Latest news with #PanAmericanChampionships
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Olympic Gymnasts Headline U.S. Roster For 2025 Pan American Championships
PARIS, FRANCE: JULY 28: Hezly Rivera of the United States performs her balance beam routine during ... More Artistic Gymnastics, Women's Qualification at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on July 28th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) Another international stage awaits the nation's top artistic gymnasts. USA Gymnastics has named the athletes who will represent Team USA at the 2025 Pan American Artistic Gymnastics Championships, set for June 12–15 in Panama City, Panama. As one of the year's premier international competitions, the Pan American Championships serve as a crucial stepping stone for gymnasts aiming to earn spots at the 2025 World Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia. Though a new Olympic cycle is underway, both the men's and women's rosters feature familiar faces from the 2024 Paris Games, bringing experience and star power to the international stage. MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 26: Tiana Sumanasekera awaits a turn on the floor exercies area at the ... More Women's U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team Trials podium training session on June 26, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Matt Blewett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Olympic gold medalist Hezly Rivera and Olympic alternate Tiana Sumanasekera headline the six-athlete women's lineup. U.S. National team members Dulcy Caylor, Jayla Hang, Gabrielle Hardie, and Alessia Rosa (alternate) will join them in Panama. Rivera was the rookie in Paris at just 16 years old, earning an Olympic gold medal as a member of the star-studded team dubbed the "Golden Girls.' Despite her age, Rivera emerges in 2025 as a newfound veteran for the U.S. National Team. In February, Rivera competed on only the balance beam at the U.S. Winter Cup. Though she struggled on the event, she showed upgraded difficulty and increased scoring potential. Fans hope to see the Olympian compete on all four events in Panama. June's competition will mark Rivera's first trip to the Pan American Championships and presents an opportunity for the rising star to prove her potential. Like Rivera, Tiana Sumanasekera emerges as a potential leader for the 2025 U.S. team. The UCLA Gymnastics commit excels on balance beam and floor exercise, and has her sights set on earning her first World Championship appearance later this year. Sumanasekera has excelled at the Pan American Championships before, winning the team, all-around, and balance beam titles at the 2023 edition in Medellín. Though initially slated to compete at February's Winter Cup, Sumanasekera withdrew from the event days prior. Thus, June's competition will mark her first appearance at a sanctioned meet since the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials. Though the two Olympians will lead the team, Hang is also one to watch. The 17-year-old has already collected two gold medals at this year's World Cup circuit, one on vault and another on floor exercise. Caylor, a 2024 Olympic Trials qualifier, is also a notable addition to the team. US' Asher Hong competes in the floor event of the artistic gymnastics men's qualification during the ... More Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images) Rivera isn't the only Olympic medalist heading to Panama City. Asher Hong, a key contributor to the U.S. men's historic bronze medal in Paris, will lead the newly selected men's team at the Pan American Championships. Taylor Burkhart, Taylor Christopulos, Brandon Dang, Joshua Karnes, and Junnosuke Iwai (alternate) will join Hong at June's competition. Hong has been a key catalyst in the U.S. men's team's rise to international competitiveness. In addition to helping Team USA to its first Olympic medal since 2008, the 21-year-old helped clinch the nation's first World team medal since 2014. Known for his versatility across multiple disciplines, Hong recently led the Stanford Cardinal to a second-place finish while clinching individual NCAA titles on still rings and floor exercise. Now back on the elite stage, Hong and his teammates hope to make their case for Jakarta while in Panama City. Christopulos, the bronze medalist at February's Winter Cup, recently received the Nissen-Emery award for the nation's top senior NCAA gymnast. Burkhart, Hong's teammate at Stanford, won gold on floor at March's Antalya World Cup event. Dang also collected gold this year, winning the pommel horse at the 2025 Baku World Cup. Though streaming details remain unavailable, more information about the event will become available on the FIG website in the coming weeks.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Feature: Harmony in motion: Wushu unites cultures at New York championship
