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Articles by Wendy Walker
At 16, I Gave Up My Olympic Figure Skating Dreams. Writing 'Blade' Made Me Confront the Traumatic Reasons Why (Exclusive) Original
Wendy Walker as a teen and now. Credit : Courtesy of Wendy Walker I was 12 years old when the 1980 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, N.Y. While most Americans remember those Games for the Miracle on Ice — the stunning victory of the United States hockey team over the Soviets — I recall watching my idol, Lisa-Marie Allen, skate her way to a fifth-place finish in Ladies Figure Skating.
Blade by Wendy Walker
Walker’s slick and satisfying latest (after American Girl) is set in the ruthless world of competitive figure skating. Despite bad memories, New York defense attorney Ana Robbins returns to Echo, Colo.—home of the Palace, an elite training facility for young skaters—to defend 15-year-old Grace Montgomery against murder charges. Like Ana, Grace trained at the Palace; now she’s accused of murdering Emile Dresiér, the facility’s assistant coach, by striking him in the head with a skate blade.
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Hull Kr Make Changes
Hull KR make two changes to their squad as they seek their first win of the of the Super League season against Catalans. The Robins opened their season with a home loss to Wakefield but put in a much improved display when they lost to champions Leeds Rhinos last Thursday night at Elland Road but they will be without both Andrew Heffernan and James Greenwood, who were hurt in that defeat. Danny Tickle and Will Oakes are added to the 19-man party.
Rhinos to Face Fired Up Storm
Brian McDermott says Leeds Rhinos will be up against a fired up Melbourne Storm side in the World Club challenge on Friday night. The Super League Grand Final winners take on NRL champions Melbourne Storm for the forth time in World Club Challenge matches. Leeds have won one but Storm have won the last three times they have met, although Leeds have the advantage of having played two top flight games already this season whilst their opponents do not start their defence until next month.
Marler Vows to Improve Discipline
Joe Marler has vowed to improve his on-field discipline after being forced to sit out England's opening two matches of the Six Nations. The Harlequins ace was handed a six-week ban at the turn of the year after being sent-off during his club's 30-29 loss to Sale Sharks in the Aviva Premiership for a dangerous clear-out of a ruck.
Burton Have Injury Concerns Over Duo Ahead of Forest Clash
Ben Turner and Luke Murphy are injury concerns for Burton as they prepare to host Nottingham Forest. Burton have injury concerns over duo ahead of Forest clash With Tom Flanagan (calf) out for the rest of the month, Brewers boss Nigel Clough will be keen that Turner (calf) and Murphy (shin) return after both missed the goalless draw at Ipswich. Centre-half Turner will not resume training until Friday while John Brayford and Lloyd Dyer are also nursing knocks.
Blow for Motherwell As Hartley out for At Least Two Months With Foot Injury
Motherwell defender Peter Hartley could miss the rest of the season with a foot injury. Blow for Motherwell as Hartley out for at least two months with foot injury The centre-back has been ruled out for at least two months following a visit to a specialist. The 29-year-old had been playing through the problem in late 2017 and had not featured this year before aggravating the injury shortly after making his loan move from Blackpool a permanent transfer.
Midfielder Callum McManaman Could Return for Sunderland
Callum McManaman could return to the Sunderland squad for Saturday's Sky Bet Championship clash with Brentford. McManaman has missed the last month with a shin problem, but has trained all week and may force his way into manager Chris Coleman's plans once again. Midfielders Jonny Williams and Paddy McNair played for the club's Under-23s last Sunday as they stepped up their respective comebacks, while Adam Matthews is confident of shaking off the calf problem which sidelined him at Bristol City.
Mascarenhas Secures Essex Role
Former England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas has been appointed the assistant head coach at county champions Essex. The 40-year-old former Hampshire stalwart has been working in the southern hemisphere since retiring from county cricket almost five years ago. A stint working as bowling coach with New Zealand was followed by a spell at Big Bash side Melbourne Renegades.
