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Simone Biles is stepping into the Olympic spotlight again. She is better prepared for the pressure
Will Graves, Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 1:34 p.m. | Save Story
Gymnastics star Simone Biles says she is better equipped to handle the challenges that await as she prepares for a third Olympics. The 27-year-old became a touchstone for the discussion around mental health at the Tokyo Games in 2021 when she pulled herself out of several competitions because of mental trauma that made it difficult for her to compete. Biles says she now works with a therapist regularly, even during meets, to help her deal with whatever may come. The seven-time Olympic medalist begins preparations for Paris at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.
BMX racing world championships hit South Carolina with Olympic berths on the line
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 12:24 p.m. | Save Story
The BMX racing world championships are this weekend in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and there are spots on the American team for the Paris Olympics riding on the outcome. Any eligible athlete finishing in the top three automatically receive a nomination. Alise Willoughby, a two-time world champ and former Olympic silver medalist, is among the favorites along with U.S. teammates Felicia Stancil and Payton Ridenour. They will be pushed by British standout Bethany Shriever, the reigning world champion, along with Laura Smulders of the Netherlands. Romain Mahieu led a French sweep of the podium a year ago and is back to defend his title on the men's side of the competition.
In boost to Olympic ambitions, Istanbul moves closer to hosting 2027 European Games.
The Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 10:36 a.m. | Save Story
The European Olympic Committees' chief and Turkish officials have inked an initial agreement for Istanbul to host the 2027 European Games. Turkish officials hope that with the memorandum of understanding signed in Rome in Thursday, the city will increase its chances of staging the 2036 Olympics. Istanbul has bid to host the Olympics several times and came second to Tokyo in the bid contest for the 2020 Olympics. City officials said last year they want to target the 2036 Summer Games. Turkey will also co-host soccer's 2032 European Championship with Italy.
Simone Biles is stepping into the Olympic spotlight again. She is better prepared for the pressure
Will Graves, Associated Press | Posted May 16 - 8:06 a.m. | Save Story
Gymnastics star Simone Biles says she is better equipped to handle the challenges that await as she prepares for a third Olympics. The 27-year-old became a touchstone for the discussion around mental health at the Tokyo Games in 2021 when she pulled herself out of several competitions because of mental trauma that made it difficult for her to compete. Biles says she now works with a therapist regularly, even during meets, to help her deal with whatever may come. The seven-time Olympic medalist begins preparations for Paris at the U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut.
Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb wins US cycling time trial to earn spot in Paris in a second sport
Dave Skretta, Associated Press | Updated May 15 - 1:29 p.m. | Save Story
Olympic triathlete Taylor Knibb won the women's time trial at the U.S. road cycling championships, securing her spot on the U.S. team for the Paris Games. Knibb covered the course around Charleston, West Virginia, in 45 minutes, 54 seconds, beating pre-race favorite Kristen Faulkner by 11 seconds. Three-time Olympian Amber Neben was 49 seconds back in third place. Knibb competed in triathlon at the Tokyo Games in 2021. She had already qualified in that event for Paris after finishing fifth at a test event last August. In the men's time trial, defending champion Brandon McNulty won in 37:42.
Van der Poel will skip mountain bike event at Paris Olympics to focus on road race
Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press | Posted May 15 - 8:09 a.m. | Save Story
World champion Mathieu van der Poel will focus on the Olympic road race at the Paris Games this summer, after competing in the Tour de France, and skip mountain biking. The versatile Dutch racer said Wednesday that combining the Tour and the road race is "the most logical" choice. Van der Poel has won titles in many disciplines and thought at one point about competing in the cross-country mountain bike event at the Olympics. But he faced what he called a "difficult puzzle to put together" with the route of the road race suiting his skills. He hinted that he could compete in mountain biking at future Olympics. Van der Poel crashed out of the mountain bike race at the Tokyo Olympics.
The 'accidental hero' gold medalist Steven Bradbury receives an Australian bravery award for rescues
The Associated Press | Updated May 14 - 9:43 p.m. | Save Story
Steven Bradbury is back in the news for another good reason more than 20 years after winning an unlikely gold medal in short track speedskating at the Salt Lake City Olympics. Bradbury has been presented with a bravery award by the Queensland state governor for rescuing four teenagers from rough seas in March of last year at a Caloundra beach, an hour north of the capital Brisbane. In 2002, Bradbury became known as the "accidental hero" after winning Australia's first Winter Olympics gold medal. Bradbury was well off the pace in the 1,000-meter final when all four of his competitors crashed out at the final corner, allowing him to glide through to win the race.
Olympic committee says AI will protect athletes from online abuse at Paris Games
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News | Posted May 11 - 10:21 a.m. | Save Story
The International Olympic Committee is promising to protect athletes and officials from online abuse during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Unexpected spike: UVU's Kelsi Oldroyd turns from softball to throwing a javelin
Arianne Brown for KSL.com | Posted May 11 - 7:18 a.m. | Save Story
Throwing the javelin wasn't something UVU junior Kelsi Oldroyd thought she'd ever do, yet she threw an Olympic trials qualifying standard distance, shocking no one.
