Ruby Evans became the first Welsh gymnast to win an individual medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships as Great Britain finished second and third in the women’s floor competition.
Evans claimed silver in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Abigail Martin also making the podium to cap a remarkable 24 hours for the British team after Jake Jarman and Luke Whitehouse secured a British one-two in the men’s floor final on Friday.
The haul made Britain the leading nation in the world in the floor discipline and former World Championships medallist Beth Tweddle told BBC Sport: “It’s just incredible to see the journey that British gymnastics as a whole has been on.
“Coming from where we were 20 years ago to now – four out of the six floor medals at this championships have come home to Great Britain.”
Evans, 18, finished runner-up behind Japan’s Aiko Sugihara with a score of 13.666, while Martin came third in her first World Championships.
The 17-year-old’s mark of 13.466 was the same as Romanian gymnast Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, but she was awarded bronze because her execution score was higher.
The Battle of Wounded Knee, also known as the Wounded Knee Massacre, took place in South Dakota in 1890.
Published On 27 Sep 202527 Sep 2025
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The National Congress of American Indians has strongly condemned a Pentagon review that decided against revoking medals awarded to US soldiers at the 1890 Battle of Wounded Knee, an event which many historians consider a massacre.
“Celebrating war crimes is not patriotic. This decision undermines truth-telling, reconciliation, and the healing that Indian Country and the United States still need,” Larry Wright Jr, the Congress’s executive director, said in a statement issued on Saturday.
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US President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, said in a video posted on X late Thursday that a review panel had recommended allowing the soldiers to keep their medals, in a study completed last year, and that he followed that recommendation.
“We’re making it clear that they deserve those medals. This decision is now final, and their place in our nation’s history is no longer up for debate,” Hegseth said.
The defence secretary criticised his predecessor for not making the same decision, saying that the former Pentagon chief was more interested in being “politically correct than historically correct”.
The Wounded Knee Massacre
The Battle of Wounded Knee, also known as the Wounded Knee Massacre, took place on December 29, 1890, in South Dakota, when US soldiers killed and wounded more than 300 Lakota Sioux men, women, and children.
The events at Wounded Knee marked the end of the Indian Wars, during which Native Americans were coerced into ceding their lands and then forced onto reservations.
Lloyd Austin, who was defence secretary in the administration of US President Joe Biden, had ordered a review of the military honours, but had not made a final decision before leaving office in January.
In 1990, Congress passed a resolution expressed “deep regret” for the conflict.
“It is proper and timely for the Congress of the United States of America to acknowledge … the historic significance of the Massacre at Wounded Knee Creek, to express its deep regret to the Sioux people and in particular to the descendants of the victims and survivors for this terrible tragedy,” the resolution said.
Hegseth has taken aim at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the Pentagon since he took office.
The Pentagon has ended commemorations of identity month celebrations, like Native American History Month and Black History Month.
The Pentagon drew fire earlier this year for briefly erasing online references to the Navajo Code Talkers, who developed an unbreakable code that helped Allied forces win World War II.
O’Connor has enjoyed the best year of her career in 2025.
European Indoor bronze, World Indoor silver, World University Games gold and now a World Championships silver medal.
As she alluded to in the build-up, O’Connor’s success was made possible by a mindset shift after finishing 14th at last year’s Paris Olympics.
“After Paris I genuinely did have a chat with myself. I felt like I know the athlete that I can be and I had to turn to my dad and ask him did he think that himself and the team that we had around me would be able to bring me to where I wanted to get myself to,” she explained.
“I suppose we had a pretty tough conversation where I kind of set out my goals to him and told him that I was ready to put my head down and work really hard towards them, but I needed everybody else to also be there with me.
“We had to make a few changes where I felt like if the coaches were expecting more of me, I would expect more of myself, so I made sure that I was hitting these really high standards that my coaches are setting for me.”
Going into the World Championships in Tokyo, she aimed to surpass 6,500 points.
She cleared that mark by some distance, with five personal bests helping her reach 6,714 points to come second behind gold medallist Anna Hall of the United States (6,888).
