(Hard core rugby player Eric Newby. Photo courtesy of Eric Newby)
P2P readers sure do like variety. Our top stories from June range from golf to rugby with some snowboarding, skiing, running, and climbing in between.
Take a look at these great athletes:
From the peaceful golf course to muted bike rides, the 37-year-old pro from Weybridge, Surrey, England might be mistaken as a tame, ho-hum guy, who gets his rush by sinking a shot for eagle like he did on the 3rd hole at the Travelers Championship.
However, Casey, who has 15 professional wins under his belt (one PGA and 14 international), craves the thrill that comes from extreme sports. In fact, a snowboarding injury stalled his golf career in 2012, just a few years after he vaulted to No. 3 in the world.
Staci Mannella is a sophomore at Dartmouth, she’s a D1 varsity athlete on the school’s equestrian team, and she’s a world-class skier. The 19-year-old New Jersey native has the pliable world in her hands, and a future so bright that she needs specially made contact lenses to function in her daily life.
Mannella is visually impaired, but that’s not a label she’s interested in people remembering.
3. 70-Year-Old Becomes Oldest Woman To Finish Ultramarathon, Even After Getting Lost On The Trail
In the Western States Endurance Run, racers take on the 100 miles of dirt between Squaw Valley and Auburn, California, and they must complete the race in 30 hours or less.
On Sunday, Gunhild Swanson, 70, became the oldest woman to ever complete an ultramarathon when she finished the Western States in 29 hours, 59 minutes, and 54 seconds.
On her second attempt of the world’s tallest mountain in consecutive years, Gallant, 49, put her physical and medical training to the ultimate test by treating those who suffered head injuries as a result of the massive avalanche that was triggered by the earthquake.
1. ‘Murderball’ Rugby Athlete Eric Newby Crushes Stereotypes and Competition
Don’t let the wheelchair fool you: Eric Newby is a hardcore rugby player.
“Smashing Stereotypes One Hit at a Time,” is the main message for players in the United States Quad Rugby Association. It’s not your traditional rugby game, oh no. Newby plays a version originally named “murderball” for its intense and full-contact nature. If rugby wasn’t already tough enough, these guys play in specially adjusted chairs designed to be used like battering rams.
