Sarah Shephard
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
Staff writer at The Athletic. Author. Ghostwriter. Latest book: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/katarina-johnson-thompson/unbroken/9781035055173
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
Eddie Hearn has built Matchroom’s boxing offering into a global enterprise that will have put on 43 fights in 10 countries this year.
But that doesn’t stop the criticism and abuse. Hearn believes that boxing’s social media community is “the most toxic” he’s ever seen.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
But that doesn’t stop the criticism and abuse. Hearn believes that boxing’s social media community is “the most toxic” he’s ever seen.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
Eddie Hearn opens up on Saudi money, the ‘enjoyable’ chaos of Al-Sheikh, and his boxing regrets
Exclusive: Promoter reveals what it's like to work with boxing's new powerhouse and the sport's 'toxic' social media culture
theathletic.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Eddie Hearn has built Matchroom’s boxing offering into a global enterprise that will have put on 43 fights in 10 countries this year.
But that doesn’t stop the criticism and abuse. Hearn believes that boxing’s social media community is “the most toxic” he’s ever seen.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
But that doesn’t stop the criticism and abuse. Hearn believes that boxing’s social media community is “the most toxic” he’s ever seen.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
Lederhosen? “Actually really comfortable."
𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲: Harry Kane is thriving with Bayern Munich, with whom he ended his wait for silverware.
Kane is bullish over England's World Cup chances, but first he wants more success in Bavaria.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲: Harry Kane is thriving with Bayern Munich, with whom he ended his wait for silverware.
Kane is bullish over England's World Cup chances, but first he wants more success in Bavaria.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
October 16, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Lederhosen? “Actually really comfortable."
𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲: Harry Kane is thriving with Bayern Munich, with whom he ended his wait for silverware.
Kane is bullish over England's World Cup chances, but first he wants more success in Bavaria.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲: Harry Kane is thriving with Bayern Munich, with whom he ended his wait for silverware.
Kane is bullish over England's World Cup chances, but first he wants more success in Bavaria.
@sarahshephard.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
15.80 is a monster shot put from Anna Hall!
When I spoke to her a few weeks ago she said how happy she was with her upper body development and throws… the American looks like the one to beat in Tokyo
nytimes.com/athletic/663...
When I spoke to her a few weeks ago she said how happy she was with her upper body development and throws… the American looks like the one to beat in Tokyo
nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Anna Hall interview: Coping with fame and failure… and why swimsuit photoshoot mattered
In an exclusive interview, the U.S. heptathlete outlines her World Championship ambitions and how she has learned to love her body
nytimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:43 PM
15.80 is a monster shot put from Anna Hall!
When I spoke to her a few weeks ago she said how happy she was with her upper body development and throws… the American looks like the one to beat in Tokyo
nytimes.com/athletic/663...
When I spoke to her a few weeks ago she said how happy she was with her upper body development and throws… the American looks like the one to beat in Tokyo
nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
In a career spanning 45 fights - 22 were world-title contests - Ricky Hatton built an army of fans to whom he was a hero.
His brilliance inside the ring was matched by his personality outside of it. That's what made him loved by everyone he came into contact with.
✍️ @sarahshephard.bsky.social
His brilliance inside the ring was matched by his personality outside of it. That's what made him loved by everyone he came into contact with.
✍️ @sarahshephard.bsky.social
Ricky Hatton, the brilliant everyman who conquered the boxing world
From his humble origins in a Manchester pub, the British boxer didn't just claim titles: he won hearts and minds
theathletic.com
September 15, 2025 at 7:52 AM
In a career spanning 45 fights - 22 were world-title contests - Ricky Hatton built an army of fans to whom he was a hero.
His brilliance inside the ring was matched by his personality outside of it. That's what made him loved by everyone he came into contact with.
✍️ @sarahshephard.bsky.social
His brilliance inside the ring was matched by his personality outside of it. That's what made him loved by everyone he came into contact with.
✍️ @sarahshephard.bsky.social
When Lucy Bronze revealed in the aftermath of England's historic Euros victory that she'd played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia, it left most of us stunned.
How is that even possible? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
How is that even possible? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
Lucy Bronze playing on with a fractured tibia: The pain, the preparation, the risk
www.nytimes.com
July 31, 2025 at 8:25 PM
When Lucy Bronze revealed in the aftermath of England's historic Euros victory that she'd played the entire tournament with a fractured tibia, it left most of us stunned.
How is that even possible? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
How is that even possible? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/652...
When Scottie Scheffler questioned the point of winning, it got people talking. A lot. Aren’t the best sportspeople supposed to be driven by success?
A piece about winning and why it’s not always all that matters - and sometimes, that’s a good thing.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
A piece about winning and why it’s not always all that matters - and sometimes, that’s a good thing.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
The Scheffler paradox: How sportspeople cope when winning is not enough
www.nytimes.com
July 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
When Scottie Scheffler questioned the point of winning, it got people talking. A lot. Aren’t the best sportspeople supposed to be driven by success?
