Forum » Maybe his ninth runner-up finish in a major

GLASGOW, Scotland - When Ariane Fortin missed out on the London Olympics, she took her frustration and heartbreak to the gym.And she worked, until strength replaced heartache and all the anger was gone. It took years.Now the 29-year-old, whose heated battle with Mary Spencer for a spot on the Olympic team was chronicled in the documentary Last Woman Standing, is gunning for gold at the Commonwealth Games.Those three years (from Olympic qualifying until now) were really hard, Ive got to say. For sure they were hard, Fortin said. But I feel like its shown me I have mental toughness that I didnt even know I have.I was not always strong and on top of things. Im really proud of what I went through because it really made me better and stronger.The St. Nicholas, Que., native will step into the ring Tuesday against Phathiswa Thingana of South Africa.Fortin and Spencer have been two of Canadas finest female boxers for years — Fortin is a two-time world champion while Spencer has won three world titles.They were also great friends. So it was a bittersweet moment when the International Olympic Committee announced it was adding womens boxing to the schedule for the London Olympics, but only three of the eight weight classes would be contested.Fortin and Spencer were forced to move up to the same weight class — 75 kilos — and the friends became fierce foes.Spencer beat Fortin for the spot on the Olympic team, and was touted as one of Canadas gold-medal favourites in London. But once there, she lost her first bout and was eliminated.Fortin lost her Own The Podium funding. There are shots of a forlorn Fortin working out alone in her Quebec gym in Last Woman Standing.Months went by before she could bring herself to watch footage of boxers in her weight class competing in London.I dont remember when it was but it was a few months after that I sat in my living room and watched the whole thing, Fortin said. It was kind of emotional, intense. But I needed to do that, and now its past me. I really feel like its past me.Its been really hard but I feel like Ive gained a lot from it, and now Im really in a positive mood.Without a spot on the national team, though, the few fights Fortin has had over the last three years shes arranged herself.Then Fortin defeated Spencer twice to earn a spot on the Commonwealth Games team. Her confidence grew at a recent international tournament in Poland, where she won three of her four fights.I didnt know where I was internationally, what level, Fortin said. And this tournament, it really gave me confidence, it really showed me that I was at that level, and those three years that we spent at home, we didnt just spend them waiting for nationals. We really trained hard and really believed that we could beat Mary. Its funny but Ive had some comments about my fights ... people who knew me before, and said, Wow youve improved a lot. Canadian coach Daniel Trepanier said hes seen the growth in Fortin, who arrived at the Games with just 15 losses in 130 bouts.For sure not making the Olympics in 2012, seeing Mary go to London, made her stronger, it gave her more will to go further, said Trepanier.He wasnt surprised the seven-time Canadian champion decided to stick at it, resetting her sights on Rio, rather than retiring.Its every athletes dream to go the Olympics, Trepanier said. And right now, shes in the drivers seat. Shes now one of the top athletes in the world.Fortin and Trepanier hope the IOC will eventually increase the number of womens weight classes at Olympics, but it wont happen before Rio.Thats what it is for now, Fortin said. Marys still boxing. Of course Im going to face her again at nationals. Nationals is going to be a hard tournament in 2015.I know its not going to be given to me. Now that Ive passed the national level, now Ive beaten Mary ... Ive still got to work. This is just the beginning and I have to be very conscious of that.Mandy Bujold is Canadas other female boxer in Glasgow. The world champion from Toronto, who boxes in the 51-kilo division, is scheduled to fight Wednesday.Womens boxing made its Pan American Games debut three years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico. Spencer and Bujold both won gold there. Air Max 95 Prezzo Amazon .com) - The Carolina Panthers won for the first time in seven games last week, were without Cam Newton due to a car accident this week, but somehow sit atop the much-maligned NFC South. Air Max Plus Saldi Sconti . Watch the action live on TSN and listen on TSN 1050 Radio beginning at 7pm et/4pm pt. The Raptors maintained their spot atop the Atlantic Friday after defeating the Wizards, 96-88, for their second win in a row. http://www.airmaxshoponlineitalia.it/. On July 27 cyclings best-known race will host "La Course by Le Tour de France" -- a one-day womens competition staged hours before Tour riders race on the same circuit to finish the three-week event on Paris Champs-Elysees. Nike Air Max Plus Italia .com) - P.K. Subbans power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Nike Vapormax Scontate . -- When the Los Angeles Kings are on top of their formidable defensive game, they revel in the silence they can create in a frustrated road arena.