Latest news with #ComebackoftheYear
CNN
01-05-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Olympic gold medalist Rebeca Andrade says sharing podium with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles ‘gives me goosebumps every time I remember it'
It became one of the defining images of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite more than six months passing since US gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Brazil's Rebeca Andrade atop the podium, the floor gold medalist says the moment still gives her 'goosebumps.' As well as the heart-warming display of sportsmanship earning Biles and Chiles plaudits around the world, it was also a historic moment as the trio became the first all-Black Olympics gymnastics podium. 'It was a really important moment on the podium,' Andrade told CNN Sports at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, where the Brazilian was named Comeback of the Year winner. 'Three female Black athletes, representing their nations, and showing that we deserve to be there. Knowing that it's possible to make it happen and it was beautiful. It's a moment that gives me goosebumps every time I remember it.' Perhaps there is no better word that sums Andrade up than 'comeback.' The 25-year-old had considered quitting gymnastics after suffering three ACL tears – in 2015, 2017 and 2019 – one of the most brutal injuries for any athlete to overcome. There is not only the painful and monotonous physical rehabilitation required after each major surgery, but also the grueling mental drain of facing one of the most arduous recovery processes in all of sports three times. Not to mention the lingering fear that it could happen again with a slightly miscued landing or take off. Those setbacks – each of which could have been career-ending – made Andrade's win over Biles in the floor final in Paris all the more remarkable. So, what was it that gave Andrade the motivation to keep battling back? 'I think it has a lot do with the strength of my family and my team,' she said. 'Every day in the gym showing me that regardless of my choice, if I wanted to carry on or not, they would be there to support me. 'I was sure that it was worth coming back, every time, and I returned alongside them and the results followed, so I'm very proud.' Andrade, Brazil's most decorated Olympian of all time with two golds, three silvers and a bronze, said being awarded the Comeback of the Year award 'means a lot.' 'It's recognition of my work, that of my team and of my story as an athlete, and so I feel very honored.' The nail-biting battle in Paris – Andrade and Biles were separated by just 0.033 points – understandably has fans eager to see the two gymnastics greats go head-to-head at the Olympics again at Los Angeles 2028. Biles remains unsure whether she will still be competing then, telling French newspaper L'Equipe this week that '2028 seems so far away.' She also noted concerns over her body's ability to keep pushing at the top level, revealing that her body 'literally collapsed' after competing at Paris last year. Andrade, however, said she wants to be there. 'Only God knows the future. Many things still need to happen,' she told CNN. 'There's qualifying, but there's still a desire. It's a dream of mine, so we'll battle on, but let's do it slowly.'
CNN
24-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Olympic gold medalist Rebeca Andrade says sharing podium with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles ‘gives me goosebumps every time I remember it'
It became one of the defining images of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite more than six months passing since US gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Brazil's Rebeca Andrade atop the podium, the floor gold medalist says the moment still gives her 'goosebumps.' As well as the heart-warming display of sportsmanship earning Biles and Chiles plaudits around the world, it was also a historic moment as the trio became the first all-Black Olympics gymnastics podium. 'It was a really important moment on the podium,' Andrade told CNN Sports at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, where the Brazilian was named Comeback of the Year winner. 'Three female Black athletes, representing their nations, and showing that we deserve to be there. Knowing that it's possible to make it happen and it was beautiful. It's a moment that gives me goosebumps every time I remember it.' Perhaps there is no better word that sums Andrade up than 'comeback.' The 25-year-old had considered quitting gymnastics after suffering three ACL tears – in 2015, 2017 and 2019 – one of the most brutal injuries for any athlete to overcome. There is not only the painful and monotonous physical rehabilitation required after each major surgery, but also the grueling mental drain of facing one of the most arduous recovery processes in all of sports three times. Not to mention the lingering fear that it could happen again with a slightly miscued landing or take off. Those setbacks – each of which could have been career-ending – made Andrade's win over Biles in the floor final in Paris all the more remarkable. So, what was it that gave Andrade the motivation to keep battling back? 'I think it has a lot do with the strength of my family and my team,' she said. 'Every day in the gym showing me that regardless of my choice, if I wanted to carry on or not, they would be there to support me. 'I was sure that it was worth coming back, every time, and I returned alongside them and the results followed, so I'm very proud.' Andrade, Brazil's most decorated Olympian of all time with two golds, three silvers and a bronze, said being awarded the Comeback of the Year award 'means a lot.' 'It's recognition of my work, that of my team and of my story as an athlete, and so I feel very honored.' The nail-biting battle in Paris – Andrade and Biles were separated by just 0.033 points – understandably has fans eager to see the two gymnastics greats go head-to-head at the Olympics again at Los Angeles 2028. Biles remains unsure whether she will still be competing then, telling French newspaper L'Equipe this week that '2028 seems so far away.' She also noted concerns over her body's ability to keep pushing at the top level, revealing that her body 'literally collapsed' after competing at Paris last year. Andrade, however, said she wants to be there. 'Only God knows the future. Many things still need to happen,' she told CNN. 'There's qualifying, but there's still a desire. It's a dream of mine, so we'll battle on, but let's do it slowly.'