A piece about winning and why it’s not always all that matters - and sometimes, that’s a good thing.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
A piece about winning and why it’s not always all that matters - and sometimes, that’s a good thing.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
Is Usyk one of the GOATs? Or is this heavyweight era weaker than most? Does it even matter?
My thoughts, after he reclaimed all the belts on Saturday night, including a quote you almost definitely won’t see in any other boxing media.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
My thoughts, after he reclaimed all the belts on Saturday night, including a quote you almost definitely won’t see in any other boxing media.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
No ifs, buts or maybes: Oleksandr Usyk is undeniably one of boxing's greatest
www.nytimes.com
July 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Is Usyk one of the GOATs? Or is this heavyweight era weaker than most? Does it even matter?
My thoughts, after he reclaimed all the belts on Saturday night, including a quote you almost definitely won’t see in any other boxing media.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
My thoughts, after he reclaimed all the belts on Saturday night, including a quote you almost definitely won’t see in any other boxing media.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
This was such a fascinating topic to look into.
🧠 the role of the brain
🧤how she’s adapted over years
👀 the nuance of stereo versus monocular depth perception
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648... Hannah Hampton: How can a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception play at the top level?
🧠 the role of the brain
🧤how she’s adapted over years
👀 the nuance of stereo versus monocular depth perception
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648... Hannah Hampton: How can a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception play at the top level?
Hannah Hampton: How can a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception play at the top level?
England's No 1 Hannah Hampton's eye condition means she 'can't judge distances'. We explore how it is still possible to be an elite keeper
www.nytimes.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This was such a fascinating topic to look into.
🧠 the role of the brain
🧤how she’s adapted over years
👀 the nuance of stereo versus monocular depth perception
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648... Hannah Hampton: How can a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception play at the top level?
🧠 the role of the brain
🧤how she’s adapted over years
👀 the nuance of stereo versus monocular depth perception
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648... Hannah Hampton: How can a goalkeeper with almost no depth perception play at the top level?
Excellent on Partey. From 45 mins onwards. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Arsecast Extra Episode 647 - 07.07.2025
Podcast Episode · Arseblog Arsecast, The Arsenal Podcast · 07/07/2025 · 1h 40m
podcasts.apple.com
July 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Excellent on Partey. From 45 mins onwards. podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Primary concern here is with the alleged victims but the optics of yesterday’s news could hardly have been worse for Arsenal.
nytimes.com/athletic/64741… Arsenal’s stance over Thomas Partey feels morally indefensible
nytimes.com/athletic/64741… Arsenal’s stance over Thomas Partey feels morally indefensible
https://nytimes.com/athletic/64741…
July 5, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Primary concern here is with the alleged victims but the optics of yesterday’s news could hardly have been worse for Arsenal.
nytimes.com/athletic/64741… Arsenal’s stance over Thomas Partey feels morally indefensible
nytimes.com/athletic/64741… Arsenal’s stance over Thomas Partey feels morally indefensible
What exactly does playing football / any sport in the heat do to your body? And does it ever adapt to feel “easier”?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643... How the heatwave has affected players at the Club World Cup and what the lessons are for the 2026 World Cup
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643... How the heatwave has affected players at the Club World Cup and what the lessons are for the 2026 World Cup
How the heatwave has affected players at the Club World Cup and what the lessons are for the 2026 World Cup
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
What exactly does playing football / any sport in the heat do to your body? And does it ever adapt to feel “easier”?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643... How the heatwave has affected players at the Club World Cup and what the lessons are for the 2026 World Cup
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643... How the heatwave has affected players at the Club World Cup and what the lessons are for the 2026 World Cup
Think my heart rate is still around 180 tbh… nytimes.com/athletic/63133… Chris Eubank Jr defeats Conor Benn by unanimous decision in thriller that lived up to hype
https://nytimes.com/athletic/63133…
April 26, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Think my heart rate is still around 180 tbh… nytimes.com/athletic/63133… Chris Eubank Jr defeats Conor Benn by unanimous decision in thriller that lived up to hype
Is Daniel levy in his seat yet?! He’ll be spewing they’ve let Chev Clarke play The Angel…
April 26, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Is Daniel levy in his seat yet?! He’ll be spewing they’ve let Chev Clarke play The Angel…
If doors were at 5pm, was it made clear enough what time the first fight would start? Looks like hardly anyone has been in their seats for the Billam Smith fight.
April 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
If doors were at 5pm, was it made clear enough what time the first fight would start? Looks like hardly anyone has been in their seats for the Billam Smith fight.
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
Investigation: Tomorrow night, Turki Al-Sheikh will stage Benn vs Eubank as boxing’s most powerful man.
Behind the glamour, he is central to a regime that rules with an iron fist.
This is the Turki Al-Sheikh that few people know.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...
Behind the glamour, he is central to a regime that rules with an iron fist.
This is the Turki Al-Sheikh that few people know.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...
Special report: Turki Al-Sheikh and the two sides of boxing’s new king
Turki Al-Sheikh has risen from obscurity to the heart of two historic institutions, but who is he really? We spent six months finding out
www.nytimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Investigation: Tomorrow night, Turki Al-Sheikh will stage Benn vs Eubank as boxing’s most powerful man.