by Xinhua writer Yang Shilong NEW YORK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp spring Saturday, the sound of swords slicing through the air and the rhythmic thuds of martial artists landing strikes echoed through a packed venue in Nassau County, Long Island, New York State. But this was more than a competition - it was a celebration of culture, discipline, and unity. The 2025 International Wushu Championships, held on April 19, transformed Long Island into a hub of martial arts excellence. Hosted by the Tai Chi Qigong Association of America in partnership with the Nassau County Office of Asian American Affairs, the event welcomed 268 athletes from across the United States and Canada, representing a vibrant mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and generations. Wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art that blends athleticism with artistic expression, became the shared language of the day. "Let's take the opportunity today to embrace the Wushu principle of harmony as we celebrate martial arts and the values that unite us all," wrote County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman in his welcome message to athletes, judges, and families. "Wushu is not only a dynamic and disciplined sport but also a powerful vehicle for cultural exchange, personal growth, and international unity. It brings people together across generations and borders to celebrate tradition, excellence, and the human spirit," said Dr. Henry C. Lee, honorary chairman of the event, renowned forensic scientist, and longtime advocate for cross-cultural understanding. Among the standout performances was 14-year-old Ethan Yip, an eighth grader from Herricks Middle School who began his martial arts journey at age seven at the local Sitan Tai Chi & Martial Art school. "We all share a love for martial arts, and today is a chance to showcase our skills and respect for one another. We come from different backgrounds, but on this stage, we are all one family, united by courage and tradition," said Ethan, who was incredibly grateful to be recognized as one of the grand champions and a scholarship recipient. Ethan is no stranger to the winner's podium. He previously earned gold at the 2022 Pan American Championships in Brazil and took home silver in spear at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Brunei. Traveling from Canada, Venus Li brought both skill and spirit. The teenage athlete from Wayland Li Wushu in Markham, Ontario, began training at just five years old under her grandfather, Master Wenqi Li. Years of disciplined practice - alongside dozens of competitions and cultural showcases - culminated in her earning the female grand champion title this year. In 2022, Venus earned a bronze medal in Group C at the 8th World Junior Wushu Championships, and in 2024, she placed 4th in Group B Qiangshu, representing Canada on the global stage with discipline and focus. Venus credits her success to rigorous training and the strong camaraderie within her team. "We all push each other to be better - and we share in each other's wins," she said. For many families, the event was about more than medals. Evie, a young mother from Toronto, proudly watched her teenage children - Lucas and Louise - compete. She explained that they started in a family-oriented school but transitioned to a more competitive program about a year and a half ago, which significantly sharpened their skills and focus. Tournament Chair Chen Sitan, a former world Tai Chi champion himself, reflected on the broader goals of the championship. He described the event as more than a showcase of martial prowess - it was a platform for global cultural exchange and connection. "This competition isn't just about who wins," he said. "It's about making Wushu a bridge that connects people, countries, and hearts. We want more people to understand and love it - and through that, to better understand each other." International Wushu judge Lynn Lin, who has long been a cornerstone of Wushu teenage education on Long Island, noted that the timing of the championship carries even greater meaning as Wushu is set to debut as an official sport at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. "We hope this first-of-its-kind championship becomes a standing tradition for years to come - something that inspires the next generation and brings our community together each spring."
Miami Herald
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
UFC 314 is in Miami, and here is a schedule of free events leading to the big card on Saturday
UFC 314 will occur Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami. The main event is a UFC featherweight championship bout for the vacant title between former champion Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. The co-main event features former three-time Bellator lightweight world champion (also former UFC lightweight championship challenger) Michael Chandler of South Florida's Kill Cliff FC against Paddy Pimblett in a five-round lightweight battle. Also, former three-time Bellator featherweight world champion and former Bellator lightweight world champion Patrício 'Pitbull' Freire will make his UFC debut in a featherweight bout against former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodríguez. Pitbull's coach/manager is Captain Americas Eric Albarracin, a Coral Springs High School alum, who was an FHSAA state runner-up wrestler. A former U.S. Army Captain, he was a three-time university national champion, a seven-time armed forces champion and a U.S. national team member in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Internationally, Albarracin won silver medals in the freestyle 54 kilogram division at the Pan American Championships and at the Military World Wrestling Championships. Albarracin also coaches/manages former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo, former Bellator champion Patricky