CNN
24-04-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Olympic gold medalist Rebeca Andrade says sharing podium with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles ‘gives me goosebumps every time I remember it'
It became one of the defining images of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite more than six months passing since US gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Brazil's Rebeca Andrade atop the podium, the floor gold medalist says the moment still gives her 'goosebumps.' As well as the heart-warming display of sportsmanship earning Biles and Chiles plaudits around the world, it was also a historic moment as the trio became the first all-Black Olympics gymnastics podium. 'It was a really important moment on the podium,' Andrade told CNN Sports at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards, where the Brazilian was named Comeback of the Year winner. 'Three female Black athletes, representing their nations, and showing that we deserve to be there. Knowing that it's possible to make it happen and it was beautiful. It's a moment that gives me goosebumps every time I remember it.' Perhaps there is no better word that sums Andrade up than 'comeback.' The 25-year-old had considered quitting gymnastics after suffering three ACL tears – in 2015, 2017 and 2019 – one of the most brutal injuries for any athlete to overcome. There is not only the painful and monotonous physical rehabilitation required after each major surgery, but also the grueling mental drain of facing one of the most arduous recovery processes in all of sports three times. Not to mention the lingering fear that it could happen again with a slightly miscued landing or take off. Those setbacks – each of which could have been career-ending – made Andrade's win over Biles in the floor final in Paris all the more remarkable. So, what was it that gave Andrade the motivation to keep battling back? 'I think it has a lot do with the strength of my family and my team,' she said. 'Every day in the gym showing me that regardless of my choice, if I wanted to carry on or not, they would be there to support me. 'I was sure that it was worth coming back, every time, and I returned alongside them and the results followed, so I'm very proud.' Andrade, Brazil's most decorated Olympian of all time with two golds, three silvers and a bronze, said being awarded the Comeback of the Year award 'means a lot.' 'It's recognition of my work, that of my team and of my story as an athlete, and so I feel very honored.' The nail-biting battle in Paris – Andrade and Biles were separated by just 0.033 points – understandably has fans eager to see the two gymnastics greats go head-to-head at the Olympics again at Los Angeles 2028. Biles remains unsure whether she will still be competing then, telling French newspaper L'Equipe this week that '2028 seems so far away.' She also noted concerns over her body's ability to keep pushing at the top level, revealing that her body 'literally collapsed' after competing at Paris last year. Andrade, however, said she wants to be there. 'Only God knows the future. Many things still need to happen,' she told CNN. 'There's qualifying, but there's still a desire. It's a dream of mine, so we'll battle on, but let's do it slowly.'
