Latest news with #Girls'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Riley Gaines challenges ex-ESPN host to race after he says she was a 'worse swimmer' than she is 'MAGA stooge'
FIRST ON FOX: Riley Gaines clapped back at former ESPN and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann with an official challenge for charity on Wednesday after he said Gaines "was, somehow, a worse swimmer than she is a MAGA stooge." Olbermann, the ex-host of both MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and ESPN's SportsCenter, quoted an X post of Education Secretary Linda McMahon telling Fox News' America Reports that Gaines "would have clearly won" her race if Gaines didn't have to compete against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. California Track Star's Family Reacts To Trump Shaking Up Girls' Championship Meet Amid Trans Athlete Drama "[Riley Gaines] finished 85th in the Olympic Trials," Olbermann posted to X. "She finished tied for 5th in the only race including a transgendered athlete. If there had been none she MIGHT have finished tied for 4th, or had 5th place to herself." The 12-time National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American responded on X, noting she "placed 85th at Olympic trials when I was 15/16." "I was one of the youngest there," Gaines explained. "And I placed 5th *in the nation* in a sport measured in .01s of a second without going a best. Would you say the 5th best college football player is objectively bad at their sport?" Read On The Fox News App Lia Thomas' Former Teammates Speak Out Against Upenn Amid Title Ix Violation The "Gaines for Girls" podcast host told Fox News Digital she is now officially challenging Keith Olbermann to a race for charity. The event would be a 200-yard freestyle at a location of Olbermann's choice sometime before August 31 of this year. The winner of the race will pick which charitable organization the proceeds would go to and the total wager to be donated would be set if Olbermann agrees. The 25-year-old University of Kentucky alumnus told Fox that Olbermann "could do a 150" yard freestyle, while she still swims 200 yards, if it incentivized him to compete in the charitable challenge. A spokesperson for Olbermann did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Click Here For More Sports Coverage On While Gaines and Olbermann sparred on X, President Donald Trump blasted California governor Gavin Newsom earlier this week as the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) cleared the way for a transgender athlete to compete in a women's state championship track meet this upcoming weekend. "California, under the leadership of Radical Left Democrat Gavin Newscum, continues to ILLEGALLY allow "MEN TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.;" Trump posted to Truth Social. "This week a transitioned Male athlete, at a major event, won "everything," and is now qualified to compete in the "State Finals" next weekend." President Trump signed an Executive Order on Feb 5th in an attempt to outright ban men from competing in women's sports. Trump went on to explain that if the Golden State did not comply with this executive order, federal funding could be revoked. "THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS," the president continued in his post. "Please be hereby advised that large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to." Newsom's office released a statement supporting the transgender athlete's participation in the upcoming state article source: Riley Gaines challenges ex-ESPN host to race after he says she was a 'worse swimmer' than she is 'MAGA stooge'
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Thrilling finale to QBF's girls and women's basketball league
Tribune News Network Doha The second edition of the Girls' and Women's Basketball Leagues for the 2024-2025 sports season concluded amidst an impressive competitive atmosphere and a distinguished public presence. The tournament saw widespread participation and a remarkable improvement in the teams' level and technical performance, reflecting the success of the Qatar Basketball Federation's strategy to support and develop the women's game. The final day's games were extremely exciting and witnessed the attendance of a number of prominent sports figures, led by Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation; Abdullah Sultan Al Jaber, Member of the Federation's Board of Directors; Amal Mohammed Al Kaldi, Member of the Women's Committee; Essam Lotfi, Technical Secretary of Competitions; and Dr. Khalid Al Qahtani, Member of the Media Committee. The tournament also featured a host of members of the Qatari basketball family, coaches, and participating academies, reflecting the significant support for women's sports in Qatar. The final day of the tournament saw the crowning of the winning teams in the three categories: Under 15, Under 18, and Women. The participating teams competed for the title until the final moments in exciting and competitive matches. Hoops Academy wins Under-15 title In the Under 15 category, Hoops