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Man Works at Walmart Deli - Shocks the World When He Qualifies For the Olympics

In the world of sports, Olympic hopefuls often dedicate their entire lives to training. However, Dylan Beard is an exception. This Walmart deli employee is not just preparing sandwiches but also preparing to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. His journey is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and an unbreakable spirit — and there's a lot we can learn from his story.

15 Motivational Stephen Curry Quotes to Help You Reach New Heights
Sports

15 Motivational Stephen Curry Quotes to Help You Reach New Heights

Representing the Golden State Warriors in NBA, Stephen Curry is an American professional basketball player renowned for his shooting accuracy.The son of Dell Curry, one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history, Stephen’s impressive skills were first noticed at national level when he led Davidson Wildcats to their first NCAA Tournament since 1969.After he was selected by the Golden State Warriors, Curry became the leading three-pointer scorer and helped his team win 24 consecutive matches. On top of all this, in 2016 he was the first person to be named MVP by unanimous vote in NBA history, and one of the 11 players to win the MVP award in two consecutive seasons. His mother might be the one behind his success as she fines him 100$ every time he commits four turnovers.Curry is also extremely active in charity work, donating money to help combat malaria.Here are 15 Stephen Curry quotes to help you stay motivated:I've always believed that success for anyone is all about drive, dedication, and desire, but for me, it's also been about confidence and faith.If you don’t fall how are you going to know what getting up is like?I’ve never been afraid of big moments. I get butterflies… I get nervous and anxious, but I think those are all good signs that I’m ready for the moment.Success is not an accident, success is actually a choice.I’m not the guy who’s afraid of failure. I like to take risks, take the big shot and all that.To excel at the highest level - or any level, really - you need to believe in yourself.I try to make it look easy, but the behind-the-scenes stuff is the challenge.Be humble, and be grateful for all the blessings in your life.Be the best version of yourself in anything that you do. You don’t have to live anybody else’s story.Sometimes people make it seem like you have to have certain prerequisites or a crazy life story in order to be successful in this world. But the truth is you really don’t.Every time I rise up, I have confidence that I’m going to make it.Success is born out of faith, an undying passion, and a relentless drive.The more years I go, the more experience I have, the more that nutrition and eating the right foods is important for recovery and things like that.We're going to have to work. We're going to have to play well. Nothing will be given to us.I always have an optimistic view, no matter what it is.

Brittney Griner's USA Basketball Teammates Refuse to Do This One Thing While She Suffers in a Russian Jail
Celebrities

Brittney Griner's USA Basketball Teammates Refuse to Do This One Thing While She Suffers in a Russian Jail