Hughes Confirms Return to Training
Will Hughes has revealed he's finally back in training with Watford following his troublesome hamstring injury. The midfielder has not been seen since suffering the injury against Manchester United in November but he's now finally making good progress and is back training with the rest of the Hornets' first team.
Conte Talks Up Fa Cup Importance
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists the FA Cup is just as important as the Premier League and Champions League to his side. The Blues will take on Hull in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday and the fixture will kick-start a crucial stage of their season, as they will face Barcelona in the first-leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie the following midweek, before they take on Manchester United and Manchester City in back-to-back Premier League games.
Ostersunds Fk V Arsenal
Arsenal will be seeking to avoid a major Europa League upset when they face minnows Ostersunds in the first leg of their last-32 tie. The Swedish outfit have been one of the stories of this season's Europa League having made it to the knockout stages in their first European campaign, defeating the likes of Galatasaray and Hertha Berlin along the way.
Lambert Reassures Fans Over Butland
Paul Lambert has reassured Stoke fans that the speculation surrounding Jack Butland will not affect the goalkeeper's performances. Recent reports have linked England international Butland with a move to either Arsenal or Liverpool during the summer, with that speculation gathering pace due to Stoke's precarious position in the Premier League standings. However, the goalkeeper himself came out to deny those rumours earlier this week, while he has also reiterated his commitment to the Potters.
Stokes Available for Kiwi Games
The ECB have announced that Ben Stokes's England inclusion against New Zealand next month is down to the coach Trevor Bayliss. Stokes has been charged with affray but is not required to attend his first hearing which is on March 12 so he will now set off back to NZ and his involvement will be down to the coach, according to an ECB statement. 'Any decision to include him in upcoming matches will be made by head coach Trevor Bayliss and the England management team,' the statement said.
Kayal Wary of Coventry Threat
Beram Kayal insists Brighton will be fully prepared for their FA Cup fifth round clash with Coventry at The Amex on Saturday. The Seagulls will be heavy favourites to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 1986, as they have been drawn against the lowest ranked team left in the competition.
Hart Ponders City Future
Joe Hart will reportedly consider another move abroad if Manchester City refuse to pay his contract up at the end of the season. The England goalkeeper is already sweating on his World Cup place after losing his regular starting berth on loan at West Ham United. Hart hasn't started a Premier League game for the Hammers since November, with boss David Moyes preferring instead to use Adrian, leaving the 30-year-old frustrated.
James Backs Bayern to Win Champions League
Bayern Munich midfielder James Rodriguez believes Die Roten are the favourites to win the UEFA Champions League this season. Bayern Munich midfielder James Rodriguez believes Die Roten are the favourites to win the Champions League this season. The 26-year-old joined the Bundesliga champions from Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal at the start of the season, and the German side are reportedly eager to make the move permanent.
McIlroy Relishing Tiger Challenge
Rory McIlroy is relishing the prospect of playing with Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas during the opening two rounds of the Genesis Open. The Northern Irishman has been grouped alongside 14-time major winner Woods, who is playing in just his second official PGA Tour event since returning from a long-term back injury, and reigning PGA Champion Thomas during Thursday and Friday's action at Riviera Country Club.
Eriksen Hails Spurs Fighting Spirit
Midfielder Christian Eriksen says Tottenham have a fighting spirit in the side thanks to Mauricio Pochettino. Eriksen believes the Spurs of old would have capitulated after going two goals down at Juventus on Tuesday night but the current side hit back and came away with a dominant 2-2 draw. The Dane says that is testament to the manager who has instilled a fighting spirit in the side which was not there when he first joined the club.
Monster Hunter: World 'difficult' to get on Switch
Capcom believe a Nintendo Switch edition of 'Monster Hunter: World' would be "difficult". The gaming giants released the action role-playing game for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in January with a PC release set to take place later this year, but fans may be disappointed to hear that it's unlikely the game will get a port for Nintendo's newest console. According to a translation by Kotaku.com, Capcom president Haruhiro Tsujimoto said: "We're aware of that request [to bring the game to the Switch].