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Phil Mickelson hardly sounded like a guy who nearly won his sixth major championship. He was a bit put off by the way it finished. More important, he wasnt about to let a strong showing at the PGA Championship brighten the way he felt about this year. Theres a lot of work ahead. "Ive got some regrouping to do these next three or four months," Mickelson said Sunday night, standing in the darkness of Valhalla after losing to Rory McIlroy by a single shot. "I have some glaring areas in my game that I have to work on." He was part of a riveting four-man duel in the rain-delayed final round, but a costly bogey at the 16th denied Mickelson a chance to break his longest winless stretch since 2003. Lefty closed with a 5-under 66 for a 15-under 269 total, not quite good to deny to deny McIlroy his second straight major title. For Mickelson, it was an encouraging performance after a largely disappointing season. He hasnt won since the 2013 British Open, and he wasnt a factor in the first three majors this year. Now, its time for the 44-year-old to get to work. "I feel like if Im able to continue to be strong and healthy and sharp in these areas of my game, I should have four or five good years," Mickelson said. "These next three or four months will be critical for me making sure that I address the issues and that Im ready to go in 2015." What are his most pressing concerns? Mickelson had a lengthy list. "Short irons were terrible this year as a whole. Its usually a strength, and Ive got to get that back," he said. Then Mickelson mentioned his driving, especially missing the fairway at the 16th and 17th holes. "Those two tee shots hurt. Those are things Ive got to address. Ive got to. I dont mind being wild, but when youve got to get in the fairway, youve got to be able to do it." The finish was downright bizarre. A nearly two-hour suspension set up a race to the finish, and the last two groups -- Mickelson and Fowler, followed by McIlroy and Bernd Wiesberger -- arrived at the 18th tee one after the other, barely able to see the green 538 yards away. After Mickelson and Fowler hit their shots, the PGA of America told the final group to hit as well, essentially turning the final hole of a major championship into a foursome.dddddddddddd Mickelsons caddie, Jim Mackay, was heard grumbling to the officials as they asked the next-to-last pairing to step aside so the last one could hit. Then, after Mickelson and Fowler struck their second shots, McIlroy and Wiesberger hit as well. With all four at least near the green, Mickelson and Fowler played out. Lefty nearly chipped in for eagle off the front of the green, which could have forced a playoff. But a birdie left him lacking by a shot when McIlroy blasted out of a bunker, two-putted for par and signed for 268. Mickelson got in a bit of a shot at the PGA of America, mentioning that the organization only runs one tournament a year. But he acknowledged that the strange ending didnt really affect the outcome. "Thats not what we normally do," he said. "But its not a big deal either way. At least that way, we had a chance to finish." For Mickelson, any chance of adding to his three Masters titles, last years British Open and the 2005 PGA Championship essentially ended at the 16th hole, where he drove into the rough, left his second shot short of a bunker and nearly chipped in, the ball catching the right lip of the cup before skidding 10 feet past. He missed the putt to save par, dropping out of the lead he shared with McIlroy. When McIlroy rolled in a birdie at the 17th, the lead grew to two strokes heading to the final hole. "It was a fun day for me to get in the mix and a fun day for me to make some birdies and move up early so that I had a good chance on the back nine," Mickelson said. "Had I been able to finish those last five, six holes strong, I could have totally flipped the way I look at this year." Maybe his ninth runner-up finish in a major will turn out to be blessing. "Regardless of how I played this week, I know that Ive got to address some things," Mickelson said. "These next four to five years, I really want to make them special." Mickelson extended his American record by qualifying for his 10th consecutive Ryder Cup team. The PGA was the final qualifying event for nine Americans to make the team that will face Europe late next month in Scotland. Mickelson jumped from 10th to fifth. ' ' '