Did Steve Cram ever win an Olympic gold medal?

The short answer is no, he didn’t. Born in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, hence his nickname, ‘The Jarrow Arrow’, Cram competed against the likes of Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett in what is often described as a ‘golden era’ of British middle-distance running. Nevertheless, he won his fair share of gold medals, starting with the 1,500 metres at the 1982 European Athletics Championships in Athens and, less than a month later, following up in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

Four years later, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Cram defended his title in the 1,500 metres, having previously set a Commonwealth Games record, which still stands, in the 800 metres. Shortly afterwards, he also defended his European title in the 1,500 metres in Stuttgart, beating Coe into second place in the process. In between times, Cram had also won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki and made his second appearance at the Summer Olympics, having finished eighth behind Coe in the final of the 1,500 metres in Moscow in 1980.

On August 11, 1984, in Los Angeles, Coe, Ovett and Cram once again lined up for the final of the 1,500 metres with all three having suffered setbacks, due to illness or injury, in the build-up to the Olympic Games. In any event, Ovett, the world record holder, stepped off the track heading out onto the final lap, leaving the two remaining Britons to fight out the finish. Cram accelerated down the home straight, but Coe responded immediately and led the field into the home straight. Coe sprinted away from Cram to win in a new Olympic record time of 3:32.53, beating the previosu mark set by Kenyan Kip Keino in 1968.

Who kicked the longest field goal in National Football League (NFL) history?

The first thing to say about the longest field goal, or field goals, in NFL history is that, for reasons that will become obvious, the patron saint of placekickers, if one exists, appears to have it in for the Detroit Lions.

Arguably the most remarkable – and, for 43 years, the longest – field goal in NFL history was kicked by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints against the Motor City Madmen at Tulhane Stadium, New Orleans on November 8, 1970. His last-gasp 63-yard effort earned the ‘Aints an improbable 19-17 win, but was all the more worthy for the fact he was born without toes on his right foot and wore an extra-wide, flat-fronted kicking shoe; for the record, Dempsey was also an old-fashioned, straight-on placekicker, who approached the ball directly from behind, rather than at an angle.

When Dempsey’s field goal record was finally beaten, it was in the rarified atmosphere of Mile High Stadium, Denver, which didn’t acquire its name by accident. On December 8, 2013, in the closing seconds of the first half, Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater converted a 64-yard effort against the Tennessee Titans to leave the home side just one point behind, at 20-21, at the break. However, the revitalised Broncos outscored the Titans three touchdowns to one in the second half to win the match 51-28.

In a strange case of history repeating itself, the current holder of the record for the longest field goal in NFL history, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, also achieved the feat against the Detroit Lions, albeit this time at Ford Field, Detroit. On September 26, 2021, as time expired, Tucker connected with a 66-yard effort, which hit the crossbar and bounced high into the air before falling through the uprights. The final score? Baltimore Ravens 19 Detroit Lions 17, of course.

Can Francis Ngannou Beat Anthony Joshua?

Boxing fans around the world are surely excited for the upcoming clash between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou and boxing heavyweight giant Anthony Joshua. The ten round fight takes place on March 8th in the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following on from the unpredictable yet captivating match-up between Ngannou and Tyson Fury (which proved to be anything but a joke fight), this bout again blurs the lines between MMA and boxing worlds as we all try to deduce who is likely to claim victory. But the million-dollar question remains: Can Francis Ngannou, with his MMA background, take down a world class boxing heavyweight like Anthony Joshua?

The Ngannou Effect

Francis Ngannou is not your average MMA fighter. Known for his devastating power and ferocious knockouts in the UFC, Ngannou has proven time and again that he’s a force to be reckoned with. His transition from the Octagon to the boxing ring could barely have started better. – if not for the judges deciding against him in a highly contested decision. The man carries immense one punch power. But boxing is a different beast. Precision, timing, and footwork play a much larger role than MMA, where skills on the canvas play a pivotal role also. So can Ngannou’s power combine with an ability to adapt to a new sport?