Academy won the championship title after an exciting final game, defeating Al Gharafa Club by just one point, 57-56, in a match that was closely fought and evenly contested until the final seconds. With this victory, Hoops Academy won the championship trophy and gold medals, while Al Gharafa Club finished second and received the silver medals, and FAME Academy came in third and won the bronze medals. Al Gharafa clinch Under-18 crown In the Under-18 category, the game was no less exciting, as Al Gharafa Club clinched the title after defeating Hoops Academy 60-59, in a breathtaking encounter that held its breath until the final moment. With this victory, Al Gharafa Club added the championship trophy and gold medals to its tally, while Hoops Academy took second place, and Fame Academy took third place and the bronze medals. Women's title for Al Gharafa In the finale, Al Gharafa Women's Club asserted their dominance over the women's championship title after a fiercely contested match against Hoops Academy, which also ended by just one point, with a score of 73-72. This game reflected the high technical level of both teams. Al Gharafa won the championship title and the gold medals, while Hoops Academy finished second and won the silver medals. Third place went to Qatar University, which won the bronze medal. The coronation ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, QBF President, and Abdullah Sultan Al Jaber, a member of the Federation's Board of Directors. They honoured a number of outstanding players across various categories, in recognition of their contributions and remarkable brilliance during the tournament. This comes as part of the Federation'ssupport for promising players and its encouragement of outstanding individual performance. In the Best Young Player category, three stars from different teams emerged, with the award going to Nazih Agha, a player from Fame Academy; Huda Ahdab from Hoops Academy; and Judy Ahmed Jaballah of Al Gharafa Club. As for the top scorers, Al Gharafa Club dominated the awards, with Chloe Abumrad shining in the Under-15 category, while Maya Al Khatib won the award for the top scorer in the Under-18 category. In the women's category, Al Gharafa players continued to shine, with Mona Suleiman winning the award as the top scorer. For his part, Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb, stated: 'The conclusion of the second edition of the Girls' and Women's Basketball League confirms beyond any doubt that women's basketball in Qatar is on a bright future. We witnessed high technical levels and professional organization, reflecting the Federation's commitment to raising the quality of local competitions across all categories.' He added: 'At the Federation, we are committed to making women's sports a fundamental pillar of our development strategy. We will work to expand the base of participation and enhance the presence of players of all ages by supporting clubs and academies and providing appropriate competitive spaces to hone talent. 'I would also like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this tournament, from the technical, organizational, and refereeing committees, to all the teams that participated in the second edition.' Abdullah Sultan Al Jaber, emphasized: 'The tournament was a model of what women's sports should be: fair competition, advanced performance, and top-level organization. We witnessed great commitment from the players and technical staff, which reflects a growing awareness of the importance of women's sports in Qatar.' He said, 'We, on the Federation's Board of Directors, consider the Girls' and Women's Leagues a strategic project, and we are working to develop them season after season.' Saleh Al Rubaie, Head of the Basketball Department at Al Gharafa Club, expressed his deep pride in our teams' winning the Girls' and Women's Leagues, an achievement that reflects the systematic and continuous work we are undertaking to support our women's teams, from age groups to the women's team. The Head of the Basketball Department at Al Gharafa Club also extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Qatar Basketball Federation for the professional organization and high-level performance of the tournament, which provided a fair and safe competitive environment that helped highlight the true potential of the players.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Mater Lakes' De La Puente and Gulliver's Beltran are Dade Water Polo Players of the Year