Behind the glamour, he is central to a regime that rules with an iron fist.
This is the Turki Al-Sheikh that few people know.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...
Behind the glamour, he is central to a regime that rules with an iron fist.
This is the Turki Al-Sheikh that few people know.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/629...
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
"Some weigh themselves multiple times a day."
"Being told you’re overweight in front of national media."
"They feel like they’re being spied on."
"Everyone has to have these ripped bodies."
@sarahshephard.bsky.social on football, fat & "a culture of fear"
"Being told you’re overweight in front of national media."
"They feel like they’re being spied on."
"Everyone has to have these ripped bodies."
@sarahshephard.bsky.social on football, fat & "a culture of fear"
www.nytimes.com
April 13, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"Some weigh themselves multiple times a day."
"Being told you’re overweight in front of national media."
"They feel like they’re being spied on."
"Everyone has to have these ripped bodies."
@sarahshephard.bsky.social on football, fat & "a culture of fear"
"Being told you’re overweight in front of national media."
"They feel like they’re being spied on."
"Everyone has to have these ripped bodies."
@sarahshephard.bsky.social on football, fat & "a culture of fear"
Excessive caffeine was once prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), yet now, 97 % of professional football clubs in England administer caffeine to players via gum/shots/tablets/gels etc.
Why? And what impact is this having on players? 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
Why? And what impact is this having on players? 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
Coffee, gum and pills: Why footballers are increasingly dosing up on caffeine
Whether with shots, gum or espressos, players are getting their caffeine fix more than ever to boost performance
www.nytimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Excessive caffeine was once prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), yet now, 97 % of professional football clubs in England administer caffeine to players via gum/shots/tablets/gels etc.
Why? And what impact is this having on players? 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
Why? And what impact is this having on players? 👇 www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
Good reporting on caffeine in sports from @sarahshephard.bsky.social for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
Coffee, gum and pills: Why footballers are increasingly dosing up on caffeine
Whether with shots, gum or espressos, players are getting their caffeine fix more than ever to boost performance
www.nytimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Good reporting on caffeine in sports from @sarahshephard.bsky.social for @theathletic.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/614...
We know ACL injuries are hugely significant for footballers. So how is it that sometimes, players are able to continue playing after suffering one?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/607... Why do so many play on after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments? An expert explains
www.nytimes.com/athletic/607... Why do so many play on after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments? An expert explains
Why do so many play on after damaging an ACL? An expert explains
www.nytimes.com
January 29, 2025 at 9:49 AM
We know ACL injuries are hugely significant for footballers. So how is it that sometimes, players are able to continue playing after suffering one?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/607... Why do so many play on after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments? An expert explains
www.nytimes.com/athletic/607... Why do so many play on after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments? An expert explains
Turki Alalshikh says Eubank v Benn is done for April in London. Venue and date tbc. What will be better though: the build up or the fight?
January 15, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Turki Alalshikh says Eubank v Benn is done for April in London. Venue and date tbc. What will be better though: the build up or the fight?
For the final time?
I doubt even Fury fully knows the answer to that.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
I doubt even Fury fully knows the answer to that.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
Tyson Fury announces retirement from boxing: ‘It’s been a blast’
The announcement comes after Fury suffered a second defeat of his career by Oleksandr Usyk last month in Saudi Arabia.
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
For the final time?
I doubt even Fury fully knows the answer to that.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
I doubt even Fury fully knows the answer to that.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/605...
January 9, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Why are so many Premier League players turning to private fitness coaches? And how are the clubs responding/reacting?
An interesting one to get stuck into…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
An interesting one to get stuck into…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
Why are Premier League footballers hiring private fitness coaches – and is it a problem?
Despite the expertise and facilities available to players at their clubs, some still feel it’s necessary for them to extract marginal gains
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Why are so many Premier League players turning to private fitness coaches? And how are the clubs responding/reacting?
An interesting one to get stuck into…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
An interesting one to get stuck into…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/600...
NEW: Frank Warren files afainst Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/602... Boxing promoter Frank Warren opens legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/602... Boxing promoter Frank Warren opens legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
Boxing promoter Frank Warren opens legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has opened legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation.
The case was filed by Warren on December 23 and listed under “Media and Communication: Defa...
www.nytimes.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM
NEW: Frank Warren files afainst Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/602... Boxing promoter Frank Warren opens legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
@theathletic.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/602... Boxing promoter Frank Warren opens legal proceedings against Chris Eubank Jr for defamation
Reposted by Sarah Shephard
In the summer I wondered if this would be Wayne Rooney's last chance to make a success of management. He started well, said and did the right things, but his tenure at Plymouth unravelled into a big mess. What's next for him?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/569...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/569...
Wayne Rooney at Plymouth: A final chance to build a lasting managerial career?
Rooney's appointment to his latest job was met with negativity from sections of the fanbase but he is starting to win them over
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2024 at 10:14 AM
In the summer I wondered if this would be Wayne Rooney's last chance to make a success of management. He started well, said and did the right things, but his tenure at Plymouth unravelled into a big mess. What's next for him?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/569...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/569...