http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dwains-world-caves-in-but-real-victims-are-those-who-show-clean-pair-of-heels-872319.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dwains-world-caves-in-but-real-victims-are-those-who-show-clean-pair-of-heels-872319.html <p>It was good to get back on home ground up in the north-east corner of England last weekend. Friday and Saturday in Birmingham had been far from satisfying, covering the latest developments in the Dwain Chambers Circus. All year it had been burgeoning into what became the only show in town at the Olympic trials. Or so it seemed, what with as many television crews as paying punters in the stands of the Alexander Stadiumfor the opening heat of the men's 100 metres on Friday evening.</p> Athletics Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/beijing-squad-edgar-and-pickering-step-in-for-chambers-872320.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/beijing-squad-edgar-and-pickering-step-in-for-chambers-872320.html <p>Sprinters Craig Pickering and Tyrone Edgar have been named in UK Athletics' finalised Olympic squad for Beijing. The 100m runners had been in limbo while waiting for the outcome of Dwain Chambers' ultimately unsuccessful appeal against his Olympic ban.</p> Athletics Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/100m-showdown-no-bolt-from-blue-but-he-can-be-star-of-fast-show-872321.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/100m-showdown-no-bolt-from-blue-but-he-can-be-star-of-fast-show-872321.html <p>It is five years now since time stood still on a balmy summer evening at Crystal Palace. The trackside clock had suffered a malfunction and the winner of the men's 100m in the London Grand Prix meeting was half-way round a victory lap when the scoreboard flashed up: "1. D Chambers 9.53 world record."</p> Athletics Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/amazing-tale-of-man-called-hermann-who-finished-fourth-in-womens-high-jump-872322.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/amazing-tale-of-man-called-hermann-who-finished-fourth-in-womens-high-jump-872322.html <p>The letter which the postman delivered in autumn 1934 was a summons to four days of Olympic training. The 20-year-old who received it &ndash; a leggy high jumper called Gretel Bergmann &ndash; ought to have been delighted, because it seemed to open the way to the German team for the Berlin Games, less than two years away. She had no way of knowing that, far from picking her, the Germans would indulge in one of the most cold-blooded, disgraceful deceptions in Olympic history &ndash; picking a man for the women's high jump.</p> Athletics Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dwain-chambers-factfile-871223.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dwain-chambers-factfile-871223.html Athletics Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:04:57 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-fails-to-overturn-olympics-ban-871137.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-fails-to-overturn-olympics-ban-871137.html <p> British sprinter Dwain Chambers' dreams of competing in next month's Beijing Olympics were dashed today. </p> Athletics Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:30:34 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-to-learn-fate-after-latest-court-delay-870748.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-to-learn-fate-after-latest-court-delay-870748.html <p>Dwain Chambers will hear this morning whether his High Court bid to swerve round a lifetime ban from the Olympics in time to compete in the Beijing Games has been successful. </p> Athletics Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-decision-on-friday-870143.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-decision-on-friday-870143.html <p></p> <p> Dwain Chambers will find out Friday if he can compete at next month's Beijing Olympics. </p> Athletics Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:11:08 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-facing-day-of-olympic-destiny-869571.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-facing-day-of-olympic-destiny-869571.html <p>Today is D-Day for Dwain Chambers in the High Court. The phoney war is over, and he will learn whether his pathway to the Olympics, now that he has won the trials in fine style, lies open or remains closed by the British Olympic Association by-law. </p> Athletics Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-big-question-should-dwain-chambers-be-allowed-to-run-for-britain-at-the-olympics-869682.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-big-question-should-dwain-chambers-be-allowed-to-run-for-britain-at-the-olympics-869682.html Athletics Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/my-heart-is-there-but-my-body-has-finally-given-in-says-macey-868361.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/my-heart-is-there-but-my-body-has-finally-given-in-says-macey-868361.html <p> Dean Macey, the Commonwealth decathlon champion, yesterday delivered the most predictable, and painful, news that British athletics is likely to hear for a very long time as he announced his retirement at the age of 30. </p> Athletics Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:48 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dean-macey-announces-retirement-868125.