Both Gulliver's Sofia Beltran and Mater Lakes' Noslen De La Puente know what it's like to be part of a tight-knit water polo team that grew up playing together in youth ball and middle school. Winning together is even sweeter on such teams. Beltran experienced that this season as she and her Raiders' teammates finally won their first state championship together and the school's first since 2013. De La Puente is confident a day like that is coming at Mater Lakes, although the Bears had their own memorable season, reaching the state finals for the first time. Both were key to their respective teams' success and, as such, Beltran and De La Puente are the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade Water Polo Players of the Year. Beltran, a freshman goalie, is the Girls' winner after establishing herself as one of the best players at her position in the state. Beltran finished the season with 228 blocks, 40 steals and 19 assists, and was the anchor of her team's defensive efforts during some of the Raiders' most crucial matches. Beltran, who has been with the varsity team since sixth grade, came up huge in the state final against Seminole as Gulliver held its opposition scoreless for the final two and a half quarters after falling behind 4-1 early. The result was the Raiders rallying for an 8-5 victory. 'It was a mental game. At the beginning we were getting in our heads and losing hope,' Beltran said. 'But we just changed our mentality in the second half and took over.' Beltran stopped several penalty shots throughout the season and has developed the skill and confidence rarely seen in players her age. She is one of several key players who are set to return for Gulliver as it seeks a championship repeat. 'My blocking got better and I had more confidence in myself,' Beltran said. 'I just improved a lot on that. I'm happy and sad that this season is over, but excited for what's to come.' De La Puente became the centerpiece on a team, which broke through to the state championship match for the first time this season before losing a 10-9 heartbreaker to Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy. De La Puente and most of Mater Lakes' core grew up playing club ball together in the Hialeah area and have helped a young Bears program carve its own place among the sport's elite in Dade County. 'All of us grew up together and have been playing for seven years or more,' De La Puente said. 'It brought up our chemistry. They mean everything to me.' This season, De La Puente was a scoring force for Mater Lakes, but also learned more of what it took to be a leader in the pool. 'The ending isn't what we wanted but I'm so proud of my boys and we created so many memories this season,' De La Puente said. 'We got farther than ever and couldn't ask for more. We'll be back next year and get the job finished.'
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Obama's daughter accused of copying indie creator's short film: 'I was disappointed and hurt'
An indie creator accused Malia Obama of stealing her work for a big brand commercial that Malia recently made. Indie filmmaker Natalie Jasmine Harris has accused former president Barack Obama's daughter Malia of copying her short film Grace in her Nike advertisement. Harris said she met Malia at Sundance in 2024 when her 'Grace' and Malia Obama's 'The Heart' were both in competition. Harris made a post on X earlier this month about the shocking similaries and the exact scene which she felt was copied from her film. Harris told Business Insider that two people playing pat-a-cake was the scene that was similar and to this accusation many people told her that she didn't invent pat-a-cake. "And that's very true. But it's not about the game. It's about the cinematic tools used to depict it," Harris said. "Initially, I was disappointed and hurt — not just for myself but for my entire team. I sent the commercial to friends who had the same reaction I did. One put together a shot-by-shot photo comparison," she said. "My cinematographer, Tehillah De Castro, noted a lot of similarities from a technical perspective, from the camera angles to the shots to the framing composition and the color palette." "It speaks to a larger issue of brands not supporting independent artists and opting for folks who already have name recognition, which doesn't breed innovative films or original storytelling. If they wanted these shots that were similar to my shots, why not hire me to direct?" 'I was hesitant since it involves former president's daughter' Harris said she would like some acknowledgement from Nike or Malia Obama. "I was initially hesitant to speak out, since it involves a former president's daughter and a beloved brand like I've poured too much into my work to just sit by and watch," she said. Who is Malia Obama? Barack and Michelle's eldest daughter Malia Obama is a writer, director. In 2021, Malia graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. But film was her key interest and she many prestigious internships. In 2014 she was a production assistant on the set of 'Extant' and even worked in the writer's room for HBO's 'Girls' in 2015. In 2017, Malia had a quick stint at The Weinstein Company in 2017. By the time, she ended college, she was fully working in the entertainment industry, In 2023, she doubted as a writer on Donald Glover's viral Amazon Prime Video limited series 'Swarm". In 2024, Malia chose to stop using her last name to come out of her parents' shadow and refeashjioned her name as Malia Ann.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lena Dunham Says Her Body Was An "Object Of Scorn" During "Girls"
