Latest news with #Gymnastics
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Simone Biles dominates at 2025 ESPY's in Los Angeles
The 2025 ESPYs took place on Wednesday night, and few athletes had a bigger evening than Simone Biles. Arriving at the event with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, the couple turned heads on the red carpet and stole the spotlight before the show even began. Their chemistry and presence lit up social media, with fans and photographers soaking up every moment. MORE: Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens shine with sweet moment at ESPY's But Biles wasn't just there to dazzle the cameras. The 28-year-old gymnastics icon—already one of the most decorated Olympians in history, walked away with two major honors. She won Best Championship Performance and was named Best Athlete in Women's Sports, both tied to her remarkable showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles added three gold medals in Paris, bringing her Olympic total to seven and cementing her place as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her ESPY wins reflect not just her dominance in the sport but the admiration she continues to earn well beyond the gymnastics floor. Throughout the evening, Biles was celebrated by fellow athletes and celebrities alike, many of whom praised her resilience, grace, and long-standing commitment to excellence. She took the stage with a heartfelt acceptance speech, thanking her family, coaches, and fans for their unwavering support. It was a reminder that her journey has been about more than medals; it's been about inspiring others through perseverance and passion. From Paris to the ESPYs, 2024 and 2025 have solidified Biles as not only a champion but a worldwide icon. More Sports News: Jordan Chiles steals the spotlight at ESPY's with bold fashion choice Kelsey Mitchell passes Kamika Catchings for Indiana Fever franchise 3-point record Josh Allen named "Director of Billustration" in bold New Era deal Scottie Scheffler heads to Open with one harsh truth: losing sucks Tiger Woods' son Charlie singls incredible putt, shares the moment with dad Gary Woodland named Vice captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup


Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Simone Biles apologizes for heated exchange with Riley Gaines over trans athlete participation
Two-time Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles has apologized for getting personal in a heated online exchange with former collegiate swimmer turned anti-trans athlete activist Riley Gaines. Biles, an 11-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated gymnast of all-time, initially responded to a post by Gaines on the social media platform X after Gaines called a player on a Minnesota high school softball team 'a boy.' Biles wrote that Gaines was 'truly sick' and a 'straight up sore loser,' comments Biles later retracted.


Forbes
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Simone Biles Apologizes To Riley Gaines Following Trans Athlete Spat
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles apologized to former collegiate swimmer and right-wing activist Riley Gaines on Tuesday for a personal comment she made as the two argued over a championship-winning high school softball player last weekend, though Biles maintained children 'should never be the focus of criticism of a flawed system they have no control over.' TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 27: Simone Biles of Team United States looks on during the Women's Team Final on ... More day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by) Biles, who blasted Gaines for calling the trans softball player a boy and told her to 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male,' said in her apology 'it didn't help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for.' Biles said in her apology she was 'not advocating for policies that compromise fairness in women's sports' after telling Gaines on Saturday she should be 'finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports.' 'My objection is to be singling out children for public scrutiny in ways that feel personal and harmful,' Biles said. Gaines accepted Biles' apology in a post Tuesday, saying Biles knows what being body-shamed feels like and that she is 'still the greatest female gymnast of all time.' Gaines added sports are inclusive by nature but said competition is exclusive, 'So the idea of 'competitive equity' is nonsensical.' Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We're launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day's headlines. Text 'Alerts' to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here. The spat between Biles and Gaines began after Gaines noted the Minnesota State High School League removed comments from an X post showing the team that won the state's softball championship. Gaines said the removed comments were to 'be expected when your star player is a boy.' Biles called Gaines 'truly sick' and said the activist's larger-scale campaigning against transgender athletes was because she lost a race in college—a reference to Gaines' fifth-place tie with trans swimmer Lia Thomas in an NCAA championship event in 2022. Gaines said it was not her job or the job of any woman 'to figure out how to include men in our spaces.' She also made a comparison between Biles 'when she had to endure a predatory man,' showing a clip of her testimony on convicted mass sexual abuser Larry Nassar, and Biles 'when other girls have to endure predatory men,' showing her tweet defending the trans softball player. Gaines, who was a 12-time All-American swimmer for the University of Kentucky, became a right-wing activist following her tie with Thomas, which eventually led her to suing the NCAA over allegations it violated her civil rights by allowing Thomas to compete. The lawsuit has not yet been resolved. Gaines is one of the most vocal supporters of President Donald Trump's agenda against transgender athletes. The president signed an executive order in February banning trans athletes from women's sports at all levels and threatening to pull federal funding from schools allowing transgender athletes to participate in women's categories. There are fewer than 10 transgender athletes within the NCAA's roughly 530,000 student-athlete roster, according to Senate testimony given by NCAA president Charlie Baker last year. Simone Biles Tells Riley Gaines She's 'Sick' In Spat Over Trans Softball Champion (Forbes) NCAA Bars Transgender Athletes From Women's Competitions After Trump's Order Against Trans Participation In Women's Sports (Forbes)