Flavor Flav is the official hype man for the US women's water polo team in the Paris Olympics
Jay Cohen, Associated Press | Updated May 10 - 1:41 p.m. | Save Story
Flavor Flav believes the hype on the three-time defending Olympic champion U.S. women's water polo team, and now he's stepping in to help its quest for another gold medal. The clock-wearing rap icon is sponsoring the team and will be its hype man at the Paris Games. Team captain Maggie Steffens asked for more support on social media, which caught Flav's attention. The Public Enemy member is finalizing a deal that will make him a USA Water Polo sponsor and the official hype man for a program seeking a bigger spotlight.
Torchbearers in Marseille kick off the Olympic flame's journey across France
Sylvie Corbet, Associated Press | Updated May 9 - 1:48 p.m. | Save Story
Torchbearers are carrying the Olympic flame through the streets of France's southern port city of Marseille, the first leg of an 11-week journey across the country. The torch will be carried by about 10,000 bearers as it passes through more than 450 towns until the Games' opening ceremony in Paris on July 26. Former soccer player Basile Boli, who played with the Marseille team in the 1990s, kicked off Thursday's relay from the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica. One of the torchbearers is Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska. It's an expression of solidarity with Ukraine as well as a symbolic gesture marking Europe Day,
A Ukrainian gymnast carried the Paris Olympic torch with an EU team, in a sign of support
Sylvie Corbet And Tom Nouvian, Associated Press | Updated May 9 - 10:28 a.m. | Save Story
A Ukrainian gymnast has led a group of European athletes carrying the torch for the Paris Olympics through Marseille, a gesture of European unity and solidarity with her country amid its war with Russia. Mariia Vysochanska was part of a collective that included athletes from each of the 27 EU countries to mark Europe Day. France invited her as a gesture of support to Ukrainian athletes who are struggling to prepare for the Olympics. Vysochanska's participation also highlights Ukraine's push to join the European Union.
Simone Biles wants to turn her post-Olympic tour into a celebration. The guys are coming along too
Will Graves, Associated Press | Posted May 9 - 6:01 a.m. | Save Story
Gymnastics star Simone Biles is taking her show on the road following the Paris Olympics. The 27-year-old Biles will headline the "Gold Over America Tour" this fall. The 30-city tour begins in Southern California in mid-September and wraps up in Detroit in early November. Biles invited men to participate this time around, including world all-around bronze medalist Fred Richard. Biles says she wanted her second tour to be more inclusive and it's her goal to help bring as many people to the sport as possible.
Japan's Olympic medalist and world champion Shoma Uno says he's retiring from figure skating
The Associated Press | Posted May 8 - 10:48 p.m. | Save Story
Olympic medalist and two-time world champion Shoma Uno of Japan says he is retiring from figure skating. Uno placed fourth in March in the most recent world championships. He announced his decision Thursday on social media, saying he'd been skating since he was 5. He has said it was getting more difficult to find motivation. Uno took the silver medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and was third in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. He is expected to formally to step away from the sport at the ceremony on May 14 in Tokyo.
Olympic torch begins journey across France after festive welcome in Marseille before Summer Games
Sylvie Corbet And Barbara Surk, Associated Press | Updated May 8 - 9:25 p.m. | Save Story
Tens of thousands welcomed the Olympic torch in the southern French city of Marseille, marking another milestone in the lead-up to the Summer Games in Paris. A majestic three-mast ship carried the Olympic torch from Greece for the welcoming ceremony at sunset Wednesday in the French city's old port. The ship docked on a pontoon resembling an athletics track and French Olympic swimmer Florent Manaudou carried the torch to mainland France. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the ceremony. With the arrival of the Olympic torch, "the games are entering the lives of the French people," Macron said. The torch was lit in Greece last month before it was officially handed to France.
Ukraine anticipates tensions with Russians at Paris Olympics
Lisa Riley Roche, Deseret News | Posted May 8 - 2:33 p.m. | Save Story
Ukrainian officials are telling their country's Olympic team to stay away from the Russians and Belarusians competing as neutral athletes during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
USA Badminton leader's 5-year ban upheld for interfering in reporting of sex-abuse case
Eddie Pells, Associated Press | Posted May 7 - 7:25 p.m. | Save Story
An arbitrator has upheld the five-year suspension of USA Badminton's CEO for interfering in the reporting of misconduct in a long-running case about a coach accused of sexually abusing a teenager. The Associated Press obtained a letter sent by the U.S. Center for SafeSport notifying the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and USA Badminton of the decision regarding Linda French. The letter quoted the arbitrator's decision, saying "French is at the highest level of responsibility, and must be held to the highest standards."
From Marseille to Mont-Blanc: What to know about the journey of the Olympic torch to Paris
Jerome Pugmire, Associated Press | Updated May 7 - 6:09 a.m. | Save Story
The Olympic torch will finally enter France. It's due to reach the southern seaport of Marseille on Wednesday and already, it has been quite a journey. After being lit on April 16 in Ancient Olympia, it was carried around Greece before leaving Athens late last month aboard a three-mast ship named Belem, headed for Marseille. Once it leaves Marseille, a vast relay route will be undertaken before the torch's odyssey ends on July 26 in Paris. Some notable stops include the stunning island of Mont-Saint-Michel. There's a jaunt through France's overseas territories and a sweep up the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc mountain pass.
