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Oksana Chusovitina competed at eight consecutive Olympic Games

Uzbekistan's Oksana Chusovitina marked her 50th birthday with a silver medal in the vault at the Gymnastics World Challenge Cup – 33 years after she became an Olympic champion.

Chusovitina was part of a Unified Team of athletes from post-Soviet nations that won the team all-around gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games, and has competed at eight Olympics in total.

Three decades later the Uzbek, who is also a three-time world champion, is still winning medals in a sport in which most retire in their twenties.

Competing in her native country at the International Gymnastics Federation's World Challenge Cup in Tashkent one day after her birthday, Chusovitina took vault silver behind Bulgaria's Valentina Georgieva – who, at 18, is 32 years her junior.

Until Paris 2024, Chusovitina had competed at every summer Olympic Games since 1992.

She was looking to equal the record – set by Georgian shooter Nino Salukvadze, who is the only Olympian to have competed in nine consecutive Games – for most Olympic appearances in a row last year in Paris.

However,injury ruled her out of the Asian Championships,meaning she was unable to qualify.

Chusovitina was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2017, and eight years later she remains the only member to still be competing after their induction.

She explained before the Tokyo Games why she had not yet retired: "I could have stopped at 25, 19, or 30, but I didn't. I realised with age I didn't get worse, I only got better, like fine wine."

She had made it clear in February that she was targeting her home event.

"In June, on my 50th birthday, we will have a competition here in Tashkent. It will be a World Challenge Cup, and I really want to compete there so I'm keeping my fingers crossed," she said.

Earlier this month she withdrew from the Asian Championships during the final of the vault in order to ensure she could compete in Tashkent.

Oksana Chusovitina competed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics – many gymnasts who have now retired from the sport had not even been born by then

After her team gold in Barcelona, she represented Uzbekistan at the next three Games but, after moving to Germany when her son was diagnosed with leukaemia, she gained citizenship and switched allegiances.

Her second Olympic medal was a silver in the vault while representing Germany at the 2008 Beijing Games.

She represented Germany at the 2012 Games in London then switched back to Uzbekistan for the 2016 Rio Olympics – and qualified for the delayed Games in Tokyo in 2021.

Chusovitina did briefly retire after the Tokyo Games, but returned to the sport just 67 days later.

Speaking about the decision in 2023, she said: "I just realised, I felt that I can do this. Why should I leave the sport if it brings me joy?".

Previously this season she had won gold at the Baku World Cup and bronze at the Cottbus World Cup.

By the time athletes head out to the United States for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, Chusovitina will be 53 years of age, but she has not ruled out a ninth trip to the Olympics.

"My number one goal is to get to Los Angeles," she said before this week's competition.

"But there is so much time before then, so I'm not thinking that far ahead. I go step by step, from one competition to the next. If it happens, it happens. If not, then no. But I will try, and I will give it everything I've got."

Josh Adams has played 61 internationals for Wales

Wing Josh Adams says it hurts that some of his Wales team-mates having not experienced an international victory.

The national men's side are on a record 17-match Test losing sequence as they prepare for a two match tour of Japan in July.

Wales have slipped to a new low of 12th place in the world rankings with the previous international win against Georgia in October 2023.

In contrast, Adams was part of a Wales side that won a record 14 games and reached number one in the world in August 2019.

"It hurts me when some boys say they've never won for Wales," said Adams.

"It's horrible when they say things like that because of the things I've experienced.

"We didn't know how to lose at one stage for Wales. Even when we weren't playing well we managed to win."

Josh Adams joined Cardiff from Worcester in 2020

Adams, 30, is confident Wales can halt the losing streak.

"We probably have just got a little bit lost and are trying to find our way back now," said Adams.

"That'll come because the talent is there. I know I see it every day, these boys are as good as what we've had and are good enough to produce and win.

"It's just confidence is a huge thing."

The British and Irish Lions wing says the desire and commitment is there to change Wales' fortunes.

"It is horrible to question that, although I know it can be questioned when you are looking in because of the results and magnitude of some of them," said Adams.