BBC News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How to follow the European Gymnastics Championships on BBC Sport
BBC Sport has secured a four year deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to broadcast the European Gymnastics Championships until 2028. The Artistic European Gymnastics Championship is in Leipzig, with BBC Sport's coverage starting today across BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app. The championships showcases a mix of rising stars and established names, including Jess Gadirova, Becky Downie, Jake Jarman, and Joe Fraser, all competing for continental glory. It also features the anticipated competition debut of the mixed team final. Matt Baker leads the coverage, joined in the studio by Olympic medallists Beth Tweddle and Sam Oldham. Follow on the BBC Sport Website and app How to watch the 2025 Artistic European Gymnastics Championships on BBC Sport Wednesday 28 May 3pm-6.40pm iPlayer, BBC Sport website/app Mixed Team Final Thursday 29 May 1pm BBC Two, iPlayer, BBC Sport website/app Women's all-around final 5.50pm iPlayer, BBC Sport website/app Men's all-around final Friday 31 May 3pm-6pm BBC Two, iPlayer, BBC Sport website/app Finals coverage of the men's floor and pommel horse, and women's vault and uneven bars. CF


Independent Singapore
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Singapore to host 2025 Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships
- Advertisement - Singapore is set to host the 16th Senior and 21st Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships from May 16-18, 2025, at the OCBC Arena in the Singapore Sports Hub. This event is being organised by the Asian Gymnastics Union and Singapore Gymnastics after the approval of the International Gymnastics Federation. It will bring together more than 150 top gymnasts from 20 countries in Asia for a thrilling competition. The return to Southeast Asia The 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships will be held in Southeast Asia for the first time in over 10 years. Singapore will have the chance to highlight its growing contribution to international sports and its support for gymnastics in the region by being the host country for this year's championship. Moreover, following the success of the 2023 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships, this will be another step forward for Singapore to promote not just gymnastics, but sports in general in the country. - Advertisement - Dr Patrick Liew, President of Singapore Gymnastics, said, 'Bringing the Asian Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships to Singapore is a significant step in our ambition to grow the sport locally and strengthen our role as a trusted international host. This event gives our athletes and our community the chance to experience world-class gymnastics up close. We hope it will inspire the next generation, deepen appreciation for the sport, and showcase Singapore's readiness to deliver high-calibre events on the global stage.' Mr Richard Gordon, CEO of Singapore Gymnastics, also shared, 'The 16th Senior and 21st Junior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships being held here is not just a milestone for our athletes, it is a key moment for our entire high-performance ecosystem. Competing against Asia's best on home soil will elevate our gymnasts, as well as the technical quality of our coaches, judges, and event operations. It is an essential step in our lead-up to the SEA Games and an opportunity to align everyone in the system with the standards we want to uphold.' Athletes to compete Both senior and junior gymnasts will participate and show their skills in different rhythmic gymnastics events. In the senior individual competition, China's Wang Zilu, is expected to lead, having finished seventh in the all-around event at the Paris World Championships. The athlete will face fierce opponents such as Uzbekistan's Takhmina Ikromova, who is a two-time Asian champion and the recent bronze medalist at the 2025 FIG World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria. - Advertisement - Furthermore, in the Senior group event, the gold and silver medalists at the 2022 Asian Games, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, will have an intense rivalry. This championship will also play a key role as a qualifier for the 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 20-24, 2025. Singapore gymnasts to look forward to Mikayla Yang and Thea Chew will lead Team Singapore in the senior category. Both athletes have competed on the prestigious FIG World Cup circuit. Yang, who gained the highest ranking for a Southeast Asian athlete in the individual all-around event at the 15th Senior Rhythmic Gymnastics Asian Championships in 2024, is set to face a difficult challenge, with rivals including Laos' Praewa Misato Philaphandeth, who made history as the first Lao rhythmic gymnast to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Another rival would be Breanna Labadan from the Philippines, the first gymnast from her country to qualify for the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2023. - Advertisement - Yang noted, 'There's nothing quite like competing at home. My teammates and I have trained for years to reach this level, and knowing that we will be representing Singapore in front of a local crowd makes it even more special. The field this year is incredibly strong, but that just motivates us more. I hope young gymnasts watching will see what's possible and feel inspired to chase their own dreams.' In the junior competition, Singapore will be represented by Lydia Lim and Leia Yap. These young athletes are ready to gain memorable international experience at the event and make their names known on the continental stage. This championship will surely be a valuable opportunity for athletes to compete at a higher level. They could also learn from top gymnasts, which will help them hone their skills and continue to be better for future competitions.