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Off the record: 5 sports stories you may have missed this weekend

Michelle Obama hugs the entire, new Dream Team and Sycerika McMahon is studying a South African sensation closely.

UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN glued to the internet all weekend, there’s a chance that some weird and wonderful sporting tidbits might have slipped through the cracks. Here’s a run-down of some of our favourites…

#SWIMMING TIPS Sycerika McMahon has been thoroughly impressed with the in-pool action of South African swimming sensation Cameron van der Burgh. The country’s first domestically trained athlete in the country’s history to win gold in the water also broke a world record as he raced clear in the Men’s 100m Breaststroke Final.

Irish swimmer Sycerika McMahon has been taken aback by his efforts:

No doubt the 17-year-old from Belfast is keen to ask him about his stealth and training commitments.

#WHITE RUSSIAN Aiden McGeady is one of the first Euro 2012 squad members to shrug off this summer’s disappointment and get back on the football field. The winger was in action for Spartak Moscow at the weekend and

The 30-yard screamer was the equaliser for his side, who went on to secure a 2-1 win. There is paper talk of McGeady moving to England to play Premier League football with Wigan. We think his price tag got a little bit heftier after his weekend exploits.

#FIZZY ORANGE The Netherlands’ Women’s hockey team are creating quite an internet storm. Once live and photographic images of the Dutch ladies started appearing on TV and computer screens over the weekend, the world became enraptured. The world wants to know more.

(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

Yahoo Sports revealed that Twitter and Facebook went into overdrive when the ladies played Belgium on Sunday. Not for nothing, the Dutch team won 3-0.

#HUG TIME First Lady Michelle Obama is in London to soak up some of the joy, glory and comfortable seated atmosphere of the games. Barack’s good lady wife was on hand to cheer on the USA’s men’s basketball stars on Sunday as they throttled Tony Parker and his French colleagues. She even handed out congratulatory hugs at the final whistle.

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The images of Michelle embracing Kobe and LeBron should cheer up her electioneering husband Stateside.

#AMBASSADOR BECKS Not happy with delivering the Olympic Flame to Sir Steve Redgrave on a speedboat, David Beckham has jumped in with both feet as an official London 2012 ambassador. On Sunday, the Team GB women’s footballers were at Wembley supporting their male counterparts. Guess who showed up, snazzy suit and all? Our boy Becks, that’s who.

Prince William was there too but he does not do designer stubble as well as the East London hero.

Murph’s Sideline Cut: old friends are best as Cork and Waterford serve up another shoot-out

So close: Sycerika McMahon vows to come back stronger in four years