"That hurts the playing group. They have lost and lost badly on occasions, but it doesn't affect the amount of effort that goes in. That can never be questioned.

"There will be a tipping point. We all believe that and hope it will be this summer. "

Adams says the squad have spoken about the situation they are in.

"It's something we have addressed because there is no point in not talking about things," said Adams.

"The more open and vulnerable we can make each other as players in speaking about different aspects of the game and life, the easier it becomes to talk about difficult things."

Welsh rugby reaches record low as England run riot

Wales' imperfect 10 as Six Nations misery is complete

Where can Welsh rugby possibly go from here?

Wales caretaker head coach Matt Sherratt (centre) has added Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (left) and Adam Jones (right) to his backroom team for the tour of Japan

Former head coach Warren Gatland left in February during the Six Nations with his permanent successor yet to be appointed.

Adams is hoping Wales will benefit in Japan from the new-look coaching team that is led again by caretaker boss Matt Sherratt and includes backroom staff Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny.

"It has been brilliant and exactly what the squad needed with a new way of looking at the schedule," said Adams.

"Meeting times have changed, how we do weights and at what time. Everything feels new, which is a good thing because it has freshened things up.

"The addition of Danny and Gethin for the summer is brilliant."

Wilson to return to Harlequins after Wales role

Wales add Halfpenny to coaching staff for Japan tour

Caretaker coach Sherratt to lead Wales in Japan

Josh Adams has played in two World Cups in Japan and France

Adams has fond memories of Japan having been the World Cup's top try-scorer with seven when Wales reached the semi-finals in 2019.

Six years on, he is only one of four survivors from that squad alongside Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Aaron Wainwright.

In an inexperienced squad heading to Japan, Adams is the most capped back with 61 Wales internationals, with only Test centurion Taulupe Faletau boasting more appearances.

Cardiff wing Adams is back fit after missing the final three Six Nations defeats because of a hamstring injury.

"I got back for the last six games of the season," said Adams.

"That meant I had probably the longest consecutive run of matches I've had in at least a season and a half and I'm feeling good at the minute."

The new-look squad have spent the past few weeks attempting to acclimatise to the searing heat and humidity expected in Kitakyushu and Kobe.

Japan coach Eddie Jones has stated he wants to run Wales around in matches that will be played in the afternoon.

Wales have replicated the tactics sides adopted in the 2019 World Cup by training with wet balls to become used to the greasy conditions.

They have also had intense gym sessions in a heat chamber at Wales' training base where temperatures are ramped up to 36 degrees and 87% humidity.

Adams has experienced previous brutal fitness sessions with Wales in Switzerland and Turkey and rates the latest conditions as some of the toughest he has experienced.

"Some boys were saying 'that's the hardest thing I've ever done' and it's got to be in the top three worst I've felt after a session," said Adams.

"It was really bad, genuine, because it's so stuffy.

"There's certain times and calories you've got to do, but you're all crammed in there, so it's uncomfortable when you're knackered.

"You want a bit of space just to breathe, but you can't because it's so hot and stuffy and everyone's rubbing against each other. You're trying to not agitate each other because it's so cramped.

"But the boys have managed pretty well, no one's tapped out yet, so we're doing alright."

Wales will travel to Japan 10 days before the first Test after having intense heat preparations sessions at their home training base

The gruelling conditions led to some players losing up to 5kg in one session.

"We're weighing in before and after, we take one bottle of water which is rationed for the whole session," said Adams.

"Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose and it's a considerable amount of weight.

"There's a lot of fluid then you've got to drink to get your body back to some sort of base level."

Adams says one of the worst parts is "cooling down as you let your body regulate the temperature".

"They don't want us hopping in ice baths because you can't do that in the game," said Adams.

"It's trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature and back to normal.

"We have done these off-field conditioning sessions and then come straight down and got into some skills.

"It's trying to copy what the climate would be like out there as best we can and make it as comfortable as it can, so we're in a good space to cope with anything."