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dean-macey-announces-retirement-868125.html <p> Commonwealth gold medal-winning decathlete Dean Macey has retired from athletics at the age of 30. </p> Athletics Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:13:53 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/collins-seeks-escape-route-over-chambers-relay-run-867701.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/collins-seeks-escape-route-over-chambers-relay-run-867701.html <p>Dwain Chambers, whose crucial High Court hearing has been switched from tomorrow to Thursday, is guaranteed a place in the British sprint relay squad in Beijing if he succeeds in suspending the British Olympic Association by-law currently rendering him ineligible for any Games. However, according to Dave Collins, the UK Athletics performance director, he would not be guaranteed a run with the baton.</p> Athletics Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-in-race-against-time-867312.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-in-race-against-time-867312.html <p> Paula Radcliffe is progressing well in what she admits is &quot;a race against time&quot; to be fit for the Olympic marathon after returning to her French base following a routine fitness appointment in London this morning. </p> Athletics Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:12:10 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/idowu-sets-target-of-olympic-gold-and-world-record-866920.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/idowu-sets-target-of-olympic-gold-and-world-record-866920.html <p>Just in case anyone was still in any doubt, Phillips Idowu clarified his status as British athletics' leading Beijing contender here yesterday, declaring after an imperious triple jump victory at the Aviva Olympic trials that he was aiming to win gold in China and break the world record. Although not necessarily in that order.</p> Athletics Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dean-machine-suffers-a-full-system-breakdown-866921.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/dean-machine-suffers-a-full-system-breakdown-866921.html <p> As Dean Macey approached the finish of the 1500m, the final decathlon event in the Hexham Combined Events International, he stretched both of his arms wide as if to say to the band of spectators, fellow-athletes and coaches who were standing to applaud him: &quot;What more could I have done?&quot; </p> Athletics Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-remains-on-track-for-beijing-as-attention-switches-to-the-high-court-866922.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-remains-on-track-for-beijing-as-attention-switches-to-the-high-court-866922.html <p>The presentation ceremony following Dwain Chambers's emphatic 100m victory here at the Aviva Olympic trials characterised the unease that his bid to reach the Beijing Games has caused within the domestic sport. </p> Athletics Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-holds-court-in-first-of-trial-battles-866440.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-holds-court-in-first-of-trial-battles-866440.html <p>So much for the trials, then. It took Dwain Chambers precisely 10 seconds to deal with the small matter of Event 19 on day two of the Aviva National Championships and Team GB selection trials, the men's 100 metres final, Britain's cause cél&egrave;bre of a speed merchant surging down the home straight of the Alexander Stadium to secure victory.</p> Athletics Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-is-running-out-of-time-as-rival-steps-up-866441.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/radcliffe-is-running-out-of-time-as-rival-steps-up-866441.html <p>While Paula Radcliffe headed back from her Pyrenean training base yesterday, to have her state of well-being assessed in a series of scans at the British Olympic Association's Medical Institute at Northwick Park, in north-west London, today, Mizuki Noguchi was stepping up the intensity of her Olympic preparations at a high-altitude training camp in St Moritz, Switzerland. </p> Athletics Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/mixed-emotions-as-rutherford-books-his-place-866442.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/mixed-emotions-as-rutherford-books-his-place-866442.html <p>Contrary to popular perception in the wider world, the men's 100m was not the only show in town yesterday. Before the latest edition of the Chambers soap opera unfolded on the second day of the British Olympic trials, Greg Rutherford returned to form following 12 months of injury trouble to book a berth to Beijing in the long jump. </p> Athletics Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/countdown-to-the-olympics-jump-to-attention-865848.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/countdown-to-the-olympics-jump-to-attention-865848.html <p>It used to be simple. Britain was a nation of harriers, with runners such as the tenacious, bespectacled Sydney Wooderson epitomising the national character with world-class performances in the years before the Second World War.</p> Athletics Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-warms-up-for-court-date-with-easy-heat-win-865849.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-warms-up-for-court-date-with-easy-heat-win-865849.html <p> Dwain Chambers avoided the nightmare scenario here yesterday evening, keeping his hopes of going to Beijing alive by moving safely through the opening heat of the 100 metres event on the first day of the British Olympic trials. </p> Athletics Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-shrugs-off-pressure-as-olympic-hopefuls-go-on-trial-864898.