Sports
Simone Biles Cruises To 9th National Title And Gives Olympic Champ Sunisa Lee A Boost Along The Way
FORT WORTH, Texas — Simone Biles used to find “beauty in the blindness” in the lead-up to the Olympics, relishing in her lack of knowledge.
That happened eight years ago, back when she was still a teenager, still sort of “ditzy.”
Those days are long over. The evidence is not only on Biles’ driver’s license or marriage certificate but also her ability to see beyond herself. The tunnel vision that most great athletes have in pursuit of greatness has faded.
And it could be the most significant difference between the national title the gymnastics star earned on Sunday night — her ninth, with an all-around score of 119.750 — and her first over a decade ago.
Simone Biles | AP News Image
Simone Biles Cruises To 9th National Title And Gives Olympic Champ Sunisa Lee A Boost Along The Way
The key moment of Biles’ triumph was a walk rather than a twist, turn, or jump.
It happened early on when Biles watched the 2020 Olympic champion and close friend Sunisa Lee twist awkwardly in the air during her vault and land on her back, a look of surprise and panic on her face.
“I was kind of thinking that this was over,” Lee stated.
Then Biles stood at her side unexpectedly. She was more aware of Lee’s exact whereabouts than anyone else.
A similar wayward vault by Biles three years ago at the Tokyo Games set off a chain of events that resulted in her withdrawing from various competitions and bringing the significance of mental health to the forefront of the discussion.
Watching Lee, who has spent the majority of the previous two years battling kidney difficulties that have caused her weight to fluctuate and complicated her training, struggle to gather herself, Biles left her World Champions Centre teammates and gave Lee the kind of support she relied on so heavily back in Japan.
“I know how traumatizing it is, especially on a big stage like this,” Biles stated. “And I didn’t want her to get in her head, so we just went and talked about it.”
The two retreated off the floor to discuss, with Biles reassuring Lee that she “could do hard things.”
When they returned, Biles stood next to the uneven bars, cheering Lee on as she rebounded with a magnificent (if slightly watered-down) routine that earned a 14.500 and helped her finish fourth.
“I know I was having a hard time and she was just there to help lift me up,” Lee recalled.
Biles is at a point in her unprecedented career where the satisfaction she derives from the sport is no longer just based on the quality of her performances.
While she quipped that she believes she is “aging like fine wine,” it is telling that she kept her biggest smile for the five World Champions Centre colleagues — the majority of whom are a decade younger — who will join her at the Olympic trials in Minneapolis later this month.
“That’s kind of what excites me because I think they have long careers ahead of them,” Biles stated. “So if I can do anything to help them, right now and in the future, that’s what I’m going to do.”
This is her way of giving back. She is well aware of the limelight that awaits her in Paris, and she is attempting to set an example for others on how to handle the pressure. She’s become a regular in therapy, even during meet weeks, and she’s determined to concentrate on what she can change.
Simone Biles | AP news Image
Simone Biles Cruises To 9th National Title And Gives Olympic Champ Sunisa Lee A Boost Along The Way
For example, consider her gymnastic abilities.
In front of an audience that included her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, Biles delivered a four-rotation masterclass that bore all of the hallmarks of a typical Biles performance. There was breathtaking agility, precision, and more than a hint of arrogance.
Biles finished with the highest two-day score in all four events, a feat she had accomplished only once previously at nationals (2018).
Her only mistake on Sunday was on the vault. During warmups, she fell short of her Yurchenko double pike — two back flips with her hands clasped behind her knees — and overcompensated when it counted, generating enough force to land on her back. She nevertheless scored 15.000 for her efforts, a tribute to a vault that no other woman has ever performed in competition and has only been tried by a small group of males.
Not that it troubled her. Biles gathered herself, took a few deep breaths, and followed it up with a Cheng vault that earned her a 15.1 and placed her on track for her seventh national victory. No other gymnast in the history of the sport in the United States has achieved more than seven.
While Biles is above the fray as usual, there is fierce rivalry for the other four spots on the five-woman U.S. team. The team will travel to Paris as heavy favorites to reclaim the top spot after finishing second to Russia in Tokyo three years prior.
Skye Blakely, 19, delivered another outstanding performance and will travel to Minneapolis with lots of energy. Blakely is rising at the ideal time, three years after her effort to reach the 2020 Olympic team was cut short due to injury.
Simone Biles | AP News Image
Simone Biles Cruises To 9th National Title And Gives Olympic Champ Sunisa Lee A Boost Along The Way
Lee remains a vision of beauty on bars and beams, her greatest events. She was heartened by her first elite all-around competition since winning in Tokyo, with Biles cheering from the stands.