Jimmy Anderson celebrates a wicket with former captain Keaton Jennings

Lancashire have confirmed that James Anderson will captain the side in their County Championship Division Two game against Kent at Blackpool, starting on Sunday, as they bid to ignite their faltering red-ball season.

England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker will lead the Red Rose in their next two matches in the absence of Marcus Harris, who is returning to Australia for the birth of his second child.

Interim coach Stephen Croft is hoping Anderson's X factor and experience can help drag Lancashire to a first victory of the campaign at the eighth attempt – they are currently the only winless side in the country in either division.

"Jimmy will lead the side and it is exciting for him and us," Croft told BBC Sport.

"He has captained only once and that was in a pre-season tour T20 game in Dubai so it will be nice for Jimmy and nice for the lads.

"He has obviously got a lot to offer on and off the field. It will be a proud moment for him. It is not obviously all on Jimmy but it helps and his presence, particularly as captain, is a massive boost for the rest of the lads."

Lancashire, who were relegated last summer, are second-from-bottom in the table, 42 points behind the second promotion place, currently occupied by Derbyshire, with seven games remaining.

Dale Benkenstein left the club after seven Championship rounds

It is easier to ask 'what has gone right?' with regard to the red-ball campaign and the short answer is 'not a great deal'.

Five draws and two defeats from their seven outings in the first Championship block has cost them plenty withKeaton Jennings stepping aside as skipper after five games.

The opener suggested a change of captaincy was required and Harris was put in charge on an interim basis, but further flux was to follow at the end of last month whenpatience ran out with head coach Dale Benkenstein.

A thumping defeat by an innings and three runs inside three days against Division Two leaders Leicestershire – the second innings loss in three games for Lancashire and one which left them 73 points adrift of top spot halfway through the campaign – proved the tipping point.

But a decent run of form in white-ball cricket has followed and crucially the first wins of the summer, helped in no small part by 42-year-old Anderson weighing in with 10 wickets in four matches.

Lancashire Lightning have won five of seven Vitality Blast matches

Five wins from seven games in the Blast sees them well-placed in the race for a quarter-final spot and Croft is hoping that the feelgood factor from white-ball cricket will translate to the longest format.

"The way I'm looking at it and what I will say to the team is this is a pivot in the season," said the interim coach.

"Seven games that have gone before we can't do anything about. But we still have seven games to climb the ladder and there is still a chance we can go up.

"We are only a few wins away from right at the top so we can use it as pivot in the season to get in the right direction. That break with the Blast suddenly those wins seem a little bit more attainable."

Lancashire will be without Harris for the next two rounds of Championship action but they will have Ashton Turner and Chris Green available.

The game against Kent at Blackpool kicks off a run of three Championship matches at outgrounds, followed by Derbyshire at Chesterfield and Gloucestershire at Cheltenham towards the end of next month.

And generally, that means 'result pitches'.

"Wickets will deteriorate and there will be a little bit there throughout the game. They are smaller grounds so it will be fast scoring when batters get in. It tends to be hard to start there so wickets can fall in clumps," said Croft.

"We didn't get it right in the four-day game and the players know that. But I still feel we have enough quality in this side and it is up to them to turn it round."

Lancashire can take heart from Roses rivals Yorkshire, who last season failed to win any of their first seven games but produced five from the next seven to nick the second promotion spot.

BBC Radio Lancashire commentator Scott Read

It's still very possible that this season's story could have a different ending.

Yes, some supporters may remain uneasy at the perceived lack of a cricketing priority at the club, but at the same time, the money soon to be raised by The Hundred sale, might help to improve that.

And on the pitch the team can still turn their season around.

It is only four years ago that Lancashire were a day away from winning the County Championship title and finished runners-up in all three competitions the following season.

There is every chance the same players who are winless in seven Championship matches will find some form.

Jofra Archer has taken 42 wickets across his 13 Tests

Fast bowler Jofra Archer is in Sussex's squad to play Durham in the County Championship on Sunday, putting him in line for a long-awaited return to red-ball cricket.