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-shrugs-off-pressure-as-olympic-hopefuls-go-on-trial-864898.html <p>Dwain Chambers will arguably be under more pressure than any other athlete at the Olympic trials which start in Birmingham tonight, given that he has to finish either first or second in the 100 metres to justify the court hearing next Wednesday when he will seek to have his current Olympic ban suspended.</p> Athletics Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-grasps-last-chance-to-have-olympic-ban-lifted-863766.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-grasps-last-chance-to-have-olympic-ban-lifted-863766.html <p>Dwain Chambers will learn on Wednesday whether his bid to earn an Olympic place has been successful &ndash; always assuming he comes up with the required performance in the British Olympic trials which start in Birmingham tomorrow.</p> Athletics Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-olympic-hopes-rest-on-double-trial-863341.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-olympic-hopes-rest-on-double-trial-863341.html <p> Dwain Chambers faces a double trial this week in his bid to compete in next month's Olympics. </p> Athletics Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:09:19 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-in-race-against-time-862821.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-in-race-against-time-862821.html <p>Dwain Chambers's legal bid to compete in next month's Olympics may be timed out in the High Court today.</p> Athletics Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/gays-olympic-double-dream-ended-by-fall-861308.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/gays-olympic-double-dream-ended-by-fall-861308.html <p> Tyson Gay's hopes of an Olympic sprint double ended suddenly and painfully on Saturday night as he fell to the track during his 200 metres quarter-final at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon. And there remain lingering doubts over his fitness to contest the shorter sprint in Beijing. </p> Athletics Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/athletics-sotherton-aiming-for-magnificent-seven-to-fire-her-to-glory-860924.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/athletics-sotherton-aiming-for-magnificent-seven-to-fire-her-to-glory-860924.html <p>Kelly Sotherton is nestling on a chair in a room overlooking the empty lanes of the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, and the chock-a-blocked carriageways of the M6 beyond. The Commonwealth heptathlon champion is not exactly sitting pretty in the world rankings five weeks ahead of the Beijing Olympics. That is because she has yet to contest a heptathlon this year, and won't in fact be doing so until the Olympic crown is on the line in the Bird's Nest Stadium. The clamour to pin the nation's hopes upon her shoulders has been deafeningly muted.</p> Athletics Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-olympic-hopes-head-for-court-859882.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-olympic-hopes-head-for-court-859882.html <p>The phoney war between Dwain Chambers and the British Olympic Association finally came to an end yesterday as lawyers for the sprinter filed legal papers seeking to overturn the Association's bylaw which renders Chambers, and other athletes who have served significant doping bans, ineligible for the Games.</p> Athletics Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-challenges-olympics-ban-859351.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-challenges-olympics-ban-859351.html <p> Dwain Chambers' legal team have filed papers against the British Olympic Association in London in a bid to pave the way for him to compete at next month's Olympic Games in Beijing. </p> Athletics Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:20:09 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-5minute-interview-dame-kelly-holmes-athlete-857653.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-5minute-interview-dame-kelly-holmes-athlete-857653.html <p><b>Kelly Holmes, 38, took gold in the 1,500m and 800m at the 2004 Olympic Games. She was made a Dame in 2005. She has taken up a role as Nivea ambassador for Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.</b></p> Athletics Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-sets-leading-british-time-over-100m-857755.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-sets-leading-british-time-over-100m-857755.html <p>Dwain Chambers emerged as Britain's fastest 100 metres sprinter of the moment last night as he recorded a time of 10.05sec in hot conditions at the Pavel Pavlov meeting in Sofia. It was the 30-year-old Londoner's fastest admissable 100m since 2001, two years before he tested positive for illegal steroids,and it put him 0.01sec ahead of Tyrone Edgar in the domestic rankings with the Olympic trials less than a fortnight away.</p> Athletics Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/an-email-conversation-with-triathlete-helen-tucker-856924.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/an-email-conversation-with-triathlete-helen-tucker-856924.html <p><b>Your victory at the world triathlon championships in Vancouver earlier this month was widely viewed as a surprising result. Did it surprise you?</b> It was a surprise. One of the headlines afterwards was "Tucker Shock", and I think I shocked myself. I only made a last-minute decision to compete and I think the fact that the conditions were so cold and wet worked to my advantage. To be honest, it still hasn't really sunk in.