Sports
It was fascinating to watch Iga Swiatek this year. No. 1: Iga Swiatek
Published
10 months agoon
By
Solomon552023 By The Numbers
68-11: Overall win-loss record
17-3: Grand Slam win-loss record (AO 4R, RG đ, W QF, USO 4R)
6: Titles (Doha, Stuttgart, Roland Garros, Warsaw, Beijing, WTA Finals)
2: Runner-ups (Dubai, Madrid)
23: 6-0 sets
0: 0-6 sets
43: Voting points in WTA Player of the Year Countdown (See “The Voters’ Thoughts” below for more.)
It was fascinating to watch Iga Swiatek this year.
At Roland Garros, she won her fourth major. But then she faced some perhaps unexpected challenges from other players, including losses to Elena Svitolina at Wimbledon, Coco Gauff in Cincinnati and Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open. Following that loss in New York, Iga was no longer ranked No. 1, after having held that spot for 75 weeks.
Then there came a match Iâll call a two-minute turnaround. In October, Iga played the dangerous Caroline Garcia in the quarterfinals of Beijing. Iga lost the first set 7-6 (8) and then barely won the second in another tiebreaker, 7-6 (5). That narrow margin flipped her switch, and from there, Igaâs confidence soared. She won the third set 6-1âand didnât lose another set the rest of the year. She won Beijing and then completely dominated the WTA Finals, with five straight wins over Top 7 playersâincluding five 6-0 or 6-1 sets. That was a major statement to finish the year.âTracy Austin, Hall of Famer and former No. 1
The Voters’ Thoughts
đ Ten voters from the TENNIS.com editorial team each selected five players for our 2023 WTA Player of the Year vote. Each voters’ first-place selection was worth 5 points, second-place vote 4 points, and so forth. Selected commentary from voters will be included in each 2023 WTA Player of the Year write-up.
đ đ Each of the voters below gave Swiatek a first-place vote.
A third Roland Garros title and Tour Finals dominance give her the slight edge over Aryna Sabalenka.âJon Levey
Ups and downs, but showed a big resurgence at the end with dominant win at WTA Finals.âJoel Drucker
The 22-year-old led the WTA in titles, total match wins, Top 10 wins and Top 5 winsâand notably captured a trophy at every tournament level in the same season for the first time.âMatt Fitzgerald
After last yearâs dominance and historic winning streak, it would have been understandable for Swiatek to suffer a letdown. But the level-headed Pole did exactly the opposite: she won even more matches than last year (68 to 67), added another Grand Slam title to her name at Roland Garrosâone of six trophies she clinched this year, including the 1000-level Beijingâand finished the season back at world No. 1 after a commanding victory at a WTA Finals in very challenging conditions.âStephanie Livaudais
The upper echelon of the WTA was volatile most of this yearâbut when the year-end ranking was on the line at the WTA Finals, the 22-year-old Pole reeled off five dazzling wins to triumph going away.âPeter Bodo
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Sports
“Lindsey Vonn Celebrates Authenticity and Strength with Miami Beach Photos, Shares Journey of Self-Discovery and Mental Resilience”
Published
1 month agoon
August 15, 2024By
Solomon55On Monday, the 36-year-old Olympic athlete shared several pictures on Instagram of herself having a great time on a boat in Miami Beach, Fla. She also showed off her toned abs in a snake print bikini and a flowy duster.
“Smiling because Iâm finally my authentic self 100% of the time. And happy to be surrounded by people who love me for who I am. Getting to this point has taken a long time but Iâm here and Iâm not going anywhere! #beyou #goofball,” Vonn captioned the post.
Fans took to the comments to not only share how much they loved the photos, but they also offered words of encouragement.
“Thatâs some hard work youâre showing off right there! Well done,” one person wrote.
“Freakin Gorgeous,” a fan said.
“Dope …be you we love it,” someone continued.
“congratulations… you always need to be true and happy with yourself,” a user added.
This is not the first time the gold medal skier has opened up about mental health. In an interview with Women’s Health Magazine, Vonn admitted that after her divorce from ex-husband Thomas Vonn in 2013, she had to find her mental toughness by relying on herself. One of the ways she did this was by hitting the gym.
âI’ve always found a lot of mental strength and confidence through working out, especially since I’ve retired from skiing,â Lindsey said. âFinding ways to push myself in the gym has given me a lot of comfort and general confidence,â she explains. âWorking out was definitely my rock throughout the pandemic, too.â
Vonn also takes the time to unwind by watching Law & Order, eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and creating to-do lists.