Archer, 30, has not played a first-class match for more than four years aftera series of injuries, most notably to his right elbow and back.

He has returned to the international fold in white-ball cricket but an appearance in the Division One fixture at Chester-le-Street would be a significant step, which England hope will lead to him playing Test cricket this year.

England selector Luke Wright said earlier this month that if Archer comes through the four days for Sussex he could be available for the second Test against India, which starts on 2 July at Edgbaston.

England v India: First Test, day two – follow live coverage

Injuries made me 'feel like a burden' – Archer

Having bowled the decisive super over in the World Cup final earlier that summer, Archer made a thrilling start to his Test career during the 2019 Ashes and was viewed as a generational talent.

He took 22 wickets at 20.27 across four Tests and bowled an electric spell to Steve Smith at Lord's, which resulted in the Australia batter retiring hurt after being hit in the neck.

Archer played a further nine Tests but has not featured in whites for England since the third Test in India in 2021.

He struggled with an issue in his right elbow on that tour and stress fractures in the joint have required multiple surgeries. He also suffered a stress fracture to his back in 2022.

He has not played any red-ball cricket since a County Championship match for Sussex against Kent in May 2021.

Archer missed the recent T20 and 50-over matches against West Indieswith a minor thumb injurybut he has otherwise come through 12 months of white-ball cricket unscathed, having returned for last year's T20 World Cup and featured at the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

England have painstakingly managed his schedule over the past 12 months in the hope Archer, who can still reach speeds above 90mph, could yet play a significant role against India and then Australia in the Ashes this winter.

Earlier this week, Test captain Ben Stokes revealed Archer texted him about the possibility of playing in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge but instead, while Stokes' side play India in the first Test at Headingley, an eye will be kept on Archer if he does return in the north east.

Sussex posted a squad without Archer's name on their website on Saturday afternoon but it is understood he is on the team bus and in the party.

Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Taane Milne's first Super League try helped Huddersfield Giants on their way to just a second win of the season

Tries:Sneyd, King, Jake ThewlisGoals:Sneyd 2

Tries:Gagai 2, Bibby, MilneGoals:Flanagan Jr 4

Struggling Huddersfield held on for just their second Super League win of the season as Warrington's attempted comeback fell short.

The away side took the lead through tries from Jacob Gagai and Jake Bibby before Marc Sneyd got the hosts on the scoreboard.

Taane Milne's score helped the Giants to reassert their advantage after the break before Gagai's second of the day put the visitors three scores in front.

Toby King quickly got the Wolves back in the game and Jake Thewlis's spectacular finish gave them brief hope but Sneyd could not convert the goal and the Giants claimed the win.

Sam Burgess' men, beaten in theChallenge Cup final by Hull KRtwo weeks ago, have now won two of their past nine Super League games.

Leigh survive scare to beat Catalans and go third

Wakefield pull off shock win against Wigan

Wakefield's impressive win over second-placed Wigan on Friday means the Wire are now four points off the play-off places with 15 games gone.

Huddersfield, whose only previous win this year came against Hull FC at Magic Weekend at the start of May, move two points clear of bottom side Salford.

The visitors went in front after 15 minutes when Tui Lolohea intercepted a George Williams pass and charged down the field before handing off for Gagai.

Things went from bad to worse for Warrington when the away side made the most of a penalty for a late shot on Matt Frawley when Bibby went over in the corner.

Sneyd showed good feet to get the Wolves back in it but the impressive George Flanagan kicked a penalty before the break to give the Giants a 14-6 lead at the interval.

Centre Milne forced his way over for his first Super League try and Lolohea looked to have put it to bed only for his score to be ruled out by the video referee for an obstruction.

The reprieve was brief for Warrington though, as Milne handed off for Gagai to score his second of the day after they had been gifted good field position by a handling error from King on a 40/20 attempt from Lolohea.

Sneyd went short from the kick-off and, after Warrington kept possession, King caught a subsequent kick from the half-back to breathe life into an unlikely comeback for the home side.

