Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf married in 2001 and have two children. (Getty Images)

Roger Federer, Alex Ferguson, Mike Tyson, David Beckham and even Tiger Woods!

I’ve been fortunate and truly blessed to have interviewed some of sport's biggest names one-on-one, but for years there remained a glaring hole in my professional resume.

Or rather two glaring holes: Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf. I’d have taken some time with even just one of them, but the two of them together and the chance of a first ever trip to Las Vegas? Not something I was about to pass up! Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: CNN World Sport Anchor, Patrick Snell
Filed under: Olympics •Tennis

A despondent Michael Phelps ponders what could have been after he came fourth in the 400m individual medley. (Getty)

Michael Phelps can claim to be the greatest swimmer of all-time for the following reasons:

- In 2008, he performed one of the greatest feats in Olympic history by winning eight gold medals from eight events in the pool
- He has set 29 individual world records, which is in itself a record
- He is the most successful swimmer in World Championships history boasting a haul of 26 gold medals
- And his success has transcended and changed his sport

And at the age of 27, the man known as the Baltimore Bullet and the Flying Fish, was primed to add clear water to any pretenders to the throne by netting a further seven golds to his burgeoning spoils of water-based combat at the London Games. The scene was set for history to once again be rewritten and to add to the spectacle Phelps would need to conquer one of the greatest rivalries in sport, on the greatest of stages, to take glory. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Ben Wyatt, CNN Sport Development Supervisor
Filed under: Olympics

Star striker Neymar scored in Brazil's Olympic warmup win over London 2012 hosts Great Britain. (Getty Images)

It’s gold or bust. There are two teams who enter the men’s Olympic football tournament with just one goal – finishing at the top of the podium.

For different reasons, Brazil and Spain are taking these Games in London – which feature under-23 players plus three overage members per squad – as seriously as if it was a World Cup or continental championship, and I hope they get to meet in the final.

For the "Selecao" this competition is about much more than just pride or bragging rights, it’s about history. Brazil may have won the World Cup a record five times and the Copa America on eight occasions, but they have never got their hands on Olympic gold. It is something that not only the country's fans and officials are hoping for, but the players themselves have been saying it would be a dream come true. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: CNN World Sport Anchor, Pedro Pinto
Filed under: Football •Olympics

Dalma Rushdie Malhas will not be the first Saudi female Olympian as her horse is injured.

"First Saudi Woman to Compete in Olympics" is one of those headlines journalists live for.

In an ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom where women can't drive, can't travel without the permission of a male guardian or practice sports in public schools, women are no longer forbidden from participating in the world's highest profile sporting event.

Or so we thought. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: CNN Senior Producer, Schams Elwazer
Filed under: Olympics

Fanning the flames: Beckham's omission has sparked debate across social media.

London’s Olympic Games will be the poorer for David Beckham’s absence and his omission from Britain’s football squad highlights the lottery of selections based on subjectivity instead of results.

The fact that so many of the UK’s esteemed football writers - normally highly critical appraisers of sporting talent – have voiced their dismay on social networking sites shows how many experts recognized that Beckham’s place at the Olympics was about more than just his merit as a player.

Henry Winter of Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper wrote “Becks deserved more respect.” Matt Dickinson from The Times tweeted, “shocked by the Beckham news” while The Mirror’s John Cross said he was “Stunned – Beckham deserved it on every level.” Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Alex Thomas, CNN World Sport Anchor
Filed under: Football •Olympics

Netherlands star Arjen Robben proudly sings the Dutch national anthem. (Getty Images)

"Sing" was the name of Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber's song to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Shame it wasn't given the subtitle "And Prove You Know the Words." Then it could have been used as the official anthem for football's European Championships and the London Olympics as well.

Because it seems people have a bit of a bee in their bonnets. Even the non-royal ones. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Amanda Davies, CNN World Sport Anchor
Filed under: Football •Olympics

Does pole dancing really differ from existing Olympic disciplines? (Getty Images)

Yes, I’ll admit it. I have been known to pole dance. And yes, there are pictures to prove it. No, you’re not seeing them. And I can assure you I didn’t take my clothes off.

But I will say that an afternoon meant to be a bit of fun was one of the most painful and bruise inducing of my life.

I am allegedly quite fit (in the running, exercise sense, before you accuse me of getting ahead of myself). But before you could say "Peter Stringfellow" – the longtime UK strip-club entrepreneur – that pole had me waving my white flag of surrender, even before I’d managed to climb to half mast. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Amanda Davies, CNN World Sport Anchor
Filed under: Olympics

British swimmer Katy Sexton battled depression following the Athens Olympics in 2004. (Edelman)

The trials for the British Olympic swimming team start this weekend, and training has been going really well. It’s not so intensive, it’s more recovery work and fine-tuning skills - so it’s nice to not be feeling tired all the time!

The big moment, when I find out if I have qualified for my home Games, is now just a matter of days away after what feels like years and years of preparation.

Having watched some of the cycling world championships at the Olympic velodrome recently, and having seen the enthusiasm and support from the crowd, the excitement ahead of London 2012 is really snowballing now.

Even the British public wants a piece of somebody or something that’s going to be at the Games. It feels more pressurized this time around, but it is about turning pressure into positive energy. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: British swimmer, Katy Sexton
Filed under: Olympics

Welsh runner Iwan Thomas won a silver medal for Great Britain in the 4x400 meters relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

An Olympics is an amazing place to be. I call it a bit of a freak show – you sit in the canteen and you could see a seven-foot Chinese girl who is the best volleyball player in the world, and opposite you'd have an American basketball player you might have watched on television when you were growing up.

All of a sudden you are not only among other athletes you look up to, but the other sportsmen and women who are the best in their chosen field. It's an amazing who's who of the sporting world when you get to an Olympic village, so you try to take all that in and not get too excited. You don't want to burn up too much nervous energy, you've got to remember why you are there – to compete. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Iwan Thomas, Olympic silver medallist
Filed under: Olympics

Katy Sexton became the first British female swimmer to win a world championship title in 2003.

It’s not long until the British Olympic swimming trials in March, and it’s really exciting because it’s the first time I’m going to see the new pool in London. Days are ticking by and it’s getting really close.

I’m really excited by the prospect of actually competing at the Olympic pool for the first instance in the trials, and then hopefully I can convert my times into a place on the team and compete there again in the summer. I went to Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, and I want to be involved again.

Having the Olympics in London will be amazing. I went to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 and that was a fantastic experience. It makes it even more exciting because your family and friends can be more part of the whole concept of what you’re going for. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: British swimmer, Katy Sexton
Filed under: Olympics