Olympians Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey are still in contention despite both falling on the beam on Sunday. Kayla DiCello, who finished in third place, tumbled off the uneven bars.
Shilese Jones, widely regarded as the best all-around gymnast in the United States without the surname Biles, withdrew from the championships on Friday due to a shoulder issue, though she stated on Sunday that she was feeling better and would be available for trials. So will 18-year-old Kaliya Lincoln, who chose not to compete on Sunday after a minor adjustment during Friday night’s opening session.
Both (Jones in particular) appear to be genuine prospects for a Paris invitation if healthy.
Biles’ ticket is punched. Everything is the same as it has always been.
SOURCE -(AP)
John Cena, a US actor and wrestler, has retired from competing in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) events.
John Cena delivered the surprising statement to fans while performing at the WWE Money in the Bank event in Canada.
The 47-year-old, who began his acting career 18 years ago, announced that his final in-ring competition will be in 2025 as part of a farewell tour.
John Cena is widely recognized as one of the best professional wrestlers ever, having won world championships 16 times since joining WWE in 2001.
“Tonight, I officially announce my retirement from the WWE,” he informed supporters in Toronto. They were taken aback and then screamed, “Thank you, Cena.”
“What an incredible act of kindness,” he responded.
He thanked WWE fans for “letting me play in the house that you built for so many years” while wearing a t-shirt with the words “The Last Time is Now” and his trademark “jorts” [denim shorts].
In a subsequent press conference, he stated that despite feeling “at my end” physically, he hoped to remain a member of the WWE family in some form.
John Cena made his acting debut in 2006 with The Marine and went on to appear in several high-budget films, including The Suicide Squad, Fast & Furious 9, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Since his acting career took off in 2018, the star has worked part-time for WWE.
He made news this year for appearing naked, except for a carefully placed envelope, during an Academy Awards spoof.
The American is also the most desired celebrity by children through the charity Make-A-Wish.
He holds the Guinness World Record for the most wishes granted to Make-A-Wish youngsters with serious conditions.
Source: WWE
Indianapolis — Caitlin Clark recorded the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history, leading Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, snapping the Fever’s nine-game losing run against the Liberty.
Clark tallied 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). The No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft was one rebound shy of a triple-double in an 88-82 away win over the Phoenix Mercury two nights ago.
“Obviously, it’s really cool,” Clark remarked. “My teammates are completing the ball at a very high rate. My assist numbers are due of them.”
Caitlin Clark | AP News Image
Caitlin Clark Rallies Fever Past Liberty 83-78 With First Triple-Double By WNBA Rookie
“Caitlin with a triple-double, my gosh, that’s incredible,” she exclaimed post-game. “We held New York to 16 points in the fourth quarter, which was big for us. That’s the best team in the league.”
Clark scored 11 points in the first quarter, going 3 of 4 from three-point range. She reached double figures in assists in the third quarter and surpassed the 10-rebound mark in the fourth.
Clark completed a three-point play, and Kelsey Mitchell followed with a three-pointer to tie the game at 75 with 2:31 remaining. Aliyah Boston scored off Mitchell’s steal, giving Indiana a two-point advantage, and Lexie Hull’s reverse layup extended the margin to 79-75 at 1:24.
Sabrina Ionescu of New York responded with a 3-pointer, but she missed the following time down the floor with a chance to put the Liberty up. Boston made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and Mitchell added two with 11 seconds left to complete the upset.
New York made just 10 of 42 shots from beyond the arc.
“We defended well the whole game,” Boston stated. “Those last few minutes, especially those last few possessions, were great for us.”
Boston led the Fever with 18 points (8-for-12 shooting) and eight rebounds. Mitchell scored 14 points, reaching double figures for the tenth consecutive game. NaLyssa Smith, the second overall choice in the 2022 draft, added 12 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double.
Ionescu scored 22 points to lead New York (17-4), which had won five consecutive games. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton ended with 20 points, including four three-pointers. Breanna Stewart tallied 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Jonquel Jones recorded 12 rebounds, six points, and three steals.
Clark scored a three-pointer and then a layup to lead Indiana to an 8-0 run to start the game. She converted a steal into a 3-pointer with 3:04 remaining in the first, giving the Fever their largest lead of 24-12. Laney-Hamilton nailed a jumper with two seconds left, and New York scored the final six points to pull within six going into the second period.