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and all-around basketball superstar Brittney Griner made headlines in February 2022 when she was arrested on a trip to Russia. As ESPN reported, the 31-year-old was stopped by authorities at Moscow’s airport when they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. RELATED:The Physical and Mental Health Benefit of Team SportsShe was taken into custody and a question-ridden trial followed. Many considered the legal process (and eventual verdict) to be a sham and argued that the WNBA star was being used as a political pawn. Brittney Griner’s Prison Sentence, Explained On August 4, 2022, Brittney Griner appeared in a Moscow courthouse and was found guilty of drug possession. Earlier, in July 2022, she had pleaded guilty to the charges but maintained she made "an honest mistake." However, she acknowledged she’d take full responsibility for it, saying, per ESPN, “I understand everything that's being said against me, the charges that are against me, and that is why I pled guilty, but I had no intent to break any Russian laws.” RELATED: Texas Bakers Lost Customers After Making Pride Cookies, Community Rallies In SupportEven so, a judge dismissed her explanation and sentenced Griner to nine years in a penal colony. The maximum possible sentence was 10 years. She also slapped the pro athlete with a fine of one million rubles or about $17,000 USD, per NPR. While Griner wasn’t able to speak after her conviction, her defense attorney, Maria Blagovolina, offered some insight into her state of mind. As she told reporters, Griner was "very upset, very stressed. She can hardly talk. It's a difficult time for her," she added. How USA Basketball Is Supporting Brittney Griner Brittney Griner’s harsh sentencing was met with an instant outcry. Even President Biden refused to mince words as he called it “unacceptable” and proclaimed, “Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney.” Going one step further, the US government reportedly began talks with Russia in the hopes of freeing Griner as part of a prisoner swap. However, support for the basketball great reaches far beyond Capitol Hill. While there may not be a lot that her USA Basketball teammates can do to help politically, they’re making their voices heard and showing support any other way they can. RELATED: Quotes about Sports, Motivation and VictoryIn May 2022, for example, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced, per Reuters, that they would be stenciling her initials and jersey number – No. 42 – onto the courts of all 12 WNBA teams. "As we begin the 2022 season, we are keeping Brittney at the forefront of what we do through the game of basketball and in the community,” she said. Jump to July and every player taking part in the WNBA All-Star Game wore a No. 42 jersey emblazoned with Griner's name during the second half of the televised game. Since Griner’s arrest, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) has also been tweeting about her situation non-stop and even helped launch a Change.org petition “demanding that lawmakers prioritize Griner’s return.” The One Thing Brittney Griner’s Teammates Won’t Do Brittney Griner’s USA Basketball teammates decided to show their unfaltering support for their star player during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in a special way. The three-time defending champions traveled to Sydney, Australia to take part in the tournament from September 22 to October 1, 2022 and they kept the focus on Griner by refusing to wear her number on the court. USA Basketball made the announcement on Twitter, writing that “USA Basketball continues to keep BG in our thoughts” and that “in her honor, no U.S. player will wear BG’s No. 15 in this competition.” No. 15 was the number Griner wore in international competitions. RELATED: Turn Your Favorite Sports Movie Quotes into a Game Plan for LifeSpeaking with Associated Press about the decision, USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley explained that “the best way to honor her was to not give her number out.” Calling the numbering system (which normally runs from four to 15) “very sacred,” he said they were willing to make the change to show their solidarity. “Now we're giving out 16 because we don't want to give away Brittney's 15 since she would have been here,” he said, adding, “It's a small way to pay homage to her and that we're thinking of her.”Opening up about the toll her absence has taken, USA coach Cheryl Reeve told AP they all think about her “every day.” Meanwhile, Griner’s Phoenix Mercury teammate Kia Nurse shared, “BG is the best of the best when it comes to human beings. It was a lot this season to not have her on the court, to not have her spirit, her energy around.”Is Kim Mulkey’s Silence ‘Cruel and Evil’?Brittney Griner hasn’t just been top of mind for those who play with her but for the whole sports community. When current Baylor Bears women's basketball coach Nicki Collen was asked about Griner in September 2022, she spoke about her for almost five minutes. “I see her as a mother, as a sister, as a spouse, as a daughter, as an unbelievable ambassador for the game of basketball,” she told reporters. Calling the ordeal a human rights issue, she added, "We should be doing everything in our power to get Brittney home.” RELATED: Serena Williams: Rise Above Adversity, and WinHowever, there is one prominent person who has refused to speak out on the matter and that’s the former Baylor Bears women's basketball coach, Kim Mulkey, who actually coached Griner when she was on the team from 2009 to 2013. Her silence has elicited incredible blowback with former Baylor players slamming Mulkey on social media. “SILENCE SPEAKS VOLUMES, smh,” tweeted Chloe Jackson while Shakira Austin wrote, “It’s all a business smh once you no longer benefit their lives watch how they move after.” Even soccer great Megan Rapinoe weighed in on Mulkey’s response (or lack thereof), writing, “This is honestly just cruel and evil and even more honestly. IT’S SHOWING SIS. The hate is seeping out.”The Power of Support Through Hardship Brittney Griner’s family, friends, and teammates may only be able to show up for Griner through words and gestures rather than concrete legal actions, but the power of that kind of support is not to be underestimated. As GraduateWay explains, “a strong social support network can be critical to help you through the stress of tough times.” Of course Griner’s ordeal is an unprecedented situation that doesn’t even begin to be encompassed by the phrase “tough times” but as Megan Rapinoe so bluntly put it, silence can have a real negative impact and can be outright cruel. RELATED: Employee Exposes Abusive Manager And Receives Unexpected SupportThat’s because knowing that you have people vouching for you, thinking of you, and supporting you can have “far-reaching benefits for your health.” Benefits like easing emotional distress and boosting mental strength, as much as is possible during such a heartbreaking struggle. As Ludy Green, PhD wrote in a Medium blog post, the power of support systems is truly valuable because it can help people through the darkest of times. Sharing a first-hand account, Green recalled how, in her greatest time of need, she learned how “vital” friendships can be, “not just with the practical matters but also by providing the nourishment and human warmth that my mind and soul needed.” While offering words of support, publicly condemning Griner’s conviction, and retiring her number may seem like trivial symbolic gestures, they do hold weight. For one, her teammates’ efforts have kept her case in the spotlight and helped ensure her plight is not forgotten. For another, they’ve sent a clear message to Griner which she’s hopefully been able to receive and draw strength from: There are countless people who love and support her and they’re all standing with her in her time of need.KEEP READING: The Real Reason Serena Williams Quit Tennis Is a Bittersweet Lesson in Sacrifice