Hart Seeking Another Loan
Joe Hart is expected to spend next season abroad rather than extending his loan stay at West Ham. Hart is on a season-long loan with the Hammers but seems unlikely to stay on beyond the summer with a move to the continent believed to be his preferred choice. The Manchester City keeper has one year left on his contract at the Etihad but has accepted he has no future under Pep Guardiola after successive seasons out on loan at Italian side Torino and then the Hammers.
Perez - Home Form Will Be Crucial
Ayoze Perez says Newcastle's home form will be crucial in their bid to stay up this season. The Magpies secured their first win at St James' Park when they claimed a 1-0 win over Manchester United last time out - their first home success since October. With 11 games to go, Newcastle are in 13th place but just two points clear of the dropzone and Perez says winning more games at home in what's left of the campaign will be key.
Lindelof Seeks Assurances
Victor Lindelof is reportedly seeking reassurances over his role at Manchester United, just nine months after his arrival. The Sweden international central defender has not played in the Premier League since the New Year's Day victory at Everton and only featured twice last month in the FA Cup. United boss Jose Mourinho is believed to have put a lot of faith in his Portuguese scouting network when he agreed to pay £31million to Benfica for the 23-year-old last summer.
Bamba on Terriers Radar
Huddersfield are reportedly weighing up a move for Saint-Etienne winger Jonathan Bamba. The France Under-21 international is out of contract with his current employers at the end of the season and his impressive performances in Ligue 1 so far this term have brought him to the attention of a number of clubs, including Huddersfield.
Early Cup Exit Blessing in Disguise for Hibernian Manager
Hibernian's early exit from the William Hill Scottish Cup has been a blessing in disguise for manager Neil Lennon. Hibs were knocked out of the competition by city rivals Hearts at Tynecastle in January but it gave Lennon a chance to rest his players at the weekend when they had no game.
Stoger: Atalanta on Par With Ac Milan
Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Stoger believes UEFA Europa League last-32 opponents Atalanta will provide his team with a big challenge on Thursday night. Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Stoger believes UEFA Europa League last-32 opponents Atalanta will provide his team with a big challenge on Thursday night. The BVB were knocked out of the Champions League after finishing third in their group and have joined the Europa League competition, where their first opponents are Serie A outfit Atalanta.
Gabr Finally Gets Baggies Clearance
Ali Gabr has finally been granted a work permit and is in contention to make his Baggies debut against Southampton in the FA Cup. The Egypt international has been training with the rest of the Albion squad in Barcelona on their current warm-weather break and boss Alan Pardew is considering bringing him straight in to start against Saints in the fifth-round tie this weekend.
Suspended Cheikh N'Doye to Miss Birmingham'S Game With Millwall
Birmingham will be without the suspended Cheikh N'Doye against Millwall at St Andrew's. The midfielder was sent off late on in the derby defeat at Aston Villa last weekend and he will serve a one-match ban. Jacques Maghoma returned from injury at Villa Park and the winger should be involved again. Left-back Jonathan Grounds is still nursing a knee injury as the Blues look for a fourth win in five home matches in the Championship.
Cutler Talks Up Albion Goalkeepers
Neil Cutler has praised the quality and commitment of West Brom's goalkeepers since his arrival at the club. Former Baggies youngster Cutler was appointed as the club's new goalkeeping coach last month and he has already set about working with stoppers Ben Foster, Boaz Myhill and Alex Palmer. The 41-year-old, who moved to The Hawthorns from Walsall, has been quick to heap praise on the trio for the way have not only embraced his new methods, but how they have adapted to them so quickly.
Cook Happy to Be in England Thoughts
Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook says having England manager Gareth Southgate in the stands is a massive compliment to the players. Cook happy to be in England thoughts Southgate was in the stands at Huddersfeild at the weekend to watch the Cherries in action, sadly for Eddie Howe's men he picked their worst performance of the year to go and watch.