Clark’s turnaround fadeaway jumper gave the Fever a 31-20 advantage with 7:48 remaining in the second quarter. Jones scored the final five baskets in a 12-0 run, giving the Liberty their first lead. Smith responded with a layup, breaking a 5:06 scoring drought and regaining Indiana’s advantage.
Stewart, who averaged 22.7 points in three previous victories over the Fever this season, hit two free throws in the last minute to pull New York within 39-38 at halftime.
Laney-Hamilton hit a go-ahead jumper, and Ionescu followed with a basket and a 3-pointer off a Stewart steal, giving New York a 57-50 lead with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter. Laney-Hamilton made a pull-up jumper with three seconds left, giving the Liberty a 62-55 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Clark observed that the Fever is learning not to wilt under pressure when things don’t go their way.
Caitlin Clark | AP News Image
Caitlin Clark Rallies Fever Past Liberty 83-78 With First Triple-Double By WNBA Rookie
“I think the biggest difference has been when teams make runs, we don’t crumble,” Clark informed the audience. “We found a way to stay resilient and kind of close the gap.”
Sandy Brondello, New York’s coach, was dissatisfied with the Liberty’s approach at the start.
“I didn’t think we came out with the necessary urgency to compete,” Brondello told the crowd. “They’re 6-4 in their last ten games. “They outperformed us down the stretch.”
Indiana beat New York for the first time since May 13, 2022, when they won 92-86 on the road. The Fever lead the all-time series 50-41.
SOURCE – (AP)
England’s quest for their first major tournament victory in 58 years remained alive after another late comeback. On Saturday, they defeated Switzerland 5-3 on penalties to advance to the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
After the 120 minutes ended 1-1, goalie Jordan Pickford was the Three Lions’ hero in the shootout, saving Switzerland’s first penalty kick from Manuel Akanji.
Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold converted penalties to advance England to a semi-final against Turkey or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.
After needing Bellingham’s 95th-minute equalizer to beat Slovakia in extra time in the last 16, England was again on the verge of defeat with 10 minutes remaining.
Breel Embolo’s goal put Switzerland ahead after a dull first 75 minutes of play.
Five minutes later, Saka’s excellent strike from outside the box equalized England’s first shot on target.
Akanji, a Manchester City defender, was the unfortunate penalty villain as Switzerland’s dismal record in major tournament quarterfinals continued.
They have now lost five games without ever reaching the semi-finals.
England, on the other hand, continues to march on despite yet another disappointing performance from Gareth Southgate’s side.
“We know there are two more games, we can change our lives and make more history that’s not been done before,” Saka, the match-winning player, said.
In his 100th match in command of his country, Southgate rejected calls for personnel changes but did adjust his strategy.
Ezri Konsa made his competitive international debut in place of the suspended Marc Guehi as England switched to a back three.
However, contrary to expectations, Saka remained on the right in what turned out to be a smart decision by Southgate.
The Arsenal winger posed by far the most serious threat in a first half in which neither team registered a shot on goal.
Saka was slipping past Michel Aebischer at will, producing the greatest chance of the first period when Kobbie Mainoo’s strike was diverted behind just before halftime.
The game continued at the same laborious pace for both teams into the second half.
Southgate has been often chastised for being too sluggish to impact games with his substitutions.
England makes belated alterations.
Despite possessing one of the most skilled squads in the tournament, England’s manager had to shake things up once they fell behind.
England appeared on the verge of a humiliating defeat when Embolo pounced at the far post to convert Dan Ndoye’s deflected cross.
Southgate reacted instantly, sending on Palmer, Eberechi Eze, and Luke Shaw, who was making his first appearance since February.
Within five minutes, they were level after Saka cut inside and shot low and hard off the far post.
Yann Sommer made a great stop by denying England’s Declan Rice a second goal early in extra time.
Harry Kane was then pulled off hurt following a frightening fall into England’s dugout.
Switzerland came closest in the second half of extra time, with Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner rebounding off the post and Pickford parrying Zeki Amdouni’s powerful shot from distance.
England had only won one of five previous penalty shootouts at the Euros, including a defeat to Italy in the final three years prior.
However, they were spot-on, as Saka atoned for his critical miss in the Euro 2020 final.
“For me, it is something I embrace,” Saka explained. “You can fail once, but choose not to put yourself in that situation again.
“We have some of the best takers in the Premier League and worldwide.
“We were pretty confident regarding penalties, and that showed today. We got five out of five and advanced to the next round.
Source: CNN
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