Roger Federer's Best Quotes and Most Inspirational Moments
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Roger Federer's Best Quotes and Most Inspirational Moments

The Swiss athlete and retired professional tennis player Roger Federer is a highly respected player in his field. Once a dominating force in men’s tennis, Federer also held several titles and records over the course of his career. For 310 weeks, with 237 of those weeks being consecutive and record-breaking, he was ranked the world’s number one player by the Association of Tennis professionals. RELATED: Millionaire CEO Retires And Surprises Staff With $13.2 Million ‘Thank You’ GiftBetween 2003 and 2009, he played in 21 of the 28 major series finals, in addition to winning three quarters of the majors he qualified for, as well as the Association of Tennis Professionals Finals, known back then as the Tennis Master Cup. It is safe to say that from the perspective of his devoted fans, Roger Federer is worthy of his regular status as one of the highest-paid athletes in all sports.Although genuinely skilled with a strong legacy to leave behind as of his September 2022 retirement, Roger Federer is a beacon of optimism and humbleness. Despite his career being success of such rare proportions in only the world of tennis, but the professional sports industry as a whole, he does not appear to have embodied any form of arrogance through his public persona. Several inspiring and otherwise hopeful quotes have been attributed to the legendary tennis player, showing a healthy approach to both public work and life as a whole.Roger Federer and His Most Inspiring Quotes on Tennis"I enjoyed the position I was in as a tennis player. I was to blame when I lost. I was to blame when I won. And I really like that, because I played soccer a lot too, and I couldn't stand it when I had to blame it on the goalkeeper."Here is an example of Federer’s down-to-earth approach to sports despite being essentially part of the sporting elite with the bloated pay checks signed to his name over the years. It also individualizes a public figure whose image could have easily been fabricated by sports companies and the media for their own gains. Soccer, when compared to tennis, is reliant on collective effort. When they are an attacker or in a defensive position, players on the field cannot help it if their team’s goalie misses the mark and lets the ball in the net. With tennis, mishaps are entirely the player’s fault. Federer shows his dismay toward blaming others for his failures. He much prefers owning up to his mistakes, which is a good lesson for people to keep in mind even as adults."It doesn't need to be the same every day, doesn't need to be the same shower I use, the same restaurant I go to, the same hour I go to sleep. I've always been very flexible. I don't care if I practice at nine in the morning or 10 P.M."RELATED: Roger Federer – Give Your BestSome people prefer making a routine out of their lives, while others enjoy the embrace of the world’s innate chaos, and like going with the flow as a result. Roger Federer’s self-described flexibility is probably a huge key to his success. The line about going to practice at any time is perhaps the highlight of the quote, and it connects to Federer’s career to provide insight. It informs readers that the ideal career is one that can accommodate their personality and habits without depriving them of a healthy life."When I won in 2003, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would win Wimbledon and have my kids seeing me lift the trophy, so this is pretty surreal. And yeah, I was almost shocked in the moment that it all came together so nicely."Winning a tournament is a professional athlete’s equivalent to creatives in the film and television industry getting a highly prestigious award like an Oscar or an Emmy. Considering Federer’s Wimbledon victory occurred in 2003, it was only the beginning of his impressive streak. However, note that he prioritizes his kids when reminiscing, and not necessarily the glory that came with his victor. The quote is a reminder to everyone that one should not forget who will always be there for them in the most important times, even after becoming famous.Roger Federer's Quotes on Family and Friends"I used to get nervous, you know if my parents would come watch. And then I would get nervous if my friends came and watched. Today it's not a problem anymore actually, because now I enjoy it. I see that they, you know, respect me immensely, and I try to put on a good show and show that I can still play very good tennis."Another quote related to loved ones, it is not only a demonstration of Federer’s appreciation for the people in his life, but also of how to crush any doubts in your mind during big events. Seeing friends and family members among the people in the audience can be stressful, but it is important to remember where we came from. The wealth and attention that come with being a celebrity can easily make the “lucky” one forget who truly supported them in dire times. Federer is here to remind people that seeing your loved ones in important events is far from nerve-racking. It might be the most comforting thing to see in a context like this one.Roger Federer's Quote on Fame"To handle that stardom, the red carpets, the photo shoots, people all of a sudden recognizing you and following you in everyday life, it's a bit weird. It's strange, and it can have funny effects on you in terms of do you like it or don't you like it. Some people run away from it, some people embrace it; I found a good middle ground."Considering how the previous quotes showed Federer’s willingness to keep the people close to him as well as his unorthodox routine in his life, this one is the perfect send-off. Here, Federer shows his relationship with fame. The press and glamor are often overwhelming, and as he points out, people that deal with it react in a fight or flight mode. Overall, the best approach to fame is maintaining a private life like you did beforehand while humbly interacting with the media when necessary. This was Federer’s technique, and as his successful, currently scandal-free career indicates, it appears to be one of the healthier ways to partake in celebrity culture.KEEP READING:The Real Reason Serena Williams Quit Tennis Is a Bittersweet Lesson in Sacrifice