Pitbull Freire, UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo, Paulo Costa, and The Korean Zombie. He assisted in the UFC title camps of champions Zhang Weili, Jiří Prochazka and Jon Jones. UFC 314 marks the fourth UFC event in Miami. Since debuting with UFC 42: Hughes vs. Sherk in 2003, UFC has conducted 23 premier sporting events in Florida, across six cities which featured 10 world championship bouts. The past two UFC shows in Miami (2023 and 2024) have seen President Trump, Kid Rock and Mike Tyson among those in attendance, two sold-out crowds. UFC 314 Events, Schedule ▪ UFC 314 news conference Thursday at Miami's Kaseya Center. Doors open 4 p.m. (Free for fans) Event starts 5 p.m. (Participants: Alexander Volkanovski – No. 1 UFC featherweight; Diego Lopes – No. 3 UFC featherweight; Michael Chandler – No. 7 UFC lightweight; Paddy Pimblett – No. 12 UFC lightweight; Bryce Mitchell – No. 13 UFC featherweight; Jean Silva – UFC featherweight; Yair Rodriguez – No. 5 UFC featherweight; Patricio Pitbull – UFC featherweight; Nikita Krylov – No. 8 UFC light heavyweight; Dominick Reyes – No. 11 UFC light heavyweight) ▪ UFC 314 weigh-Ins / UFC 316 presser Friday at Kaseya Center. Doors open 3:30 p.m. UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs O'Malley 2 Press Conference 4 p.m. (Participants: Kayla Harrison, Julianna Pena, Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O'Malley) UFC 314 Weigh-Ins 5 p.m. ▪ UFC 314 / Miami DDA FanFest Saturday in Downtown Miami 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET (Free for fans) (Flagler Street, between Second Street and Biscayne Boulevard, in front of Julia & Henry's) ▪ UFC 314 Saturday at Kaseya Center. Early preliminaries will air on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass starting at 6 p.m. Late preliminaries available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. The ESPN+ Pay-Per-View main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET. Visit
Boston Globe
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Alex Bregman's Spanish language skills helping break barriers with new Red Sox teammates
For that, the Spanish-speaking Sox can thank Bregman's mother. As a high school freshman in New Mexico, Bregman wanted to play football but his parents were against the idea. His mother, Jackie , compromised by saying Alex could join the team if he aced his Spanish test. One A-plus later, Bregman suited up and played a handful of games as a kick returner and running back before deciding to focus on baseball. But the Spanish stayed with him. As a high school junior, Bregman played for Team USA in the Pan American Championships in Mexico and his language skills came in handy. Advertisement 'I started talking to players from different team like Mexico and Cuba and getting better with the vocabulary,' Bregman said. 'I continued to work on it, but I didn't really get to the point where it was pretty good until I got into professional baseball.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up As an Astros prospect, Bregman took a two-week trip to the team's academy in the Dominican Republic to train with the players there. The organization's idea was for the Houston prospects who had played in the United States to get a better idea what their counterparts from Latin American countries were experiencing. 'Coming from college, I felt like that was important,' Bregman said. 'You got to see what it was like down there and meet your future teammates. It was a great experience. 'In baseball, we expect everyone to learn English as they move up. But we should probably do the same thing the other way and learn Spanish so we can communicate both ways. It only builds a stronger bond.' Over time, Bregman worked on his Spanish with Astros teammates and now does with his new teammates with the Sox. During spring training, Bregman chatted with Devers when they took grounders at third base. He also gave some of the Spanish-speaking pitchers in camp feedback after he faced them in live batting practice. Advertisement 'It's just part of baseball for me,' Bregman said. 'You want to be a good teammate. People in baseball come from different backgrounds but we're all trying to accomplish the same goals.' Related : Sox manager Alex Cora did his part to foster team chemistry by hosting dinners during spring training. He looked up during one of the get-togethers and saw Bregman and Devers chatting away in a mix of Spanish and English. 'He's good. I give him credit,' Cora said. 'He speaks Spanish well.' Major League Baseball mandates that teams provide a certified Spanish translator at every game to aid players communicating with teammates, coaches, and the media. Typically that person is a member of the public relations staff. In the past, translation was done by teammates or bilingual coaches. Some Sox players, including Abreu and Devers, will chat informally with reporters but use a translator for group interview sessions when their remarks are on the record or will be broadcast on television or radio. Chapman and Devers takes questions without needing translation but reply in Spanish. Narváez and Rafaela, who live in the United States, communicate easily in both languages and don't use translators. 'To see Alex having conversations around the clubhouse, it's important,' Cora said. 