Jake Thewlis's brilliant finish, after a pass from brother Josh, looked like it could set up a grandstand finish but Sneyd could not kick the extras which would have reduced the arrears to six points with five minutes to play.

Huddersfield fans saw their side fall to alast-gasp defeat by Wiganlast week and had not seen their side win an away league game since April last year so will have been relieved the Giants saw out the final minutes without incident.

They will now look to build on this result when they travel to out-of-form Catalans Dragons next Saturday.

Warrington will look to get back to winning ways and kick-start their flagging play-off bid at home to Hull FC on Friday.

Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess:

"It's a disappointing result. We didn't deserve to win, we got what we deserved.

"Sometimes when it's not going your way it's tough and you have to work extra hard.

"We had enough to win and for whatever reason we didn't. We have to work a little bit harder. We've got stuff to work on, that's the only way we're going to get through it.

"It's my job to coach them to be better and we need to be much better, no doubt about that."

Huddersfield head coach Luke Robinson told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I'm overjoyed for the players and fans. I'm overjoyed for the players in particular because I don't think people realise how hard they have been working.

"It's very easy to turn on each other, turn on your coach, when you are not winning games and they have been unbelievably steadfast in their culture.

"We probably should have won about four or five games like that earlier in the season so to actually come out of the other side, it's a real mental hurdle for us.

"I'm unbelievably proud of them. They could have panicked but I don't think they panicked.

"What we have to try to do now is keep that momentum and keep that form."

Warrington Wolves:Josh Thewlis, Jake Thewlis, Tai, Wrench, King, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Crowther, Vaughan, Stone, Fitzgibbon, Currie.

Interchanges:Powell, Thomas, Philbin, Wood.

Huddersfield Giants:Flanagan Jr, Gagai, Milne, Halsall, Bibby, Lolohea, Frawley, Cudjoe, Greenwood, Hewitt, Powell, Woolford, King

Interchanges:Golding, English, Burgess, Rushton.

The British and Irish Lions lost 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin

Prior to losing 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin on Friday night, no British and Irish Lions had lost their opening tour game since 1971.

Few, though, will have faced opposition as strong and as on song as the Pumas.

Despite quickly giving all credit to the victors in the immediate aftermath, head coach Andy Farrell's attention will quickly turn to what needs to improve before his side's first game on Australian soil against Western Force on 28 June.

There was no competition for word of the day at the Lions media briefing on Wednesday – "cohesion" was clearly the focus.

Given how clunky these affairs have been in the recent past, and that this represented a first hit for what is a brand new side, it was fair to assume clicking quickly would be a challenge.

Two-time Lion Tadhg Beirne, for one, seemed a bit perplexed by such a notion however, reminding that we were talking about "world class" players.

Across their first 80 minutes together, the Lions attack felt like it should be judged in two different facets – ambition and execution.

In terms of the former, their shape was strong and they created plenty of opportunities through sharp passages.

When it came to the latter, however, they were lacking. Offloads that went to ground or straight into Argentine hands were one serious issue, as were passes just a beat off the runner.

While there was the bones of an encouraging display with ball in hand, Farrell will clearly demand his side are sharper once they hit Australian shores.

"The whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors and in the end weren't able to put the pace on the game that we wanted to because of that," said the irked head coach afterwards.

Argentina stun the Lions in Dublin

'A lot of lessons' to learn from 'disconnected' loss to Pumas – Farrell

Lions beaten by Argentina in pre-tour Dublin thriller

Prop Ellis Genge was productive with the ball in hand and at the set-piece

There is a natural inclination to look at attacking combinations when the Lions first come together, but Friday's defeat again offered the reminder of the difficulties of quickly gelling a collection of great individuals into a Test-ready unit at the set-piece.

While there were errors aplenty with the ball, perhaps the most concerning element of the performance was the line-out.

The Lions had 18 throws from touch and were turned over four times, a statistic that was all the more disappointing given that the maul did make headway when they got it right.

"I think we were just finding our rhythm, unfortunately we couldn't get it quite as smooth as we wanted but we'll definitely get better," said skipper Maro Itoje.