And O’Connor still believes there is more to come as she builds towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“That’s one of the most exciting things for me is that I just scored 6,700 points and there’s so much there right now.
“So, what can I do with another winter behind me and another year behind me and another two years? Then obviously get to the Olympics, which will be another three.
“I don’t think I’ve reached my limit at any of the events.”
The aerial view on the medals incorrectly used an outline of Sunderland and the River Wear
Great North Run organisers have apologised after medals given to participants in this year’s event featured the wrong city and river.
About 60,000 people completed the 13.1m (21km) half-marathon on Sunday with each of them handed a medal incorporating an image of what was supposed to be an aerial view of Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields and the River Tyne.
However, acknowledging the items actually showed nearby Sunderland and the River Wear which have no involvement in the event, the Great Run Company admitted it had “made a mistake”.
The image’s designer, Newcastle-based artist Howard Lee, has been approached for comment.
In a statement organisers said “eagle-eyed” people had spotted the error, which was also featured on merchandise such as clothing.
They claimed it made it “the most unique t-shirt and medal in Great North Run history, a keepsake that we’ll be talking about in 44 years’ time”.
“Wear sorry!” they said, in a joking reference to Sunderland’s Wearside location.
“To answer the rumours that this was the route reveal for next year… sorry to disappoint, it’s a mistake.
“Lots of people looked very closely at the designs and none of us picked it up.
“We had Newcastle United stars on the start line and the Stadium of Light on the medal.
“The Great North Run is truly a celebration of the region, even more so than we had planned.”
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About 60,000 people were given medals when they reached the finish line in South Shields
The event’s founder, Sir Brendan Foster, said he had “spent ages marvelling” at the designs and “never spotted the mistake” even when they were displayed in the window of city centre department store Fenwick.
He added: “I’ve lived on the River Tyne my whole life and I should’ve noticed.
“But if I’d run the Great North Run yesterday, I’d still be wearing my medal with pride.
“Thanks to everyone who took part in an amazing event yesterday and all the supporters who came out to cheer on the runners.
“It was a fantastic Great North Run, and we’re already looking forward to 2026 after we’ve brushed up on our geography.”
Ahead of the event, artist Mr Howard said he felt “very privileged” to have been involved with this year’s medal, which he described as being “quite a striking design”.
Greg Louganis is starting a new chapter in his life.
The U.S. diving legend has auctioned off three of the five Olympic medals he won between 1976-1988, sold his home and is parting with most of his other possessions as part of a journey of self-discovery that is taking him, at least for now, to Panama.
“So, as life moves forward, what are you prepared to leave behind?” Louganis wrote Friday in a Facebook post. “I am 65 years old, and I am asking just that. I am no longer who I used to think I was. Not even close to ‘What’ other people or ‘Who’ other people think I am.”
Louganis shared some details of his plan in that post and expanded on them on two Instagram Live posts, one recorded from Los Angeles in his final night in the United States and the other recorded the following day from Panama City, the first stop in a journey that will eventually take him and his dog Gerald to Boquette.
That’s where they’re going to settle down — “for now,” Louganis said on Instagram.
“I don’t know how permanent, or, you know, I don’t know how long it’s gonna be,” he said. “I’m just embracing the ‘I don’t know,’ and also staying open for discovery. I think that’s what this part of my life is about, being open to discover what’s next and really, really, really do my best at being present in every place I go with every person I meet.”
About a year ago, Louganis said, he was in a bad place mentally, feeling “really, really alone and isolated.”
“It was really, really severe, real bad depression,” Louganis said. “And now I’m realizing, I have things to offer. So what that is and what that looks like, I haven’t figured it out. And I think that that’s what this is kind of about, is recalibration and figuring out what is next. … and just discover who I am too. I mean, that’s a big question.”
U.S. diver Greg Louganis spreads his arms and bends at the waist while in mid-dive during a springboard diving competition.