'When we signed him, I said he was going to help us on and off the field. That's an example. It helps us as a team.' Wanting to play football all those years ago helped make Bregman a better teammate in baseball now. 'I'm glad it worked out the way it did,' he said. ROLE PLAYER Whitlock may have found his niche Garrett Whitlock is a reliever. Period. 'We're going to use him out of the bullpen,' Sox manager Alex Cora said in the final days of spring training. 'No more back and forth.' Advertisement Whitlock had a terrific rookie season as a Rule 5 pick in 2021, posting a 1.96 ERA over 46 relief appearances for a 92-win team that advanced to the ALCS. In the three seasons that followed, the righthander made 23 starts and 34 relief appearances. A series of injuries during those seasons sidetracked what appeared to be promising career to a point where a frustrated Whitlock considered retirement. At 28, he's happy to come out of the bullpen and just pitch when needed. The plan is to use Whitlock in a multi-inning role to serve as a bridge between the starter and the high-leverage relievers Cora wants to employ late in games. Opening Day was a perfect example. Garrett Crochet went five innings. In a 2-2 game, Whitlock retired six of the seven batters he faced and the Sox won the game on Wilyer Abreu's three-run homer in the ninth. As a time when starters are often limited to five or six innings, Whitlock could be an important bullpen piece. He used four pitches against the Rangers, leaning on a sinker that averaged 95.7 miles per hour. Related : 'I'll do whatever [Cora] asks. But two innings suits me pretty well,' Whitlock said. 'That was how we approached it in spring training and it's comfortable.' A few other observations on the Red Sox: ▪ This is an important season for Trevor Story . At 32, he has played only 163 games the last three years because of injuries and hit .232 with a .693 OPS. Story had four seasons with the Rockies with more bWAR than the 4.1 he has had over three years with the Sox. Advertisement Story is due $25 million for 2026 and '27 but has the right to opt out of his contract after this season and become a free agent. Story would have to have to have a monster season to even consider leaving $50 million on the table entering his age-33 season. If Story stays with the Sox and continues to underperform, the team will then be faced with an expensive dilemma of how to clear him out of the way for Marcelo Mayer to play shortstop. ▪ As Kristian Campbell settles in at second base, keep an eye on how he works with first baseman Triston Casas . Casas sometimes has a tendency to range too far off the bag, chasing balls the second baseman could better handle. Campbell played 420⅔ innings at second base in the minors with 297 innings in the outfield or at third base. He'll get some outfield time to allow David Hamilton to play second base. Casas started a slick 3-6-3 double play on Opening Day. He had only four of those last season, as Globe colleague Alex Speier pointed out. Kristian Campbell is 22. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff ▪ Crochet became only the ninth pitcher in the last 125 seasons to make Opening Day starts for two teams before turning 26. The previous was Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley . He started Cleveland's opener in 1976 then started Game 1 for the Red Sox (against Cleveland) in 1979 when he was 24. The Sox had acquired Eckersley in 1978 as part of a six-player deal. Hall of Famer Red Ruffing started Opening Day for the 1929 Red Sox. He was traded to the Yankees in 1930 and started the first game of the 1931 season. Advertisement Ruffing was 231-124 with a 3.47 ERA over 15 seasons for the Yankees and was a member of six World Series winners. The Sox traded Ruffing for outfielder Cedric Durst and $50,000. Durst hit .245 over 102 games for the Sox in 1930 and spent the rest of his career in the minors. ETC. End of a terrible tenure Jordan Montgomery is to the Diamondbacks what Pablo Sandoval was to the Red Sox — a huge waste of money. The lefthander was a member of the 2023 Rangers, who beat the Diamondbacks in the World Series. He became a free agent and didn't sign until late March when he agreed to a one-year, $25 million deal with Arizona. The contract included a $22.5 million option for 2025 if Montgomery made 18 starts. He was 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA over 21 starts and picked up that option. 'Looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to invest that money in a guy who performed as poorly as he did,' Arizona owner Ken Kendrick said last fall, channeling his inner George Steinbrenner . It somehow got worse for Arizona. Montgomery pitched only three innings in spring training then said this past week he would need Tommy John surgery for a second time. That ended his season before it began. Jordan Montgomery is 32. Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press The Diamondbacks ultimately spent $47.5 million on a pitcher who performed 33 percent below the league average for one season. To Kendrick's credit, he gave the green light to Arizona signing Corbin Burnes for six years and $210 million. Extra bases Mike Trout (Angels) and Manny Machado (Padres) are the only active players who lead their respective franchises in career home runs. Pete Alonso opened the season with 226 homers, 27 away from passing Darryl Strawberry for the most in Mets history . . . Hard to believe but true: When Austin Wells batted leadoff for the Yankees on Thursday, he became the first catcher to hit leadoff in franchise history. Maybe they should have tried it sooner. Wells homered in his first at-bat and the Yankees beat the Brewers, 4-2. Wells also was the first catcher in history to homer batting leadoff on Opening Day. In case you were wondering, Christian Vázquez (2020), Jason Varitek (2004), and Carlton Fisk (1980) have batted leadoff for the Red Sox . . . What's with all the illness going around baseball? Mookie Betts missed the two games the Dodgers played in Japan because of a stomach issue that led to him dropping from 175 pounds to 157. 'My body's been perfectly fine. It's only been my stomach, literally only my stomach,' Betts told reporters. 'I've been working out, doing everything perfectly normal. It was just hard to hold down food.' Betts returned Thursday and played nine innings at shortstop against the Tigers, going 1 for 3 with a walk and a run . . . Ichiro Suzuki's first pitch for the Mariners on Opening Day hit 84 m.p.h. on the radar gun . . . Tyler O'Neill has homered on six consecutive Opening Days, the last three coming for different teams. 'Mind-boggling,' Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after O'Neill homered against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Yogi Berra (1955-58), Gary Carter (1977-80), and Todd Hundley (1994-97) shared the old record of four. Like any good Canadian would, O'Neill arrived at the clubhouse before the game with two boxes of Tim Horton's donuts for his teammates . . . According to MLB, 13 players who were All-Stars last season changed teams. That includes Burnes, Crochet, Max Fried , Tanner Scott , Juan Soto , and Kyle Tucker . . . Luis Arraez is trying to become the first player to win four consecutive batting titles since Tony Gwynn (1994-97). Arraez won his previous three with the Twins (2002), Marlins (2023), and Padres (2024) . . . Former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria donated his collection of 900 bobbleheads to the Hall of Fame. Some of them will go on display Memorial Day weekend in an exhibit called 'Getting the Nod.' . . . The Rays said 3,000 signs of assorted shapes and sizes were installed at Steinbrenner Field to temporarily cover up Yankees logos at the ballpark ahead of their home opener Friday. Tampa Bay is playing at the 11,026-seat park this season after Tropicana Field was badly damaged by Hurricane Milton . . . The Giants started Heliot Ramos in left field on Opening Day. He was their 19th different left fielder in the first game of the season going back to 2007 when Barry Bonds started his final season. Bonds started in left field 12 years in a row from 1993-2004. Ramos was 1 for 4 with a two-run homer that capped an 11-pitch at-bat in the fourth inning. Mike Yastrzemski made his sixth consecutive Opening Day start for the Giants. The former St. John's Prep star is in his seventh major league season after spending six years in the Orioles system without getting beyond Triple A . . . Worcester native Sean Burke worked six shutout innings for the White Sox in an 8-1 Opening Day victory against the Angels. The 25-year-old allowed three hits without a walk and struck out three. Smith played for St. John's High in Shrewsbury and the University of Maryland before he was a third-round pick in the 2021 draft. He is 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five major league games . . . The Tigers removed the keyhole at Comerica Park, that thin stripe of dirt that ran from the mound to the plate. The Tigers had one at Tiger Stadium for its last season in 1999 then kept it at Comerica as a nod to baseball history. The players didn't like it and persuaded management to put grass in. Arizona did the same at Chase Field a few years ago. No parks have keyholes now. Its purpose, decades ago, was to help hitters and umpires better define the strike zone . . . High A Greenville and Asheville are doing a good thing. The teams will play 24 times this season and for many of those 'Ville vs. Ville' games, the players will wear commemorative jerseys that will be raffled off. All proceeds will benefit communities in the Carolinas still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Go to Kirk Gibson throw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium to fellow World Series walkoff homer hero Freddie Freeman . . . Happy birthday to Chris Sale (36) and Alex Bregman (31). But let us not forget about Josh Bard , who is 47. The catcher played parts of 10 seasons in the majors for five teams, including the Red Sox for seven games in 2006. Bard was acquired in January in a seven-player deal with Cleveland and opened the season as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. The Sox lost four of Wakefield's first five starts as Bard was charged with 10 passed balls, four on April 26 in a 7-1 loss against Cleveland. Something had to be done and general manager Theo Epstein traded Bard and righthander Cla Meredith to the Padres on May 1 for catcher Doug Mirabelli , who caught Wakefield the five previous seasons and was a knuckleball specialist. With Wakefield scheduled to pitch that night against the Yankees, Mirabelli flew to Boston on a private jet and was whisked to Fenway Park in a Ford Explorer driven by a state trooper. He arrived just in time for the game, caught Wakefield, and the Sox beat the Yankees, 7-3. Peter Abraham can be reached at