The Real Reason Serena Williams Quit Tennis Is a Bittersweet Lesson in Sacrifice
Celebrities

The Real Reason Serena Williams Quit Tennis Is a Bittersweet Lesson in Sacrifice

Serena Williams appears in more headlines, news and sports stories, and gossip columns as any other media sensation in the 21st Century. That was certainly the case this week, with the 41-year-old tennis legend’s announcement that she is “evolving away from tennis.”She let out the word on her “evolution” in a cover story of the just-released September issue of Vogue.RELATED: Serena Williams Proves You Don’t Have To Change Anything About Yourself To Find LoveRetirement? Williams avoided using that specific word, and later in the 3000-word article defined her terms more specifically, but even with the carefully worded workaround, there was nary a media outlet in the Free World that didn’t jump on the story immediately.Serena Has Won 23 Grand Slam Singles TitlesThat’s been the case involving Serena Williams for more than two decades, beginning back in 1999 when, as a 17-year-old, she won the Women’s Singles title at the 1999 U.S. Open. Her victory was the first of what has grown into 23 Grand Slam singles titles (which include seven at the Australian Open, three at the French Open, seven at Wimbledon, and six at the U.S. Open).Over the past 20-plus years, her presence, talent, and power, alongside that of her older sister Venus Williams (a former No. 1 player who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles), have transcended tennis and changed the world’s perception of strength, endurance and dominance of female athletes. Recent years have seen a huge and seemingly unending online debate about who is the greatest athlete of all time, Serena Williams or quarterback Tom Brady.RELATED: Serena Williams: Rise Above Adversity, and WinParalleling her athletic journey has been her worldwide recognition as a force in business (Forbes lists her as the highest-earning woman athlete of all time), fashion and entertainment.That said, there’s something fitting about essentially announcing her retirement from professional tennis with very carefully chosen words in an as-told-to cover story (with Rob Haskell) in Vogue’s famed September issue.Fashionable Serena Announces Her Retirement in Vogue“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people,” she states, four paragraphs into the story. “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.”The issue arrives a little more than two weeks before the start of the U.S. Open on August 29, which, if we’re to believe what William says, will be her final appearance in a Grand Slam event.RELATED: Serena Williams On The Importance of Believing In YourselfThe story finds the tennis pro musing about her career, her beginnings under the tutelage of her parents alongside sister Venus, her astounding rise and continued supremacy as a professional tennis player, her love of husband of five years, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, and their five-year-old daughter, Olympia, and what she terms her reluctance “to admit to myself or anyone else that I have to move on from playing tennis.”While Williams is clearly not traditionally “thrilled” about retiring (“I know that a lot of people are excited about and look forward to retiring, and I really wish I felt that way,” she said), it is her love of family and a desire to make it bigger, coupled with a business she recently started, that appear to have prompted her move toward retirement.Serena Is Looking Forward to Growing Her FamilyWilliams' venture, eponymously named Serena Ventures, is a venture capital firm that she “quietly started a few years ago” which invests in early-stage ideas and companies, many in technology and run by women. She is proud to point out that a healthy seventy-eight percent of the firm’s portfolio is for companies started by women and people of color. According to its founder, Serena Ventures was an all-female business until recently, when they hired their first man.“A diversity hire!” says Williams.RELATED: 16 Jordan Peele Quotes on Creativity and DiversityShe clearly believes that the goal of having it all — success and satisfaction in one’s professional and personal lives — is attainable, but neither comes without a sacrifice.“Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair,” she says. “If I were a guy, I wouldn’t be writing this because I’d be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family.“Maybe I’d be more of a Tom Brady if I had that opportunity.”Serena Plans to Focus on Her Family and New Business VentureStill, with the sun setting on the athletic career that has defined her, and the prospect of a growing family and strides forward in a burgeoning business, Williams' is a prime example of how personal, professional, and spiritual success can be defined and redefined over the course of time as one acknowledges that personal sacrifice will always play a role in the process, as will the necessity to reassess priorities and limitations in pursuit of one’s goals.RELATED: Serena Williams Had To Survive Being Compared to Her “Thinner” SisterAnd for Serena Williams, that next chapter begins with putting down her Grand Slam-winning racket after the upcoming U.S. Open.“There comes a time in life when we have to decide to move in a different direction. That time is always hard when you love something so much. My goodness do I enjoy tennis,” she stated in an Instagram post the day her cover story was released. “But now, the countdown has begun. I have to focus on being a mom, my spiritual goals and finally discovering a different, but just as exciting Serena. I'm gonna relish these next few weeks.”KEEP READING: Serena Williams Get Real About Mental Health, Inspires Us to Let Go of the Pressure to Be Perfect

