really important that they manage that really well — and no doubt they will.”

Australia’s Gout Gout reacts after competing in Backmarkers Invitation 120m event during the 2025 Stawell Gift at Central Park in Stawell on April 21, 2025

Gout is scheduled to race at meets in Monaco and Ostrava during the Queensland school holidays with a view to broadening his experience before the World Championships.

“Between now and then, other than that as far I am aware, he will be racing mainly at home, going to school, doing his training with his coach, which has proved so successful,” Faichney said.

The emergence of Gout has coincided with a resurgence in interest in Australian athletics due to strong international performances dating back to the Tokyo Olympics.

The dynamism of the national 200m champion, who has run faster than Usain Bolt at the same age, has wowed Australian fans and put the teenager firmly in the spotlight.

At meetings around the country, including the recent Stawell Gift where he won a heat as a backmarker in the famous race, he was obliging when swamped by fans.

Handicap too much for Gout Gout | 01:10

In a recent profile in The Guardian, Shepperd praised the mental strength of Gout but said the focus on the Ipswich Grammar student will require him to make sacrifices.

“I’ve been telling him for a couple of years that when we get to a set point, your social life will be pretty much non-existent, in the sense you just can’t go out where you want,” she said.

“He’s at that point pretty much now, which is kind of tough when you think he’s still at school.”

Faichney said the Gout camp, which includes renowned athlete manager James Templeton, were well equipped to support the star but said Australian Athletics was on hand to provide any assistance required as he transitions on to the global stage.

Australia’s Gout Gout reacts after finishing runner up in the men’s 120m handicap semi-final during the 2025 Stawell Gift at Central Park in Stawell on April 21, 2025.

“He’s phenomenal. The competitions that he has been at and the way he has engaged with kids all the way through to adults and grandparents has been amazing,” Faichney said.

“He has got some really good support behind him. His managers and his coaches have been fantastic and work really closely with him.

“We provide support that can help them when they need it and, as much as anything, we try not to overload him and get too involved, because he is a kid at the moment.

“We want to provide support (and) we will work with Di and his manager James on a way to do that … whether that be by directing things their way they can benefit from.”

“Like a champion” Gout Gout storms home | 00:40

With the World Championships being held about six weeks later than usual this year, Australian Athletics has opted to select athletes in two different groups and Faichney believes that will be beneficial for a younger athlete like Gout.

“It is a long time between now and September. It is longer than normal,” Faichney said.

“It has been beneficial for us to be able to select a group of athletes early so that they know they are on the team and they can prepare. But it really depends on what stage of their career they are at.

“Someone like Gout is able to do the training while at school and prepare himself in that way, whereas others will be on the circuit pretty much through the Diamond League, having spent last weekend in China and they will continue all the way through.

“We work closely with them to see how they can prepare all the way through to September, because it is a long way away.”

May 5, 2025

Film breakdown: What Tyleik Williams is bringing to Detroit Lions

Breaking down Lions’ first round pick Tyleik Williams’ tape from his 2024 season at Ohio State University.

First up in our film review of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 draft class is a first-round pick and defensive tackle out of Ohio State, Tyleik Williams. If you are looking for a video to go along with this written film study, be sure to check out our work over on the Pride of Detroit YouTube channel.

After spending the last several days watching Williams’ All-22 tape from 2024, I am really excited to see what he can do in Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s defense. Despite pushing 330 pounds, Williams is very much an athlete on the defensive line. He played football and basketball throughout his childhood and set his Virginia high school’s record in the shot put. If this sounds familiar, Lions’ star defensive tackle Alim McNeill was also a multi-sport star back in his home state of North Carolina.

Having started 25 games for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, Williams faced a strong level of competition during his college career, making it easier to see what should translate to the professional level. Let’s jump into the All-22 and take a look at how Williams impacted games in 2024.

Smart and dominant run-defender

When you turn on Williams’ 2024 tape, you see a player who has seen the game slow down for him in terms of how he processes things mentally, and typically that isn’t something often said about interior defensive linemen.

On top of what he picks up pre-snap, his ability to stack blockers, extend his arms, and find the ball carrier is elite. You rarely catch him staring at a blocker while working, and instead his eyes are consistently where they need to be, allowing him to make more impact plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Below, we have a clip from his game against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal round. Third-and-4 on their own side of the 50 and he helps make a big stop for his defense.

Up next is a rep where Williams stacks and sheds the right guard before working down the line of scrimmage to help make the stop.

Another theme you quickly pick up from Williams’ tape is his ability to violently defeat blocks while simultaneously keeping his eyes on the ball carrier. Watch below as he discards Texas’ center before making the play on the running back.

Next up, we have another example of Williams having strong play recognition. Watch as he takes a few steps down towards the center out of his stance in an effort to squeeze that gap. While doing so, he is able to peek around the right shoulder of the guard (#76) blocking him.

In an instant, Williams uses his strength to turn the guard’s hips and, in doing so, is able to spill the run towards the right for a 1-yard gain. The rookie should be one of many Lions defensive linemen that the linebackers will enjoy playing behind.

In our last clip of this section, Williams throws Kelvin Banks Jr (who just went ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints) out the club before taking a good angle to help string out the ball carrier toward the boundary.

Pass-rushing juice and potential

In our first clip of this section, Williams begins lined up on the guard’s outside shoulder in the three-technique. Ohio State runs a game where the end loops back around both Williams and defensive end Jack Sawyer (#33), allowing Williams to work one-on-one against the center (#65).

Williams is able to instantly reset the center’s initial punch, allowing him to open up the right shoulder of the blocker. In doing so, he opens up a straight line to the quarterback, Quinn Ewers. Ewers is able to hit the bottom of his dropback, but at that point, Williams had already collapsed the pocket, forcing the ball out in a hurry.

Next up, we have another example of Williams being efficient with his hands while also understanding his opponent’s tendencies. And while it isn’t a pass-rush rep, I wanted to include it here because of how quickly he won in this particular instance.

This is the kind of rep that can change a series, or sometimes—the entire game. If the Lions are able to generate more interior pressure in 2025 on top of getting star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson back, it could lead to some really big things for the defense as a whole.

Lastly, we have another quick win for Williams, this time with a powerful bull rush on third down. Once again, his power quickly overwhelms the center for Texas. Watch as Williams is able to extend his left arm after knocking him backward out of his stance, which in turn opens up the left shoulder of the offensive lineman. Ewers is still able to get this pass off, but it appears to be a tick early in terms of timing and ends up falling incomplete.

May 5, 2025

Aussie Paris medallist Jessica Hull pockets $30,000 as Grand Slam Track touches down in Miami

Australian Olympic medallist Jessica Hull has earned herself another fine pay day at the second stop of the inaugural Grand Slam Track season, cashing in as a star of the lucrative athletics league launched by US sprinting great Michael Johnson.

Hull wasn’t at her phenomenal best in Miami — she finished fourth in the 1500 metres and fifth in the 800m — but such is the nature of Johnson’s league that the Paris 2024 silver medallist will leave Florida with an extra $30,000 in her bank account.

One of the main reasons why Johnson set up the league was because he was concerned about the lack of financial reward for elite athletes in athletics.

The four-time Olympic champion’s answer to that was masterminding a league backed by US$12.6 million (A$20 million) in prize money in its inaugural season.

Author: admin