The five-time Olympic gold medallist, considered one of the world's greatest swimmers, revealed he had been secretly preparing for the brutal bluewater classic.

Eben Etzebeth has been banned for 12 matches, which was reduced from the initial 18-match sanction.

Joe Root finally scored his maiden Test century in Australia on his fourth Ashes tour to guide England from a precarious 5-2 to 325-9 at stumps after a pulsating first day of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Lando Norris on Thursday rejected the idea of asking title rival and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to support him this weekend in the decisive season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

This led to Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko adding that he had suspicions about the move, suggesting a conspiracy against Red Bull and Verstappen, which Mercedes' team chief Toto Wolff described as "brainless".