Top 20 Serena Williams Quotes to Inspire You to Rise Up and Win
Sports

Top 20 Serena Williams Quotes to Inspire You to Rise Up and Win

Serena Williams was only 21 when she was first named world No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) in 2002. Since then, Serena has repeated the feat no fewer than eight times, spending a total of 319 weeks as world No. 1. RELATED: Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Is Proof of Why You Should Never Settle For Less In LoveShe holds a total of 39 Grand Slam titles, 23 of which were for Grand Slam singles. To many tennis commentators and players, Serena Williams is quite simply the greatest female tennis player of all time. But Williams' journey to the top was not an easy one, and she had to fight for her victories every step of the way. Her story is an inspiration to girls, women and all visible minorities who are forced to confront judgments and prejudices on the path to their dreams. With that in Serena Williams' Most Inspirational Quotes 1. Growing up I wasn’t the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit. Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. I went on a court just with a ball and a racket and with a hope.2. Think of all the girls who could become top athletes but quit sports because they're afraid of having too many defined muscles and being made fun of or called unattractive.3. I decided I can’t pay a person to rewind time, so I may as well get over it.4. I think you have to love yourself before you fall in love. I’m still learning to love myself.5. I don’t like to lose -- at anything -- Yet I’ve grown most not from victories, but setbacks. If winning is God’s reward, then losing is how he teaches us.6. There’s one thing I’m really good at, and that’s hitting the ball over a net, in a box. I’m excellent.7. Family’s first, and that’s what matters most. We realize that our love goes deeper than the tennis game.8. With a defeat, when you lose, you get up, you make it better, you try again. That’s what I do in life, when I get down, when I get sick, I don’t want to just stop. I keep going and I try to do more. Everyone always says never give up but you really have to take that to heart and really do never definitely give up. Keep trying.9. I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.10. You can be whatever size you are, and you can be beautiful both inside and out. We’re always told what’s beautiful and what’s not, and that’s not right.11. I always believe I can beat the best, achieve the best. I always see myself in the top position.12. The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble.RELATED: Serena Williams Proves You Don’t Have To Change Anything About Yourself To Find Love13. I’m definitely not a fearless individual.14. I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.15. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.16. I’ve had to learn to fight all my life – got to learn to keep smiling. If you smile things will work out.17. Since I don’t look like every other girl, it takes a while to be okay with that. To be different. But different is good.18. Everything comes at a cost. Just what are you willing to pay for it?19. Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.20. I think in life you should work on yourself until the day you die.KEEP READING:The Real Reason Serena Williams Quit Tennis Is a Bittersweet Lesson in Sacrifice

'Extreme Ironing' Is the Weirdest Sport in the World - Can It Help Smooth Out Your Life?
Just for Fun

'Extreme Ironing' Is the Weirdest Sport in the World - Can It Help Smooth Out Your Life?