Sheffield Wednesday Defender Jordan Thorniley Signs New Deal
15 February 2018 Jordan Thorniley has signed a new contract at Sheffield Wednesday until the summer of 2021, the Sky Bet Championship side have announced. Sheffield Wednesday defender Jordan Thorniley signs new deal The 21-year-old defender spent a successful loan spell at League Two Accrington earlier this season and has been a regular in the Owls line-up following his return. Thorniley has made five appearances since manager Jos Luhukay's arrival at the club.
Bolasie Battling Back And After Regular Action
Yannick Bolasie says he's slowly getting back to his best and is determined to become a regular in Sam Allardyce's side. The DR Congo winger was out for over a year with a cruciate knee ligament injury but returned to action over Christmas and has since made four starts and two substitute appearances for the Blues. Bolasie is clearly still trying to rediscover his best form and fitness and hopes he can continue to progress and force his way into Allardyce's starting line-up on a regular basis.
Barnsley Job Is Not for Me, Says Karl Robinson
Charlton manager Karl Robinson has ruled himself out of contention for the Barnsley job. Barnsley job is not for me, says Karl Robinson The Tykes arecurrently the only Sky Bet Championship side without a manager afterPaul Heckingbottom left to take over atLeeds. Earlier this week, League TwoWycomberejected an approach from an unnamed Championship side to speak to manager Gareth Ainsworth.
Richarlison Open to Chelsea Switch
Watford winger Richarlison has refused to rule out a possible move to Chelsea in the future. The Brazilian has been a revelation since joining the Hornets from Fluminense during the summer, as he has netted five goals and provided a further four assists in the Premier League to date this term.
Barnsley Eye Swansea Coach
Swansea U23 coach Cameron Toshack has been linked with the Barnsley job amid reports he's held talks with the Championship club. The son of former Wales and Real Madrid manager, John Toshack, the highly-rated coach has emerged as a candidate for the vacant post at Oakwell and is the second favourite behind St Mirren boss Jack Ross with some bookmakers.
Gabbiadini in Line for Recall
Manolo Gabbiadini is expected to be given a chance to impress for Southampton in Saturday's FA Cup clash with West Brom. Boss Mauricio Pellegrino has given the Italian striker just 10 starts in all competitions this season, and only one since mid-December, with his last goal for Saints coming back in October. However, he is expected to make changes for the fifth-round tie and Gabbiadini is in line for a rare start.
Kouyate Thanks Team-Mates
West Ham ace Cheikhou Kouyate has thanked his team-mates for helping him through a bad patch in his Hammers career. The midfielder is back to his best in David Moyes's side and his confidence is high again but he has thanked his fellow players for helping him to get back to the top.
Nishikori Makes Improvement Claim
Kei Nishikori claims he is improving with every match he plays after securing a place in the quarter-finals of the New York Open. The 28-year-old Japanese former world number four spent five months on the sidelines since last August because of a wrist problem and he is now working his way back to full fitness. Nishikori went out at the first-round stage of his comeback at Newport each last month, but responded well with victory at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Dallas.
Dan Sweeney Back to Boost Barnet'S Fight Against Relegation
Basement side Barnet are boosted by the return of midfielder Dan Sweeney ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash with Accrington. Sweeney has missed the last three matches through suspension and manager Graham Westley will be buoyed by the 23-year-old's availability as he deals with a lengthy injury list. Goalkeeper Jamie Stephens is out with a hamstring injury while Harry Taylor (metatarsal) and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (knee) also remain on the sidelines.
Rodgers Expecting Tough Zenit Test
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers doesn't believe Zenit St Petersburg's long winter break necessarily gives them a Europa League advantage. The Russian side have not played a competitive game for over two months due to the winter break but have squeezed in friendlies against Slovan Bratislava, Red Star Belgrade and Maribor during a warm-weather camp in Turkey before flying to Glasgow for Thursday's last-32 first-leg clash.