This post contains discussion of body image issues. April marked the 13th anniversary of HBO's Girls, and as someone who made the series their entire personality, I celebrated by rewatching every season for the umpteenth time. If you can't believe how much I emulate this show, ask my coworkers how many snacks I bring to my desk and weekly brainstorms. Girls premiered on HBO on April 15, 2012, and over a decade later, the show entered a renaissance, resonating with new audiences and gaining popularity online. The series, which starred Lena Dunham, Adam Driver, Alex Karpovsky, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Andrew Rannells, and Allison Williams, is, in my opinion, a cultural phenomenon. Roy Rochlin / FilmMagic, Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW, Alessio Botticelli/GC Images In light of Girls' anniversary, star and creator Lena Dunham reflected on her appreciation for the show and recalled the scrutiny surrounding her body image. In a lengthy April 30 Instagram post, Lena wrote, "Every year around the time that Girls initially premiered (April 2012) I get kind of contemplative, brooding even. We all have anniversaries- good and bad- that send us off in search of something." "Heck, I can be launched Blue Origin style into a nostalgia trip when the sun shines a certain way through the curtains! For me, April will always be when life changed- in ways both magical (I'm still here! With you! Making things!) and confounding." Related: Here's Why Channing Tatum And Zoë Kravitz Reportedly Split "On the one hand, it was a nightmare because it confirmed everything I thought I knew, affirmed all the 7th grade ghosts living in my head," she continued. "But it also forced me to accept, swiftly and gratefully, the ways in which to live in a body is to dance constantly with our collective fear and disgust at fallibility, mortality and imperfection." She added, "There is almost nothing that scares us more than the truth of what our bodies are, and that- even with all these modern tools- their fate is so often out of our control." Lena learned to accept herself in the face of "aging, illness, scrapes and scars" and her decadelong battle with endometriosis. "This body had already been an object of scorn and so the rest of the road smoothed out before me," she said. "I no longer believed that being thinner, taller, or tanner would save me. No hair mask or control top briefs were coming to fight on my behalf. I was alerted to the fact that the only shield we have is our voice, our art, our dreams, our relationships." Related: Leonardo DiCaprio's 26-Year-Old Girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, Just Talked About What It's Really Like Dating Him — And Some Of Her Comments Are Making Me View Them Differently This isn't the first time Lena has reflected on the experience of her body being scrutinized during Girls. In a 2024 interview with The New Yorker, Lena shared why she decided not to star in her upcoming Netflix series Too Much. "I was not willing to have another experience like what I'd experienced around Girls at this point in my life," she said. "Physically, I was just not up for having my body dissected again." Too Much will instead star Megan Stalter as a 30-something woman who falls in love with a British musician (played by Will Sharpe) after moving to London. "It was a hard choice, not to cast Meg — because I knew I wanted Meg — but to admit that to myself." Maya Dehlin Spach / WireImage, Kate Green / Getty Images Lena's lengthy post sparked a lot of positive reactions, with fans resonating with her openness and what Girls meant to them. "Your show conforted me when I was 32, and this year, at my 45 conforted me again. I have seen "GIRLS" 3 times, and I'm amazed of how shuch a young girl could explain certain complicated things in such a brilliant way. Thank you for your bravery and your talent. For being so honest and raw. I truly look at you with big admiration. ❤️," Spanish film actor and writer Núria Gago wrote. "You are astonishing and your brilliant show cracked so much open for so many," Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, wrote. Another user said, "i love you so much and owe you so much. culture had to catch up to you. i am so grateful you are around." This person said, "Seeing a body like mine changed my life as a teenager and actress. Thank you for the gift that is Girls." Someone wrote, "you are the voice of my generation and always will be. GIRLS IS FOREVER." This person said, "Not to be dramatic, but you changed the world ❤️🩷" and I completely agree with the sentiment. Finally, another person wrote, "I hope you know that GIRLS is and always will be one of the best TV shows of all time! ❤️" I can't until the Girls anniversary next year — and that's on Hannah Horvath, Marnie Michaels, Shoshannah Shapiro, and Jessa Johansson. Also in Celebrity: These 21 Celebrity Ex-Marriages Were So Brief And Bizarre, They Practically Evaporated From Hollywood History Also in Celebrity: 28 Celebs Who Never Seem To Get Canceled Despite Some Pretty Awful Behavior Also in Celebrity: 15 Celebs Who Went From 'Wait, They Did WHAT?!' Normal Jobs To Massive Fame