If you’re scratching your head wondering what in the world we’re talking about when we say "extreme ironing," you’re not alone. It’s a phenomenon that’s been around since the early 1980s, at least by one account. Whenever it started, it is now a real sport with its own board (no pun intended): the Extreme Ironing Bureau (they go by the catchy nickname "Team Steam"), which describes this unique sport this way:"Extreme Ironing is the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt. Extreme ironing, also called EI, can take place anywhere under the sky and borrows disciplines from other extreme sports, such as rock climbing, skiing, scuba diving, sky diving, and running.” It's doubtful that anyone has ever thought of ironing as dangerous, outside of sustaining a burn from the iron’s hot surface, but that may be because you've been doing it wrong! What Is Extreme Ironing and How Did It Start? Believe it or not, there’s actually a bit of controversy over where and when extreme ironing got its start. The origins of the sport date back to England when Tony Hiam was inspired by his eccentric brother-in-law John Slater, an ironing enthusiast who liked to iron his clothes even when he was camping and therefore living in a tent. Hiam thought this was the weirdest thing and attempted to convince his eccentric brother-in-law that ironing is useless. How did he do that? By taking his ironing board and iron to the tops of mountains, to airport terminals, on top of telephone booths, and more. Hiam was so committed to what seemed at the time to be a prank that he carried his iron and ironing board in the trunk of his car just in case he passed prime remote locations suitable for a little ironing in the wild, or, extreme ironing as it came to be known. RELATED: Why Nikki Bella’s Only Challenge More ‘Extreme’ Than Ronda Rousey Is BeautifulAs surprising as it may seem, there’s another origin story for the sport of extreme ironing. Team Steam claims Phil Shaw founded the sport in Leicester, England in 1997 when, after a long, hard day at work at the knitwear factory, he came home to a pile of clothes that needed ironing and just could not deal with the boring task at that moment. Phil was an avid rock climber and would have preferred to go out and do that rather than iron. Phil grabbed his laundry materials and headed out into his backyard to do his ironing. When his roommate got home and saw Phil ironing outside, he asked what he was doing. As legend has it, Phil replied, “extreme ironing.”In 1999, Shaw decided the world was ready to be introduced to the death-defying world of extreme ironing, so he took his iron and ironing board to the United States, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Fiji. He met German tourists while he was in New Zealand, which led to the creation of international extreme ironing groups, as well as the German Extreme Ironing Section.How Did Extreme Ironing Become Popular?It took a while for extreme ironing to take off. This extreme outdoor activity was helped by a 2003 documentary called Extreme Ironing: Pressing for Victory, which appeared on the UK's Channel 4. The documentary aired after the British extreme ironing team snagged Bronze and Gold medals in the first Extreme Ironing Championships in Germany in 2002. Twelve teams competed for the top prize in extreme ironing. Channel 4 also aired an additional story looking at the rivalry between the Extreme Ironing Bureau (EIB) and a new group that broke off from the extreme ironing group to start an extreme sport with vacuum cleaners. Who Is the Best at Extreme Ironing?Based on the results of the 2002 Extreme Ironing Championships, women rule the sport. Despite the controversy two men have over who founded the sport, women placed in all three top positions at the world championships after completing five grueling tests of their ironing skills. RELATED: The Physical and Mental Health Benefit of Team SportsIn these tournaments, competitors are asked to iron several different fabrics in varying environments, including a rocky surface, in the forest, in the city, and underwater. Becca Rogers took third place, Jade Dunn took second place, and Chrissy Quaid won first place. The prizes ranged from a trip to Hawaii to household appliances. The Strangest Places Extreme Ironing Has Taken PlaceAs the sport of extreme ironing has taken off, it has happened in some truly bizarre locations and with some truly extreme positions. For example, extreme ironing bungee jumping is considered to be the ultimate thrill for the adrenaline junkies who partake in the sport. Extreme ironing athletes have even climbed to the Mt. Everest Base Camp and ironed a Union Jack at an altitude of 17,850 feet above sea level. This record was set by Brits John Roberts, Ben Gibbons, and Christophe Jowsey in 2003, the BBC reported. In 2008, 72 divers set a new world record for underwater ironing when they all ironed simultaneously underwater together. The following year, a group of 128 divers tried to break that world record by sending 128 divers below the surface of the water. They managed to get 86 divers to iron simultaneously, breaking the previous record. Then, in 2010, divers in Key Largo, Florida tried to break that record only to be usurped in 2011 by a Dutch diving club that sent 173 divers into an indoor swimming pool to iron underwater.In New Zealand, Matthew Battley hiked up Mount Ruapehu to iron. He did not set his sights on ironing halfway up, he hiked the whole way up the active volcano using a pulley mechanism to haul his ironing board. When he reached the top, he ironed a button-down shirt with 80-mile-per-hour winds threatening to blow him and his ironing board off the side of the volcano. Another man ironed on the M1 motorway in London and another did so 138 feet underwater in the world’s deepest pool in Italy. Other people have ironed on an ice sheet and in an old lava tunnel. Still others iron while parachuting down to earth.What Are the Rules of Extreme Ironing?Believe it or not, there are strict rules and regulations that govern the sport of extreme ironing. For instance, competitors must use an ironing board, with legs, that is at least one meter long and 30 centimeters wide. Approved irons must be made of iron and plastic irons are prohibited. The garments that are ironed also have to be larger than a tea towel. Extreme ironing competitors use portable irons that do not need to be plugged in, for anyone wondering whether they actually work. In 2012, extreme ironing international pioneer, Phil Shaw, came out of retirement to run the inaugural Extreme Ironing Half Marathon while stopping to iron clothes along the way. RELATED: Overconfidence: What Does It Mean – And Why Is It So Dangerous?The event was won by a former Army officer Tom McShane, who beat out eight other extreme ironing world competitors for the top prize of a new Philips iron. McShane finished the half marathon in 1 hour and 44 minutes while ironing three items of clothing during the 13.1-mile jaunt. The Extreme Ironing Half Marathon took place during the Hastings Half Marathon, meaning more than 4,000 runners not carrying an ironing board, iron, and wrinkled laundry had to navigate the course around the extreme ironing athletes. What Is the Point of Extreme Ironing - And Is It Good for You?In a nutshell, extreme ironing is for fun. It combines the mundane task of ironing with mental strength, physical fitness, and a keen sense of humor. After all, the very concept is completely ridiculous. And they do say laughter is the best medicine! So, in the end, whether you partake in extreme ironing and enjoy it or you read this article and it made you laugh, we can conclude that extreme ironing is indeed good for you. Of course, to state the rather obvious, extreme ironing will also ensure you have well-pressed clothes, while also getting a bit of exercise. Both of those will make life a bit easier overall and the multi-tasking of the combination of the somewhat pointless venture of ironing while hiking, running or scaling a mountain will save you time in the long run. KEEP READING:What Is ‘BDE’ and What Are the Signs You Have It?