Mk Dons Midfielder Alex Gilbey to Miss Rest of the Season With Knee Injury
MK Dons midfielder Alex Gilbey has been ruled out for the rest of the season 'and beyond' following knee surgery. MK Dons midfielder Alex Gilbey to miss rest of the season with knee injury Gilbey's injury, sustained in the defeat at Walsall earlier this month, required an operation this week after scans revealed the full extent of the damage. 'The midfielder had the injury operated on this week and will be out of action beyond the current campaign,' the Dons announced on their official website.
Locadia Set for Brighton Debut - Hughton
Chris Hughton has confirmed Brighton's club-record signing Jurgen Locadia is likely to make his debut against Coventry in the FA Cup. The Dutch striker moved to The Amex from PSV Eindhoven for a reported £15million during the January transfer window, but a hamstring injury has meant he is yet to make his debut for the club. However, Hughton has now confirmed that is likely to change this weekend, with Locadia set to feature against Coventry in the FA Cup fifth round.
Fraser's a Huge Fan of Stanislas
Ryan Fraser has claimed Junior Stanislas is Bournemouth's best forward and revealed he's a dream to play with. Fraser and Stanislas have started the Cherries' past three Premier League games, including the wins over Chelsea and Stoke, and their blossoming partnership on the pitch has been acclaimed by fans as Eddie Howe's men aim to secure their top-flight status once again in the second half of the season.
Unai Emery Backs Psg to Turn Tie Around Against Real Madrid
Unai Emery is confident Paris St Germain will overturn a two-goal deficit when Real Madrid visit the Parc des Princes in three weeks' time. Unai Emery backs PSG to turn tie around against Real Madrid The PSG coach claims his side bossed the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday. The Ligue 1 side took a 33rd-minute lead through Adrien Rabiot before being pegged back by Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Devil May Cry free for Twitch Prime users
'Devil May Cry' will be free on PC for Twitch Prime users. The hack and slash video game series is set to get a remaster for the upcoming 'Devil May Cry HD Collection' - which includes the first three games of the series, but not the fourth or the first game's reboot - which will be available for PC systems, as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox one, in March.
Henderson Urges Reds to Repeat Porto Show
Jordan Henderson has called on Liverpool to make performances like Wednesday's Champions League rout against Porto the norm. The Reds tore the Portuguese giants apart in the last-16 first-leg clash, winning 5-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Sadio Mane and more goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. They now are virtually guaranteed a quarter-final place and captain Henderson says they must aim to maintain the standards they set at the Estadio do Dragao between now and the end of the season.
Roberts Commits to Giants
Huddersfield Giants forward Oliver Roberts has committed his long-term future to the club by penning a five-year contract. The Giants initially brought Roberts in from Bradford Bulls in 2014 and initially struggled for regular action but has now established himself as a key figure at the John Smith’s Stadium.. Roberts has now turned out for the Super League side on 60 occasions, including twice this season, and caught the eye at the 2017 World Cup with Ireland.
Red Bull Can Challenge - Ricciardo
Red Bull should be able to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari on a consistent basis in 2018, according to Daniel Ricciardo. The Milton Keynes-based outfit finished third in the Constructors' Championship last season, 200 points shy of winners Mercedes and 154 behind second placed Ferrari, but they did enjoy a strong end to the campaign.
Ryan Hails 'Golden' Izquierdo
Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan says he 'always knew' Jose Izquierdo had 'gold' feet after his superb strike against Stoke. Izquierdo bagged his fourth Premier League goal of the season when finishing off a slick passing move on 32 minutes in the Seagulls' 1-1 draw at the bet365 Stadium. The Colombia international has a reputation for scoring quality goals and West Ham have felt the full force of his talent as the 25-year-old has bagged home and away against the Hammers.
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