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Miesha Tate explains why she's 'bummed' to miss out on Holly Holm rematch
Miesha Tate explains why she's 'bummed' to miss out on Holly Holm rematch Miesha Tate explains why she's upset she didn't get to rematch Holly Holm, despite beating her in their first UFC outing. Although victorious in their first meet, Miesha Tate wishes she could run things back with Holly Holm. The idea of fighting someone a second time after you beat them might not make sense to most, especially if their opponent doesn't have a title or major spot on the rankings, but for Tate, rematching Holm is a personal matter. That's why Tate is upset that she'll likely never get the chance to do so before she hangs up the gloves now that Holm finds herself outside the UFC. "I'm bummed I missed the window with a Holly rematch," Tate told MMA Junkie Radio. "It's just a chip on my shoulder that people think that I narrowly won by a hail marry. I didn't see it that way at all. I know that she won three rounds by point scoring me, but there was literally no damage done to me in the fight, at all. In the second round, I took her down, and it was a 10-8 round. I dominated the round from bell to bell. So going into the fifth round, if I won that round, it was a draw. People think back and be like, 'Oh, she was getting her ass kicked, and she's so lucky.' "Let me get this straight. Facts: I was not getting my ass kicked, I was getting outpointed, narrowly in my opinion. I'll give her Rounds 1, 3, and 4, but I dominated her in Round 2. I dropped heavy elbows, I attempted submissions. In the (fifth) round, I got a fairly early takedown, and I was on my way to winning that round, which would've made it a draw. It wouldn't have been enough to give me the belt, so yes, I needed to finish that fight for legacy purposes, but it still makes me mad that people recall it (as a beating). I won Comeback of the Year, that's ridiculous." Tate and Holm met at UFC 196 in 2016. Tate entered as the challenger, and Holm as the defending champion. It was a fight that had Holm controlling most of the action, and seemed to be cruising her way to a clear decision win. However, Tate turned that around deep into the fifth round, putting Holm to sleep with a rear-naked choke to crown herself UFC women's bantamweight champion. Tate won Comeback of the Year at the World MMA Awards and other media outlets for that performance against Holm. Although she's thankful for the recognition, she feels like the MMA community has a revisionist history of her bout, something she wanted to reconfigure in a potential rematch. "I never looked like I was done in that fight, so to me the award was weird to accept because I'm like, yeah, I needed to finish it, but I was never getting demolished," Tate said. "So anyway, that's why I wanted the rematch. I wanted to settle that, and dominate." Tate returns to the cage on May 3 at UFC on ESPN 67. She takes on fellow veteran Yana Santos.
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Laureus World Sports Awards 2025 Winners List: Duplantis, Nadal bag top honours; Rishabh Pant misses out
Record-breaking pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and America's legendary gymnast Simone Biles bagged the top honous at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid on Monday. While Duplantis earned the World Sportsman of the Year at the prestigious award gala, Biles was bagged the highest women's honours of the night. The 25-year-old Duplantis, regarded as the greatest pole vaulter of all time, won the award for the first time after being nominated in each of the past three years. Duplantis became only the second track-and-field athlete after four-time winner Usain Bolt to claim the prestigious award. Duplantis pipped the likes of Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (Tennis), France's Léon Marchand (Swimming), Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar (Cycling) and Netherlands' Max Verstappen (Motor Racing) with more votes for the award. 'I am incredibly honoured to have won my first Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award in the sporting capital of Madrid and to have the great Usain Bolt pay tribute to me…' he said. Duplantis won his second World Indoor Championship gold medal in March and broke his own world record for a remarkable ninth time in 2024 en route to Olympic gold in Paris. Biles, who returned to action after a break, clinched three gold and one silver medal in a stunning comeback at the Paris Olympics to claim her fourth Laureus award — equalling the record held by Serena Williams. Both the athletes also have one Comeback of the Year honour. Tennis great Rafael Nadal was conferred the Laureus Sporting Icon Award in a year he announced his retirement from professional tennis. 'Back in 2006 I won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award in Barcelona… Tennis and sports in general has given me so much…,' Nadal said. Rishabh Pant, who was the only Indian to be nominated for the awards for his comeback from a 14-month layoff due to his road accident, missed out on the award eventually clinched by Rebeca Andrade. Andrade got the Comeback of the Year award for her inspirational return from a series of career-threatening injuries. Andrade, who contemplated quitting after three ACL injuries, made a triumphant return by winning gold in the floor exercise at the Paris Games. Laureus Sports Awards 2025 Full Winners List Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award: Mondo Duplantis Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award: Simone Biles Laureus World Team of the Year Award: Real Madrid Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award: Lamine Yamal Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award: Rebeca Andrade Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award: Tom Pidcock Laureus Sport for Good Award: Kick4Life Laureus Sporting Icon Award: Rafael Nadal