Teen Runner Sacrifices Chances Of Qualifying To Help Carry Competitor Across Finish Line
Uplifting News

Teen Runner Sacrifices Chances Of Qualifying To Help Carry Competitor Across Finish Line

Collapsed 400 meters before the finish lineTrack and field runner and Omaha Burke High School sophomore Blake Cerveny was on a mission. Cerveny got a fast start in the 3.1-mile race and was hoping for a personal best to qualify for the upcoming state meet. But with less than 400 meters to go, the runner's legs cramped up and he fell to the ground."My legs gave out on me and I fell to the ground and just my hands hit," he told KETV.He refused to give upBut Cerveny refused to give up. He got up to continue the race only to fall again after 150 meters.The team's coach called from the sidelines, “Are you ok?” Blake nodded his head in reply, as reported by Prep Running Nerd.“OK, just stay down. You did great.”But Blake wouldn't give up.“I need to finish."Blake CervenyStranger helps up competitorFellow runner Brandon Shutt had actually been in the same position as his competitor three weeks prior when he wasn't able to complete a race.So when he noticed Cerveny was down, without a moment's hesitation he attempted to help him over the finish line. "I felt awful about not finishing. I felt like I was letting my teammates down, and I was letting myself down. So ultimately I just made the call," he told KETV.Runner displays selflessnessAt first, Shutt couldn't get Cerveny to stand up, but he persevered and the two athletes crossed the finish line together.“This is the first time I’ve ever seen an athlete stop his race and work so hard to help his fellow competitor across the finish line,” Prep Running Nerd author Jay Slagle told Good News Network. “Perhaps more impressively, Brandon had virtually no time to think about whether he should help or not; he reacted so quickly that he did it instinctively.”As per the rules of the race, Cerveny was disqualified for not completing it on his own, but Shutt's time stood, therefore sacrificing his chance at qualifying for the state meet.“Brandon is an excellent person,” the team's head track coach Rachel Carraher told KETV. “He is really kind and a great leader on the team.”"I really appreciate what he did and I'm going to remember that."Blake CervenyCompassion > competitionIn life and in sports, we're taught to be competitive. "Win at all costs," they sometimes say.But a world with only competitiveness and compassion is a mean, mean world.In this race, Shutt showed compassion and selflessness, which despite not winning the race are more valuable in the grand scheme of things than winning.More uplifting storiesThree Women Discover They’re Dating The Same Man – What Happens Next Is ShockingPerceptive Bartender Saves Women From Creep Who Won’t Take No For An AnswerAthlete Lost Race On Purpose When His Rival Didn’t See The Finish LineMillionaire Shocks Neighbors By Inviting Homeless Couple To Live In His $4M HouseLead with integrity"If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing." -- Henry Kravis

