Latest news with #SimoneBiles
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
With its Olympic heroes away, U.S. women's gymnastics' future takes the floor
Claire Pease, with a steely gaze, started her vault run and then launched into the air, smoothly landing a Yurchenko double full and giving her coach a casual high-five as she walked off the floor. She didn't know it at that moment, but the rising U.S. gymnast had just clinched herself a title at an event Simone Biles has won the last five times she's competed in it. Advertisement 'Tell you what, this athlete right here,' NBC's John Roethlisberger said on the Peacock broadcast, 'get ready, U.S. championships. Get ready, world championships.' At Saturday's U.S. Classic, America's top elite women's gymnasts honed their skills ahead of next month's U.S. gymnastics championships, all of it building up to the world championships in October. There was some nostalgia. An Olympic champion was in the field. A Simone finished on the podium. However, most of it felt very new, a glimpse into what the Olympic future might look like for Team USA. At 16, Pease will head to the U.S. championships entrenched as a name to watch after beating Simone Rose, Joscelyn Roberson, 2024 Olympic team gold medalist Hezly Rivera and plenty of others Saturday. Biles was in the building, but not to compete. She was watching from the stands with husband Jonathan Owens, cheering on the next generation. Like her Olympic teammates Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, Biles stepped away from elite competition this year after the grueling run to gold in Paris. 'It means the world,' Roberson, an alternate on last summer's Olympic team, said of Biles' presence. 'I mean, she's the busiest human ever. She was at the ESPYs two days ago. She called me and she was like, 'OK, I have this, this and this, but if you really want me there, I'll be there.' And I was like, 'I kind of really want you there.' And she was like, 'OK, so it's done.'' Taking a break is nothing unusual following an Olympics, but for Biles, Lee and Chiles — three pillars of Team USA's success over the last three Olympic cycles — all have extra considerations weighing on them. Lee, the 22-year-old all-around gold medalist at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, was diagnosed with a kidney disease in 2023 but returned to competition that summer and went on to add an all-around bronze in Paris. She has not said whether she will try for the Los Angeles Olympics, still three years away, but in an October Q&A held on Snapchat, she responded to a question about it by writing, 'my body hurts … this sport kills me.' Advertisement Chiles, the 24-year-old key piece of the Americans' team medals in the past two Olympics, had a hard-luck time of it in individual competition in Paris. She posted the fourth-best qualifying score in the individual all-around competition. Still, she wasn't allowed to compete in the final because she was the third American on the list. Olympic rules only allow two from each country to participate in the final. Then, she appeared to win her first individual Olympic medal after her coach appealed her score in the floor exercise and got it raised enough to move her from fourth to third. However, a counter-appeal claimed the Americans were four seconds late in lodging their protest, and the International Olympic Committee announced it would award the bronze to Romania's Ana Bǎrbosu instead. Chiles has not returned her medal, and the case is ongoing. Chiles — like Carey, who also has not decided on 2028 — chose to compete at the NCAA level this season. She has one more year to go at UCLA and has said she'll reevaluate her feelings on trying for L.A. after that. And, of course, there's Biles. At 28, the most decorated gymnast in history has 11 Olympic and 30 world championship medals. She led the U.S. to team gold in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and again last summer in Paris. In between, there was the bout with the 'twisties' — a mental block affecting awareness and control while doing aerial maneuvers — in Tokyo that led her to withdraw from competition there. Biles, too, is undecided on trying for the 2028 Olympics, but her recent comments do not exactly sound like someone itching to come back. 'I've accomplished so much in my sport. For me to come back, it would really have to excite me,' she told French newspaper L'Equipe in April. 'But 2028 seems so far away, and my body is aging. I felt it in Paris.' Advertisement At the very least, the U.S. women will head to this year's world championships without four of the gymnasts who have been so key to their success across the past three Olympics. And at least one of them may decide that the mental and physical toll of another Olympic run is not worth the commitment in a sport that beats up the body and generally leans younger. The Vault that sealed gold for Claire Pease! 