The Sun News Online has a very interesting article on reigning 100 meters world indoor champion, Olusoji Fasuba of Nigeria. Here’s an excerpt:

On his world title win in Valencia, Spain: It was great to have won in Valencia. To think of the incidents that took place before the final, one would say that there was something to it.

First, I had a cut in my finger the day before the semi-final and thereafter, had a strain in the semi-final, which made me to be very scared.

My coach was very supportive. He took me to some Spanish physiotherapists, who helped me to get back to form for the final.

On his refusal to use drugs, even legal ones: After I was examined, I was told that it was a slight strain and nothing to really worry about. The doctor gave me a drug to take for relief, but I refused because I didn’t want anybody to accuse me of taking an enhancing drug.

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From the Bermuda Sun:
So far Bermuda has only one guaranteed spot in the Beijing Olympics – in equestrian, but has two athletes make the qualifying standard – Patrick Nesbitt and Jill Terceira. Those two will compete head to head in several events over the next few weeks for the right to represent Bermuda in Hong Kong (the venue for equestrian).

Bermuda could be represented in five additional sports: athletics, swimming, diving, sailing and triathlon. Sailors Peter Bromby and Lee White are likely to qualify while Athlete of the Year Flora Duffy is set to get a wild card in triathlon.

Diver Katura Horton-Perinchief did not qualify but still could get in as other athletes drop out. Long jumper Terence Smith and swimmer Kiera Aitken are the best bets from their sports to make it.

Note: The Bermuda Olympic Association stated that Flora Duffy (photo above) “has been awarded an invitation to attend the Games, but continues in her campaign to qualify in her own right”.

PHOTO SOURCE: olympics.bm

After playing bridesmaid to Meseret Defar’s bride in several events, Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu finally emerged from the shadows of her more popular compatriot by beating Defar in the 5,000 meter race at the ongoing African Athletics Championships.

From the IAAF: Melkamu took advantage of a slow, tactical race to outgun Defar on the last lap and deny her a successful defence of the title she had won in Bambous, Mauritius, in 2006. It was a first senior international championship victory for the 2004 World junior cross country and 5000m champion.

Read the rest here.

Added Note: Who will win the gold medal race? China or the United States?

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Who says Olympic swimming is only for the young ones? Not Dara Torres. Yeah, the 41 year-old four-time Olympic gold medalist is hoping to earn an Olympic slot during the U.S. qualifying trials this coming July.

If she qualifies, Dara will be the first female swimmer over 40 to compete in the Olympic Games. Go, Dara. Do it for the oldies! [Correction: Dara isn't the first female swimmer over 40 to compete in the Olympics. Canadian Brenda Holmes, then 44 years old, was older than Dara when she competed during the 1972 Munich Games. My apologies for the mistake and thanks to our anonymous commenter for the info.]

In honor of Dara Torres, we have created a blog category we’re calling the Dara Mama Club which refers to athlete moms who qualified or are trying to qualify for Beijing 2008. Check out the other Dara Mama’s here.

Update II: More photos of Dara — from Maxim and the NY Times — here. And we have some pics of Yelena Isinbayeva, another Olympian worth looking at, here.

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Erin Philips, the basketball player. She’s a member of the Australian basketball team that won the 2006 World Basketball Championship.

And Errin Philips, the male magazine model. Now, just because she’s modeling doesn’t mean she’s forgotten about basketball. In fact, she’s got some warning to her team’s main rivals in Beijing.

According to The Herald Sun:”The World Champs definitely put us at the top, and other teams are respecting us a lot more. If I was the USA or Russia, I’d be worried.”

She also said something like, “We’re not going to be team USA’s little bitch.” Good for you Errin, at the time of Dubya, no one wants to be USA’s little bitch.

Anyways, are you looking for more Olympic hotties? Click here.

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