"We'll review, we'll learn the lessons and we'll get better.

"I think as we improve our relationships, as we spend more and more time together training and understanding each other's triggers, that will come."

The scrum was a different story. In what Farrell called an "aggressive" performance at the set-piece, the front row were able to eke out a string of penalties.

Starting props Ellis Genge and Finlay Bealham, the latter only added to the squad after Zander Fagerson's injury, certainly made early cases for big roles on this tour.

Argentina targeted the Lions in the air

When Joe Schmidt was coach of Ireland between 2013 and 2019, a huge part of his success was built upon an ability to zero in and ruthlessly exploit an opponent's weaknesses.

Watching events in Dublin, the Australia head coach will surely have taken note of the Lions' struggles defensively and under the high ball in their back-three.

There were times when those on the outside were left in unenviable positions out wide, but too many tackles did not stick and Argentina definitely got the better of things when putting boot to ball.

Some of the more athletic backs at Schmidt's disposal would surely fancy their chances in an aerial battle should the Lions not improve in that area before the Test series.

When things did get scrappy after spilled kicks, Farrell seemed especially frustrated by his side's inability to win loose balls.

"What is disappointing is scraps on the floor from that type of battle always seem to go to Argentina," he said.

"There's a bit of fight and hunger from them that we can't accept."

When it came to how those involved had helped or hampered their Test prospects, Farrell said: "Some people will be happy and obviously others won't and will be dying to get another chance out there."

When that chance comes for those who failed to impress is anyone's guess.

It was hardly ideal that the schedule for this tour left the Lions without the vast majority of those involved in the United Rugby Championship and Premiership finals, as well as Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn.

Now though, on the back of a defeat, Farrell has ample opportunity to freshen things up against Western Force with a host of players ready to see their first action of the trip.

The likes of James Lowe and Hugo Keenan would be expected to improve things under the high ball in particular, while both Garry Ringrose and Huw Jones would appear to be more natural fits in the outside centre role.

After Fin Smith's strong showing in the 10 jersey, it will be fascinating to see how Bath's Finn Russell goes in his first outing of the tour too.

The 51,700 crowd in Dublin was a sell-out at the Aviva Stadium

While this was not a Lions Test in name, it certainly felt like one in terms of the occasion.

"Spectacular," was Maro Itoje's summary.

A huge percentage of the 51,700 crowd seemed to be at the Aviva Stadium early and it was striking to see so many red jerseys milling around the streets in the hours before kick-off.

When you think back to the South Africa trip four years ago, played in virtually empty stadiums due to Covid-19 restrictions, Friday offered a reminder of how big a part the travelling supporters will play when this tour lands in Australia.

"I don't think the fans fully understand how much it means to us," said centre Bundee Aki, who was on that South Africa tour four years ago.

"I got goosebumps when I saw the sea of red. [It was] unbelievable compared to what we had the last time. "

British and Irish Lions fixtures for tour of Australia

Lions must learn from errors in Pumas loss – Farrell

'I was very raw' – Skelton itching for Lions rematch

Serie A referees wore black smudge on their cheeks in December in protest at an increase in abuse suffered by officials

Those who commit acts of violence against match officials in Italy could now be sentenced to time in prison.

The Italian government modified its penal code on Friday to give match officials the same legal protection as police officers and other public officials.

The law change, which followed a rise in cases of assault against referees, means perpetrators could face much tougher penalties for pushing, hitting or threatening match officials.

"Sport is loyalty and sharing. Those who do not accept it are warned: from tomorrow violent behaviour and aggression against referees will be punished without delay, even with prison," said junior justice minister Andrea Ostellari.

The government has been in talks with the Italian Soccer Referees Association (ISRA) since December.

That month Serie A referees highlighted the increase in abuse they were being subjected to by wearing black smudges on their cheeks during matches in protest.

19-year-old referee Diego Alfonzetti was attacked last season during a youth match in Sicily.

The teenage official was invited on to the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico for the derby between Lazio and Roma in March alongside the day's match officials in a show of solidarity.

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