</p> Athletics Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-in-legal-race-against-time-to-make-olympics-856933.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-in-legal-race-against-time-to-make-olympics-856933.html <p>Dwain Chambers, now in possession of an Olympic 100m qualifying time, has instructed his lawyers to launch a High Court action against his lifetime ban from the Games.</p> Athletics Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/macey-fearful-of-hitting-the-wall-856508.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/macey-fearful-of-hitting-the-wall-856508.html <p>It was on a trip to the Great Wall while on tour in China with West Bromwich Albion in 1978 that John Trewick made the quip that is still held up as evidence that your average professional footballer happens to be blessed with a less-than-average intellect. A native of Whitley Bay, next door to the eastern end of the Emperor Hadrian's great Roman Wall, the midfielder was actually indulging in irony when he remarked to a TV documentary crew: "Once you've seen one wall, you've seen them all."</p> Athletics Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-great-olympian-dame-has-mount-everest-to-climb-856509.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/the-great-olympian-dame-has-mount-everest-to-climb-856509.html <p>It has taken all of 28 years but time, it seems, is finally starting to catch up with the grand dame of the sprint world. It was in Moscow in July 1980 that Merlene Ottey first showed her fleetness of foot on the Olympic stage as a fresh-faced 20-year-old running for her native Jamaica. She won a bronze medal in the 200m, behind Barbel Wockel of East Germany and Natalya Bochina of the Soviet Union. At every Olympic Games since then, she has been a fixture in the fast lane, clocking up a record seven appearances and gathering a record eight medals along the way. </p> Athletics Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-expects-to-run-in-olympics-after-making-mark-856510.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-expects-to-run-in-olympics-after-making-mark-856510.html <p>Dwain Chambers believes his ambition of competing at the Beijing Olympic Games will be realised after he has challenged a British Olympic Association lifetime suspension in the High Court. Nick Collins, Chambers' solicitor, said yesterday: "The legal papers are presently with his barrister and we are anticipating serving them next week."</p> Athletics Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-aiming-to-make-time-before-court-battle-856118.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/chambers-aiming-to-make-time-before-court-battle-856118.html <p>Dwain Chambers fully expects to come away from the Weltklasse Biberach international meeting here in southern Germany today with the Olympic 100 metres "A" qualifying standard. Chambers ranks that as his top priority before his solicitors take legal action to try to overturn a British Olympic Association lifetime ban preventing the disgraced athlete from competing in Beijing and at future Games.</p> Athletics Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/britains-olympic--plans-still-fluid-despite-three-golds-852398.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/britains-olympic--plans-still-fluid-despite-three-golds-852398.html <p>Britain finished the final round of the world cup &ndash; the last big test before the Olympics &ndash; with three golds, a silver and a bronze. Winning the cup overall for the second year was a bonus, but some Olympic selection questions remain despite some no-brainers among the small sculling boats.</p> Athletics Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/idowu-and-devonish-lift-gb-to--former-heights-852409.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/idowu-and-devonish-lift-gb-to--former-heights-852409.html <p>Victories by Phillips Idowu, Marlon Devonish and Andy Baddeley enabled Britain to equal its best overall performance of nine wins in the European Cup here yesterday &ndash; exactly the kind of result to inspire confidence for the upcoming Olympics.</p> Athletics Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/european-cup-sanders-overcomes-niggly-knee-to-equal-great-briton-851949.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/european-cup-sanders-overcomes-niggly-knee-to-equal-great-briton-851949.html <p>By Simon Turnbull in Annecy</p> Athletics Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/wariner-dreams-of-toppling-johnsons-record-in-china-851659.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/wariner-dreams-of-toppling-johnsons-record-in-china-851659.html <p>It is the perfect scenario for the Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner, a breathtaking image that he has contemplated countless times. The date is 21 August and he is thundering toward the finish line of the men's 400 metres final at the Beijing Games, roared on by a capacity crowd of 91,000 in the Bird's Nest National Stadium.</p> Athletics Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/tomlinson-and-devonish-seek-to-rekindle-old-glories-851661.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/athletics/tomlinson-and-devonish-seek-to-rekindle-old-glories-851661.html <p>Chris Tomlinson and Marlon Devonish, winners in the long jump and 200m respectively in the European Cup here six years ago, return to the scene of their triumph today as the event comes back to this French venue at the foot of the Alps.</p> Athletics Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:00:01 +0100