Against All Odds: The Tyson Fury Benchmark

Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury offers a glimpse of what the Cameroonian is capable of in a boxing ring. While direct comparisons are tricky due to the nature of their exhibition match, Ngannou’s ability to hold his own against Fury, one of boxing’s finest, is telling. It was a statement that an MMA fighter could step into the ring and not just survive but thrive. This performance has set a precedent, but Anthony Joshua is a different challenge altogether.

“I will do something that no-one has done before and I believe I have the tools to do that, starting with having the win over ‘AJ’ on March 8 in a big fight – not an easy fight, but a possible one and I am going to take it.” is The ‘Predator’s’ grounded yet positive take on the AJ fight.

 

Anthony Joshua: Last Chance Saloon

Anthony Joshua is no stranger to the spotlight. With a professional record that boasts significant victories (Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr rematch) as well as setbacks (Oleksandr Usyk x 2), Joshua’s experience in high-stakes boxing matches is significant. Joshua, like Nnganou an orthodox fighter, has a record of 27 wins from 30 fights (24 wins by knockout). He’s 6ft 6 with a 82 inch reach. His power and resilience make him a formidable opponent for anyone, let alone someone transitioning from MMA. Possible shortcomings though include his mindset, questions over his stamina and also his patchy form. Many see this as a potential route back to becoming World Champion and his eye is certainly on the prize.

“Every fight leads to somewhere, so this fight is my everything; my soul, my spirit, my mind, my body.” says AJ, of the Ngannou bout.

If he loses though, especially against a ‘non boxer’ does he have anywhere left to go?

The Clash of Titans: What to Expect

6ft4 Ngannou brings serious punch power and an unquestionable fighting spirit. With a UFC record of 17-3-0 (12 wins by KO) and a 83 inch reach he certainly has the tools to do the job.  However, Joshua’s experience in the ring surely poses big challenges for Ngannou. Both fighters have different skillsets. Ngannou can close the distance as he did against Fury and unleash his one punch power, while Joshua will try to use his long reach and jab effectively, and exploit any openings. Let’s not forget AJ also has immense power.

Francis Ngannou taking on Anthony Joshua is a fascinating and curious chapter in combat sports. Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury has already shattered expectations, showing that with the right mindet and preparation, MMA fighters can make it in boxing despite having no background in the sport. However, overcoming a fighter with the experience of AJ requires not just power but also a winning strategy. At least that’s what the theory says anyway!

So who wins?

Can Francis Ngannou beat Anthony Joshua? The answer lies in preparation, followed by execution on the night of the fight. Ngannou’s power is definitely a significant factor, but Joshua’s boxing acumen presents a monumental challenge. As the fight night approaches, the fight fans will be watching, eager to witness history in the making. Bookmakers have AJ as the 1-4 favourite at time of writing, but if Ngannou defies expectations, it certainly wouldn’t be for the first time.

 

 

Who is, or was, the youngest golfer, male or female, to win a major championship?

Nowadays, the term ‘major championships’ is used to describe the Masters Tournament, the US Open Championship, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. Exactly when the modern definition was adopted is unclear, but it can certainly be traced back to 1960, the year in which Arnold Palmer won the Masters Tournament and the US Open Championship, finished runner-up, by a single stroke, in the Open Championship and held the first-round lead in the PGA Championship before eventually finishing tied for seventh.

The Open Championship was founded in 1860 and the US Open Championship in 1895, but the PGA Championship did not come in existence until 1916 and the Masters Tournament not until 1934. Thus, it can be argued that major championships did not really exist, at least not in the modern sense, when Tom Morris Jr., a.k.a. Young Tom Morris, won the 1868 Open Championship at Prestwick Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland at the tender age of 17 years, 5 months and 8 days. A similar argument can applied to John McDermott, who was 19 months, 10 months and 14 days old when he won the 1911 US Open at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois.

Ultimately, the answer to the question comes down to semantics, but Tiger Woods was 21 years, 3 months and 14 days old when he won the 1997 Masters Tournament, making him the youngest male golf to win a major championship once all four ‘modern’ majors actually existed. For the record, and rather more straightforwardly, the youngest female golfer to win a major championship was Lydia Ko, who was 18 years, 4 months, 20 days old when she won the 2015 Evian Championship at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France. She was, of course, younger than Woods or McDermott, but older than Morris Jnr. so, ladies and gentlemen, take your pick!

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