Matthew Smith Junior Reporter

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Matthew Smith obtained a masters degree in Print Journalism from the University of Sheffield before becoming a news reporter for the Enfield Independent in North London, while also covering Tottenham Hotspur football matches and other local sports. He joined the Daily Mail and Mail Online as a digital sports reporter in October 2016, and in 2017 was nominated for the NCTJ Award for Excellence in the trainee sports journalism category. He joined insidethegames.biz in May 2019.

Olympic snowboarding champion Kim to take year-long break

Winter Olympic snowboarding champion Chloe Kim is taking a year out of the sport to attend her first year of college and be "a normal kid for once".

It's now or never for United States Olympic softball trialists

A group of 29 Olympic hopefuls will compete for a spot in the United States softball team this week, ahead of the sport returning to the Games programme next summer.

Quadruple gold medallist, 12, named best female Para athlete at Lima 2019

Swimmer Sara Vargas, 12, has won the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) Best Female Athlete award for August, after her record-breaking performances at the Parapan American Games.

Amor and Forrest named GB sevens coaches for 2020 Olympics

Simon Amor and Scott Forrest have been named coaches for the British teams at the Tokyo 2020 rugby sevens competition.

Fan begins bid for fourth ITTF Swedish Open title with victory

Fan Zhendong made a strong start to his bid for Swedish Open history this week, winning his opening-round match at the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour event in Stockholm.

Reigning champions suffer defeats at European Field Championships

Slovenia's Ana Umer will not win a third consecutive women's recurve title at the European Field Archery Championships, after suffering pool stage defeat in Mokrice-Catez, Slovenia.

Indonesia and China still on course for final at BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships

Defending champions China and top seeds Indonesia are one match away from a final clash at the Badminton World Federation World Junior Mixed Team Championships, after winning their quarter-finals in straight sets.

FIAS change SAMBO weight categories and women's fight lengths

The Executive Committee of the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) has announced a series of fundamental changes in the sport, including weight categories and bout lengths at official competitions.

World Sailor of the Year 2019 award nominees announced

World champions and winners of some of the year's biggest races head the list of nominees for the 2019 World Sailor of the Year awards.

Tickets on sale for WBSC Premier12 group featuring champions South Korea

Tickets for Group C of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) men's Premier12 competition, featuring reigning champions South Korea, have gone on sale.

Indonesia and China make strong start to BWF World Junior Championships

The 2019 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Championships got underway today with the start of the mixed teams event in Kazan.

Well-rested Steadman congratulated by sponsor after latest World Paratriathlon Championship title

Lauren Steadman has been congratulated by one of her main sponsors after winning her seventh World Paratriathlon Championship.

First inspections of Yekaterinburg venues for 2023 Summer Universiade

The first round of inspections have taken place at the venues for the 2023 Summer Universiade in Yekaterinburg in Russia.

Fan eyeing Swedish Open history at latest ITTF World Tour event

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour arrives in Stockholm this week with the Swedish Open, the 10th event of the 2019 season.

Alexandrova stuns sixth seed Halep at WTA China Open

Ekaterina Alexandrova caused the biggest upset of the second round at the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) China Open as she beat sixth seed Simona Halep in straight sets.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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