25 Kobe Bryant Quotes to Help You Overcome Every Challenge
Sports

25 Kobe Bryant Quotes to Help You Overcome Every Challenge

Often referred to as one of the best basketball players in the history of the game, Kobe Bryant played in the NBA, with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons before his retirement in 2016.Tragically, the "Black Mamba," along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, had their lives cut short after a fatal helicopter crash in 2020.Less than four years into the retirement of the beloved athlete, Bryant was seizing new challenges and working to inspire his daughters’ generation through sports and storytelling when his next chapter ended shockingly early.Never a strange to the big shot on the court, Bryant also had a way with words and was able to motivate his fans through quotes. “It’s step by step," said Bryant. "One foot in front of the other. Get better every single day.”Kobe was never a stranger to the game that skyrocketed his legacy, since his father was also a professional basketball player. He spent most of his childhood in Italy after his father retired from the NBA and moved his family to Rieti to continue his career, but at a lower level.Work Hard: Bryant Was the Epitome of a Superstar Athlete NBA.comBryant started shooting hoops when he was only three years old and earned national recognition in high school, after moving back to the US. He was soon traded to the Lakers and became the second youngest NBA player in history.For several years, Bryant constantly competed with his teammate Shaquille O’Neal for the title of Lakers’ greatest player. When talented O’Neal left the team, Kobe finally got the chance to prove that he can still perform brilliantly and led the Lakers to two consecutive championships.Bryant Never Lost Sight of Living his Own DreamMediaNews Group/Getty ImagesIn 2003, Kobe’s reputation was seriously tarnished after he was accused of sexual assault. All charges were dropped and he maintained his innocence. On the 26th of January 2020, Kobe and Gianna met with a tragic and untimely death when their helicopter crashed. The news sent a shockwave throughout the whole world, as his impact has been widespread. He left behind his wife, Vanessa Bryant and his 3 other daughters.In his retirement years, Kobe learned much from coaching basketball to his daughter Gianna, whom he saw as his legacy. He became a strong advocate for the Women's National Basketball Association and female athletes all over. Here Are 25 Kobe Bryant Quotes to Help You Overcome Every Challenge"This is the moment I accept the most challenging times will always be behind me and in front of me.""Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.""The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.""Winning takes precedence over all. There’s no gray area. No almosts.""Once you know what failure feels like, determination chases success.""I realized that intimidation didn’t really exist if you’re in the right frame of mind.""I’m reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. I reflect with a purpose.""I’m extremely willful to win, and I respond to challenges. It’s not a challenge to me to win the scoring title, because I know I can.""My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.""The beauty in being blessed with talent is rising above doubters to create a beautiful moment.""A lot of leaders fail because they don’t have the bravery to touch that nerve or strike that chord.""The moment you give up, is the moment you let someone else win.""I can’t relate to lazy people. We don’t speak the same language. I don’t understand you. I don’t want to understand you.""If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.""Pain doesn’t tell you when you ought to stop. Pain is the little voice in your head that tries to hold you back because it knows if you continue you will change.""Use your success, wealth and influence to put them in the best position to realize their own dreams and find their true purpose.""If you want to be great at something, there’s a choice you have to make. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that. Family time, hanging out with friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be.""We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it. You embrace it.""My brain . . . it cannot process failure. It will not process failure. Because if I sit there and have to face myself and tell myself, ‘You’re a failure’ . . . I think that’s almost worse than death.""The most important thing is you must put everybody on notice that you’re here and you are for real.""Trust me, setting things up right from the beginning will avoid a ton of tears and heartache…""I create my own path. It was straight and narrow. I looked at it this way: you were either in my way, or out of it.""We can always kind of be average and do what’s normal. I’m not in this to do what’s normal.""Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.""It’s the one thing you can control. You are responsible for how people remember you—or don’t. So don’t take it lightly."FEAR IS HOLDING YOU BACKHave you pushed yourself today?

8 Months Ago, He Was A 39-Year-Old DoorDash Driver - Today, He's A Pro Golfer
Uplifting News

8 Months Ago, He Was A 39-Year-Old DoorDash Driver - Today, He's A Pro Golfer

Contrary to popular belief, not all golfers are rich, and David Skinns was an example of a player who played for the love of the game for 16 years. But this summer, Skinns defied all expectations, proving hard work and perseverance can pay off no matter the odds.He worked as a bartender and food delivery driverEight months ago, 39-year-old English golfer David Skinns was working as a DoorDash delivery driver in Georgia to support his family through the coronavirus pandemic. He'd also spent time as a bartender during his 16-year career as a pro golfer. During that time, Skinns had only won one major victory and was ranked 82th on the points list just this July. But then came the Pinnacle Bank Championship in Omaha, Nebraska in August, and the Englishman defied all expectations — well, except his own.Defying expectationsAt the tournament, the last of the regular season, Skinns had one of the best golf days of his life, one-putting the last four holes to win against much-younger golfers.“It was stressful on me, and it was stressful on my family,” Skinns told Golf Digest of his improbable victory. “I always believed I could win this week."A accomplished his life-long dreamAlong with winning the tournament, Skinns leaped into the top echelon for points on the season, becoming one of just 25 players to earn an illustrious PGA Tour card.“It’s unreal. It’s been a lot of years to hear those words,” he told Golf Digest.Perseverance pays offWhen everyone doubted Skinns, probably even his own family, he didn't listen. He knew he had what it takes and in the end, he proved all the haters wrong. His story is a wonderful example of perseverance fit for a Hollywood movie and proves that hard work can pay off at any age.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others