👏⤵️@NBCOlympics | #USClassic — USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 20, 2025 For the next generation of names atop the leaderboard in Hoffman Estates, Ill., that means their time is arriving. Pease, the 16-year-old who won the junior championship at this event last year, made her statement Saturday. In her final rotation, she posted the night's best vault score to surpass Rose for the top spot on the podium. 'More confidence, more consistency, and high execution scores,' Pease said of what she's trying to improve over the summer. Rose, the 17-year-old who said making last year's Olympic trials proved to her that she belonged in the gym with the sport's best, has now finished on the podium at two significant competitions this season after her bronze at February's Winter Cup. 'I heard a little bit, but I just wanted to focus on me and the gymnastics,' she said of knowing where she stood heading into the last rotation. 'I didn't care about the outcome. I just focused on how I did.' Roberson, who was part of Team USA's gold medal squad at the 2023 world championships, finished with a sparkling turn on the bars to finish in third place. At 19, she's still getting used to being the veteran in situations like this. 'A lot of times, before these meets, I would get nervous, and I'd be like, 'Oh, they're not watching me, they're watching (Biles). Just chill out.' But now, knowing that they were watching me, that made me extremely nervous. And I had to remind myself, 'This is what you worked your whole life for.'' Rivera, 17, was the headliner going into Saturday after being part of the Americans' team gold in Paris. She struggled early, with a bad fall on the dismount from the uneven bars and a slip off the beam before turning it around on floor and vault. 'It definitely took a lot of mental strength for me,' said Rivera, who was the youngest member of Team USA's delegation in Paris last year. 'I just wanted to show myself and prove to myself how strong I am. Because I know I can do everything physically, it's just a mental game at this point. So I'm glad I just switched the flip from bars and beam to floor and vault.' Advertisement The U.S. Classic is just one piece of the team selection puzzle in the build-up to worlds. Athletes are still fine-tuning their routines and working up to the biggest stage. However, with Biles, Chiles, Lee and Carey away, the next generation has the stage right now. And in three years, any one of them could be a new face competing in the Olympics. 'It's definitely crazy,' Ashlee Sullivan, 18, said of being in the spotlight after posting the night's top score on the beam. 'I never really think that people care. I don't really feel like people know me or people really watch me, so it's kind of crazy to hear all that.' (Top photo of, from left, Simone Rose, Claire Pease and Joscelyn Roberson: Courtesy of USA Gymnastics)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pet-Sitting Gig Turns Wild When Cat Breaks Out Gold Medal Gymnastics Routine
Pet-Sitting Gig Turns Wild When Cat Breaks Out Gold Medal Gymnastics Routine originally appeared on Parade Pets. Cats are weird. Trust me, I say that with love as a cat mom to three very weird little fur goblins who rule my house. One gorgeous kitty who absolutely stunned her sitter decided to kick things up a notch with an impromptu gymnastics routine that would make Simone Biles do a double-take. This fabulous kitty launched into a weird upside-down, almost yoga-esque pose like she was going for Gold in the Cat Olympics. Her routine was wild, hilarious, and honestly kind of impressive. Just check her out! In the clip shared on the TikTok account @sammwhitee, people really aren't quite sure what to think. One person asked, "Okay, but why am I scared?" Another person added, "I'm usually really good at reading cat body language, but this time I got nothing."Someone else added, "That cat is Simon Biles." Another person asked, "What in the conjuring?" And yet one more person said, "I have seven cats and I am pretty positive this means he wants to play." If those are the facts, there are so many great ways to play with kitties! You can bust out a feather wand or a laser toy (just make sure you don't shine it directly in their eyes) and let them go wild. You can crumple up a piece of paper and throw it for them, and most cats would be thrilled to play with it. Almost all cats love playing in paper bags and cardboard boxes. Another weird thing you can do to provide mental stimulation for felines is to put a chair in a different part of the room, as cats love sitting in new places. Or try draping a sheet or towel over your coffee table to have them hide under it! All of these ideas will keep your cats both mentally and physically stimulated and are pretty fun ways to amuse your fur babies! 🐶SIGN UP to get 'pawsitivity' delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends🐾🐾 Pet-Sitting Gig Turns Wild When Cat Breaks Out Gold Medal Gymnastics Routine first appeared on Parade Pets on Jul 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
When Will The PWHL Catch The Eye Of The ESPYs?
