It’s all too easy to believe that the success of Olympians is due to their talent. But a US author and White House advisor says their achievements are earned through endless hours of practice. 

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

A massive wildfire could double in size by the end of today, Canadian officials fear, as they continue to evacuate residents of fire-ravaged Fort McMurray from work camps north of Alberta's oil sands city.

A Limerick doctor working in the Canadian city ravaged by Alberta’s wildfires has told of the devastation caused by the blaze now raging over an area bigger than New York city.

Alberta has declared a state of emergency as crews battle to hold back wildfires that have destroyed 1,600 homes and buildings in Canada’s main oil sands city of Fort McMurray, forcing more than 80,000 people to flee.

Police in England have issued a warning that a “dangerous” mentally ill man has gone missing from his home.

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin will renew their battle for World Championship gold this afternoon after the pair cruised into today’s 200 metres final (1.55pm Irish time, live on BBC2).

Every city wants their people to take public transport. But the city of Edmonton really wants you to understand just how awesome the god damn bus is.

The build-up to this summer’s Women’s World Cup was overshadowed by one thing: a dispute about turf.

A deranged cage fighter, who was caught on CCTV beheading an elderly woman and two cats during a 45-minute rampage through back gardens will be locked up indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital.

 

Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were seriously injured when they were shot at a casino yesterday.

Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were seriously wounded when they were shot at a casino today.

Two Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were seriously injured when they were shot at a casino today.

A large group of family and friends paid tribute to a “kind, sincere gentleman”, Christopher ‘Jackie’ Barry, as he was laid to rest in Cobh, Co Cork, yesterday.

Police in Canada are investigating the deaths of seven adults and two young children at three separate but connected Edmonton-area crime scenes.

A 13-year-old boy is appearing in court in London this morning charged with the murder of an Irishman in the city over the weekend.

Tributes have been paid to the “quiet and unassuming” Cork man Jack Barry who was brutally stabbed to death in front of his girlfriend outside their apartment in London over the weekend.

One of Britain’s most senior police officers attacked retailers after ‘Black Friday’ promotions sparked chaos and violence in stores around the country.

A fire has hit a business locked in a stadium redevelopment dispute with Tottenham Hotspur.

Men should not get a common blood test to screen for prostate cancer, according to new healthcare guidelines from Canada.

The crazed knife attacker who beheaded an 82-year-old grandmother after killing a pet cat remains in hospital under police guard.

A woman was beheaded in broad daylight in a suburban back garden yesterday.

A woman has been beheaded in a London back garden.

There have been concerts, cover albums, books and films paying homage to his oeuvre and now an entire festival dedicated to the work of Leonard Cohen is coming to Ireland.

A giant meteor struck Canada within the last 70 million years, creating a crater five miles (8km) wide, scientists believe.

This is the day we, or at least the great majority of us, declare and celebrate our pride in being Irish even if that happy possibility is occasioned more by an accident of birth rather than any particular achievements.

Emergency crews battled a massive fire after a Canadian National tanker train carrying oil and gas derailed west of Edmonton, Alberta, overnight. No injuries have been reported so far.

About 65,000 residents of Calgary are returning to their homes to assess the damage from flooding that has left Alberta’s largest city awash in debris and dirty water.

The value of Irish homes fell by more than 3% in the past year, figures reveal.

Big Tobacco is proving notoriously hard to stub out but legal changes, excise hikes and the illicit trade are hurting it, writes John Hearne

With reference to your recent article on Canada by Jennifer Hough, I enjoyed reading it and was pleased to see the Canadians acknowledged for their generosity towards immigrants.

Eight sports, eight arenas, one day.

Three people are dead and one is in critical condition after a shooting at the University of Alberta campus in Canada.

PUPPET decapitations, Irish-dancing electro music, hurling royalty and a bizarre but unnervingly catchy “banana song”.

Beleaguered retailer HMV took another step in its restructuring today by announcing a deal to sell its 121 stores in Canada.

THE perceived exodus of GAA players to jobs abroad is no greater than at the peak of the boom, research by the GAA has shown.

DETECTIVES in London are hunting up to nine gang members after a schoolboy was killed while “selflessly protecting” his younger brother.

AS a native of Cork, I am following the sad progress of the Irish meltdown on your website.

GILLIAN BOURKE only took up rugby in college in 2003; even then, she didn’t learn to scrummage until joining up with Connacht soon after.

WAYNE GRETZKY, I’m sure, could well swing a hurley if you pressed one into his hand. But I don’t know if ice hockey’s Ringy has any interest in Gaelic Games.

Irish animated film 'The Secret of Kells' has been named best European animated feature in a top awards ceremony.