(Sadayuki Mikami / Associated Press)
Louganis says part of the process has been letting go of many of the items he didn’t realize were weighing him down. Last month, he received more than $430,000 at auction for three of his Olympic medals ($201,314 for his 1988 gold medal in 10-meter platform, $199,301 for his 1984 gold medal in 3-meter sprinboard and $30,250 for his 1976 silver medal in 10-meter platform).
“I needed the money,” Louganis wrote on Facebook. “While many people may have built businesses and sold them for a profit, I had my medals, which I am grateful for. If I had proper management, I might not have been in that position, but what is done is done; live and learn.”
Louganis has not mentioned what, if anything, happened with his other two gold medals, won in 1984 for 3-meter springboard and in 1988 for 10-meter platform.
Also on his posts, Louganis mentions that he sold his home last week. Public records list Louganis as the owner of a residence in Topanga. According to Zillow, a house at that address sold on Aug. 28 for $750,000.
As for most of his other belongings, Louganis wrote, “I decided to donate, sell what can be sold, give gifts, and give where things might be needed or appreciated. … A thought occurred to me, I had many friends, people I was close to, lost everything in the Woolsey Fire, and then the Palisades Fire just this year.
“I know I am choosing to do this, but their resilience is an inspiration for me to start anew, with an open heart and an open door. Opening up to possibilities.”
On Instagram, Louganis described the experience as “freeing.”
“The memories will always be in here,” Louganis said, placing his hand over his heart. “And so the other things are just stuff, you know? We don’t realize how much we hang on to, and what I’m also learning now in this process is how oftentimes we don’t realize they weigh us down. You know, like the shipping, the storage, all of that stuff.
“Actually, I was kind of discussing that with Michael Phelps, because he heard that I auctioned my medals. He said, ‘How was that?’ I said, ‘You know what it was? It was a relief, you know, because then it was like it was a weight off my shoulders.’”
Peaty took a break from swimming after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
He previously took an extended break from sport in 2023 to prioritise his mental health after experiencing a “major, major burnout”.
However, while “the athlete in my head” is missing not competing at the ongoing World Championships in Singapore, Peaty has a clear plan for his return to competition and is training “a lot smarter” as an older athlete.
“I made the call in January or February, when I started to get back into training, that this Worlds wouldn’t be for me because it would be too rushed,” Peaty said.
“I want to be at the [2026] Commonwealth Games. I want to be at the Europeans next year. I’m never going to take my spot for granted – just because I’ve got a world record doesn’t mean I’m going to be there, it’s ridiculous. I’ve got to earn those places, which excites me.
“I did some race prep before I came out here to see where I’m at and we’re in a good place for October World Cups in America and Canada.”
On his training, he added: “If you’d told me 10 years ago I’d be doing a pilates session this morning, I would have said ‘no way’.
“I look back on certain camps and I was chasing numbers, I needed the outputs, the validation. But I wasn’t swimming the smartest in my head in terms of recovery, mental health and the warning signs of what burnout looks like.
“[Now] it’s what I decide. This block [in Los Angeles], I know it’s a holiday so I’m just going to see how I feel. When I get back into England I’m ramping up for the Commonwealth Games – 4km sessions, 4.5km – and that gives me the best results.”
Englishmen Black, Richardson and Hylton plus Welsh duo Thomas and Baulch were belatedly presented with their gold medals at Saturday’s Diamond League meeting at a sold-out London Stadium.
“It’s been hanging over us for a very, very long time. I mean, 28 years is a long time so yesterday really completed it. It was great,” added Black.
“In some ways, it was more special because we were there with our families and our kids, who obviously weren’t born back then.
“I think Jamie had a baby then but we were able to share it with our families and you don’t get to do that, do you?
“Also, more importantly, we shared it with 60,000 British fans in there and a lot of them supported us back in the day.
“I think pulling that together, it was actually a surprisingly emotional moment and we loved it. It was really special.”
Cherry Alexander, UK Athletics’ strategic lead for major events, said: “We’re proud to be able to give these athletes their moment in front of a home crowd.
“It’s a chance to recognise not just their talent, but the values they stood for. This medal means even more because of how long they’ve waited for it.”