The 33rd annual ESPY Awards were held last night in Los Angeles. At the ceremony, many women in sports were honored. It's a list that includes Best Athlete in Women's Sports, Simone Biles as well as Ilona Maher (Best Breakthrough Athlete), Suni Lee (Best Comeback Athlete), and Best WNBA Player Caitlin Clark.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Simone Biles, Suni Lee, And Other Stars Missing From U.S. Classic Lineup
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 28: Simone Biles of Team United States waves as she is joined by members of ... More Team United States following Subdivision 2 during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Qualification on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 28, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by) The U.S. Classic returns to Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on July 18–19, but for the first time since 2022, the winner is guaranteed to be an athlete other than Simone Biles. Biles won the title in 2024, followed by five-time World medalist Shilese Jones and eventual two-time Olympic teammate Jordan Chiles in third. Biles has won the crown seven times in her storied career. In fact, not one of 2024's podium finishers will compete this weekend. Seven-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has not yet indicated intent to return to gymnastics. Instead, the sport's most decorated athlete just returned home from a victorious ESPY Awards, where she won the awards for Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance. 'I'm really enjoying my time off before I decide (on competing),' Biles told in April. Shilese Jones was almost guaranteed a bid for the 2024 Olympic team but ultimately lost her spot due to an untimely injury at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Instead, the former World all-around silver and bronze medalist will appear at this weekend's event as a coach, helping guide younger athletes at the Hopes Championships. The 22-year-old has appeared at a pair of U.S. National Team camps this year, but has not shown full routines or outlined a return. Jordan Chiles wrapped a spectacular season with the UCLA Bruins in April. The then-junior led the team to a Big Ten Championship and National Runner-Up title, picking up an individual win on the uneven bars. Though Chiles has shown impressive training footage, the 24-year-old has not yet expressed her intent to return to the elite ranks and remains focused on her incoming senior year with the Bruins. Two-time Olympic Champions Suni Lee and Jade Carey also remain undecided on their returns to the competitive stage. Lee claimed hardware alongside Biles at last week's ESPYS, winning the award for Best Comeback Athlete. The Minnesota native has made numerous promotional appearances at sporting events nationwide. Jade Carey wrapped a near-perfect career with the Oregon State Beavers in April and appears to be still training. However, like Chiles, the Olympic and World Champion has not shown full routines or expressed a clear intent to return. Though she fell short of the Olympic team due to another untimely Achilles tear, two-time World team champion Skye Blakely is set to make her elite return at August's U.S. Championships in New Orleans. Tiana Sumanasekera, one of the 2024 Olympic alternates, will also return to the stage in August, opting to skip the U.S. Classic to nurse a nagging ankle injury. Who's Competing In Chicago As a result, the only member of the gold medal-winning team to compete this weekend is the youngest athlete from the 2024 U.S. Olympic delegation, 17-year-old Hezly Rivera. Rivera headlines a young and relatively inexperienced competitive field that will star 2024 Olympic alternates Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson. Wong, a World all-around silver medalist, won the title in 2022 and is expected to contend for her second win this weekend. As one of the few premier meets of the U.S. elite gymnastics season, the U.S. Classic has long been a key meet for athletes to test their readiness and build experience heading into August's Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The 'Classic' also serves as the final qualifier for athletes seeking berths to the championships. Click here to find out how to watch the event.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Simone Biles net worth in 2025, dating history, current relationship and more
Simone Biles net worth in 2025, dating history, current relationship and more (Image Via X) Simone Biles is a famous gymnast and Olympian. People around the world know her name. But how much money does she have in 2025? Who has she dated? Who is she with now? This article will tell you all about her money, love life, and special moments. Throughout, the answers are about to surprise you. Simone Biles's net worth and the things she owns In 2025, Simone Biles has a net worth of around $25 million. She earned this from her athletic wins, brand deals, and appearance fees. For example, she did the Gold Over America tour across the U.S. from September 2024 to November 2024 in cities like Oceanside, California, and Detroit, Michigan. This tour, backed by Athleta, helped her boost her bank account. She also wins bonuses from Olympic medals and world championships. She has 30 medals, with 23 golds. In 2024, she earned about $11.1 million just from deals and events. She has owned a Texas home under construction since before the Paris Olympics. That house will also add to her assets. Simone Biles dating history Simone Biles first dated gymnast Stacey Ervin Jr. from August 2017 until March 2020. In March 2020, she began talking with NFL player Jonathan Owens on the dating app Raya. She said, 'I slid into his DMs' because she thought he was cute. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Secure Your Child's Future with Strong English Fluency Planet Spark Learn More Undo Jonathan Owens said he started to like her in April 2020 and joked, 'My dog really loved her'. They went Instagram official in August 2020. They got engaged on February 15, 2022, with Simone Biles posting: 'THE EASIEST YES…'. They legally married on April 22, 2023, in Houston, and held a second ceremony on May 6, 2023, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Simone Biles said she was 'so nervous' before walking down the aisle. Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens now Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are happily married. On May 5, 2025, they shared that they are moving into their new Texas house soon. They celebrated their second wedding anniversary together. They often attend big events together. On July 16, 2025, they walked the red carpet at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. Simone Biles wore a royal blue Zac Posen gown and Owens helped her with the train. At that ceremony, she won two awards: Best Female Athlete and Best Championship Performance. Simone Biles said at the ESPYs she felt more nervous speaking than performing routines. They enjoy travelling too. In early 2025, they went to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, wearing lilac outfits. A few months before, they had a honeymoon trip to South Africa and fed elephants there. Simone Biles often praises Owens. After Tokyo, she said he was her rock: 'He made sure I was staying on top of my training'. Despite a public moment when Owens joked on a podcast that he was 'the catch,' Simone Biles stood by him. Simone Biles is rich in medals and love, and 2025 looks bright for her career and personal life. Also Read: Simone Biles And Jonathan Owens Share Viral PDA Moment On 2025 ESPY Awards Red Carpet Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
