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Simone Biles leads senior gymnasts at Olympics

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5 months ago

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It still happens to Simone Biles. Even now, after two Olympics, six world championships and greater than a decade within the highlight.

The most decorated gymnast of all time and the face of the American Olympic movement will likely be talking to someone when she reaches her age.

“They’re like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so cute, you’re a baby,'” Biles told The Associated Press with a rather exasperated laugh. “I want to be like, ‘I’m an adult. I’m an adult now. I’m 27.'”

Still, Biles remains to be seen as a ponytailed prodigy, whilst the demographic profiles of her top competitors change.

Perhaps that’s because all but one among the last 13 Olympic champions have been teenagers – including Biles, who triumphed in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago, and her teammate and good friend Sunisa Lee, who was 18 when she beat Brazilian star Rebecca Andrade in a nail-biting final in Tokyo in 2021.

American Simone Biles takes part in a gymnastics training session at the Bercy Arena through the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) –

Both are returning to what they’ve called their “redemption tour.” When Biles and Lee take to the court at Bercy Arena on Sunday for Olympic qualifying, they will likely be joined by 2020 Olympic freestyle champion Jade Carey (24) and 2020 Olympic silver medalist Jordan Chiles (23), together with newcomer Hezly Rivera, who, at 16, is by far the youngest member of the oldest team the U.S. has ever sent to the Games.

Gone are the times when six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman was named team grandma in 2016 at age 22. Biles jokingly admitted she now has to apologize for using that nickname.

“Like I was old now,” Biles said. “Forget about Grandma, that’s behind us.”

Rapid evolution

Better training, loosening of name, image and likeness rights regulations for school athletes and the ability of social media are allowing America’s best athletes to increase their careers.

Carey, Lee and Chiles have spent significant time for the reason that Tokyo Games competing within the NCAA tournament, which was once seen as a way for former Olympians to grace their retirement.

Not a lot. Relaxed NIL rules meant Chiles, Lee and Carey could construct on their success in Tokyo without sacrificing their college eligibility. The frequency of NCAA meets and the emphasis on execution over difficulty allowed Chiles to hone more fundamental skills and gain invaluable competition experience without burning out.

“Now you can go to college and go back to the elite and go back and forth,” she said. “I think that’s something cool, and it’s all because you can kind of rest your body.”

New paradigm

Perhaps crucial reason is more fundamental, more influential, and more enduring.

The climate and culture around elite gymnastics are evolving. As are the ability dynamics, as the game becomes more athlete-centric, moving away from the paradigm of the authoritarian coach and the talented but obligatory wunderkind that for thus long defined success at the best level.

“People have stopped telling them they can’t do it,” said Aimee Boorman, who trained Biles earlier in her profession and is a co-founder of GIGA, knowledgeable gymnastics league for girls that may launch in 2025. “They’ve stopped telling them they’re done at 17 or 18. … The stigma of ‘little girls in pretty boxes’ is no longer a fact of life.”

Since Biles returned to the game last summer, she has been asked over and over why she is doing so a lot closer to her thirtieth birthday than her twentieth. Her answer has all the time been the identical: “Because I can.”

“Nobody is forcing me to do this,” Biles said after the U.S. Olympic qualifiers. “I wake up every day and decide to grind in the gym and then go out here and perform for myself.”

What has modified is the best way she toils. She uses her time within the gym more efficiently, partly by selection to assist a body that has trained for 20 years, and partly because her busy schedule requires it.

Global trend

The truth is, what Biles and company are doing within the U.S. is becoming increasingly common all over the world.

While Oksana Chusovitina stays an exception — the 49-year-old Uzbek will miss her first Olympics since 1988 but remains to be eyeing the 2028 Los Angeles Games — there are many women of their 20s and 30s who will try to affix the Americans within the medal race.

Andrade, 25, is Biles’ biggest threat for the all-around title. Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands turns 33 in September but remains to be one among the world’s best balance beam skaters. Ellie Black of Canada turns 29 in September. Paris is her fourth Olympics, but in some ways she is pretty much as good as ever.

The United States men’s team from left to right, Hezly Rivera, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles pose for a photograph during gymnastics training at Bercy Arena through the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) –

Perhaps happier than ever before, which is a large a part of the equation.

Black spends less time working on specific equipment and more time on “strength training,” something she wouldn’t mind seeing younger athletes do.

“I think it’s just finding the balance, making sure we’re strong,” Black said. “We’re not overtraining. We’re not doing crazy reps. We’re not spending our whole lives in the gym.”

Second page

Laurent Landi, who, along along with his wife Cecile, has been training Biles since late 2017, believes there’s one other factor at play within the gymnasts’ arguments over how best to arrange for competition.

In the US, following the Larry Nassar sexual harassment scandal, there was a sense that the training pendulum had swung from too strict to too loose. Biles told the AP in 2021 I felt like I “took the horse out of the stable and couldn’t get it back in.”

While Biles’ stance has softened recently, describing it more as a generational difference and the incontrovertible fact that there’s nobody right path to success, Landi believes that a part of the explanation Team USA is so heavily weighted toward veterans is that the subsequent wave isn’t ready or willing to push themselves to the highest, though he admits that concern mostly centers around Americans.

“That’s why you see the older generation holding on,” he said. “They realize, ‘Oh yeah, if you want to (stand out), you should be doing this, this, this.’”

“Is it going to be hard? Yes. Is it going to be hell? Yes,” he continued. “But you have to stick with it to (get) to the point where, ‘OK, I can do this.’ And these kids don’t even know how to really push themselves to that limit anymore.”

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Landi stressed that no athlete desires to get to the purpose where they should try really hard simply to make it easier later, but he believes that “that’s part of sport and part of life.”

How long can they go on like this?

The end will come soon enough for Biles and everybody else. She’s not saying yet whether Paris will likely be her final opponent. While the will to completely immerse herself in the subsequent chapter along with her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, is real, she also knows that when the ride is over, there’s no going back.

It may very well be a tricky road, muses Elisabeth Seitz, who’s making her fourth Olympic appearance as a TV commentator. She narrowly missed out on making the five-woman German team.

Like Biles, Seitz faces questions at home that go something like, “You’re still a gymnast, get a real job.”

The thing is, Seitz, 30, believes she is in the most effective shape of her life after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon last fall. Her experience helped her recuperate from the injury in eight months. She knows what she will and may’t do.

Why would she wish to walk away from something that also has a robust hold over her before she desires to? Before she has to?

In this fashion, she appears like Biles and her peers, who’re helping to redefine who can — and who can’t — do it professionally.

“I just love gymnastics,” she said. “I just love the sport. That’s why I keep doing it.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit

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3 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”

She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.

Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.

Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sánchez shows off a “winter white” look, weeks after critics slammed her busty latex outfit. (Photos: @laurenwsanchez/Instagram, Theimagedirect.com via Page Six)

On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”

One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.

Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.

When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.

Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”

Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”

Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.

Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.

Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape

Published

3 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.

“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”

Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.

Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.

Singer India Shawn grew up singing in church with her family. “I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” she said.

India Shawn

Name:
India Shawn

Hometown:

Los Angeles

Artistic soundscape

Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric

The oldest musical memory

Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.

Influences

For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.

Creative process

Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”

Challenges and development

As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”

Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.

Current project

“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”

Sheila Matthews is a digital producer at Andscape and a proud HBCU graduate. She believes “Return of the Mack” must have won a Grammy, and her Twitter mentions are open to all debate.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence

Published

3 days ago

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December 9, 2024

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With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.

Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.

From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.

In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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