âI’m a very goal-oriented person, so the more I can make a tangible expectation for myself, the better I feel,” she admitted. “I like accomplishing things, so even if it’s small, even just taking the trash out, I can check that off.â
Basketball
Here are the Twelve Kazakh Stars Set to Shine at Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
Published
2 months agoon
July 24, 2024By
Solomon55According to the Olympicsâ official website, the list includes the winners of the World Championships and the 2020 Olympics.
Boxing
Kazakhstan will be represented in boxing by Nazym Kyzaibai (50 kilograms). The 2014 and 2016 World Champion in the weight category up to 48 kilograms, Kyzaibai, fulfilled her dream of competing in the Olympic Games. The tournament in Paris will be her first Olympic competition.
Valentina Khalzova (75 kilograms) will also debut at the Games. Her achievements include the title of World Champion 2016 in the category of up to 69 kilograms, the bronze medal of the World Championship 2022 in the same category and the gold medal of the World Cup 2023 in the category of up to 75 kilograms.
Saken Bibossinov (51 kilograms) is another national team boxer who has participated in the Olympic Games. In 2021, he secured a bronze in Tokyo, winning in the category up to 52 kilograms. He is also the 2021 World Champion, the 2022 World Silver Medalist and the Bronze Medalist of the 2019 and 2021 World Championships.
Judo
In judo, Abiba Abuzhakynova (48 kilograms), the third-ranked in the world, will debut at the Games in Paris. Over the past two years, Abuzhakynova has won bronze at the World Championships in 2022 and 2024.
Experienced Olympic judoka Eldos Smetov (60 kilograms) won silver in the 60-kilogram category in Rio 2016. Five years later, in Tokyo, he won bronze. His collection includes gold at the 2015 World Championships and bronze at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships.
Gymnastics
Milad Karimi is a gymnast specializing in all-around categories. At the 2023 World Cup, he brought the first award to the Kazakhstan national team in 26 years, becoming the bronze medalist in floor exercises. Karimi also competed in the Tokyo Games.
Athletics
Norah Jeruto, a long-distance runner originally from Kenya, obtained the right to perform for the national team of Kazakhstan in January 2022. The same year, Jeruto brought her team gold at the World Championships, setting a championship record.
Fencing
Ruslan Kurbanov, representing Kazakhstan in fencing, became the first athlete from Kazakhstan to win the World Fencing Championship award at the 2023 World Championship. He also won a bronze medal in the skewer tournament. The 2024 Olympics will be the second in his career.
Greco-Roman wrestling
Aidos Sultangali (60 kilograms) has twice climbed the world championships podium in Greco-Roman wrestling. He became the bronze medalist of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in the category of up to 60 kilograms. The Olympic Games in Paris will be his first, which he has been dreaming about for 15 years.
Demeu Zhadraev is another wrestler in the category of up to 71 kilograms. He was the silver medalist of the 2017 World Championship in his category. Zhadraev competed at the Tokyo Games in the category of up to 77 kilograms and obtained the right to compete in Paris.
Freestyle wrestling
Azamat Dauletbekov, a freestyle wrestler (86 kilograms), will compete in his first Olympic games in 2024. He was a Bronze Medalist at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.
Tennis
Elena Rybakina is the first Kazakh tennis player to be ranked in the worldâs top 10. At the 2020 Games, She took fourth place. She won Wimbledon in 2022 and became a finalist at the Australian Open in 2023. At the moment, she is the fourth-ranked racket in the world.
Entertainment
Moment Lindsey Vonn wins Spirit of Sport award at the âOscars of Sportâ
Published
2 months agoon
July 16, 2024By
Solomon55US ski star Lindsey Vonn picked up the Spirit of Sport award at the âOscars of Sportâ Monday â on a night where Novak Djokovic and Simone Biles were also recognized for their achievements.
Vonn, who retired as the greatest female skier in history earlier this month, was awarded the accolade at the 2019 Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco for her success and dedication to her sport.
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Injuries had blighted the latter stages of her career but Vonn managed to bow out in impressive fashion earlier this month at the World Championships in Are.
By winning downhill bronze in her final race, she became the oldest woman to secure a medal at a world championships and the first female racer to medal at six world championships.
She finished her career with 82 World Cup victories to sit second on the all-time list behind Swedenâs Ingemar Stenmark.
Djokovic & Biles
The âOscars of Sportâ honor the greatest and most inspirational athletes from the last calendar year.
On a glamorous night in Monaco, Djokovic was announced as the World Sportsman of the Year â fending off competition from World Cup star Kylian Mbappe and marathon man Eliud Kipchoge.
The Serbian tennis ace won Wimbledon and the US Open last year and has now joined Olympic legend Usain Bolt as a four-time winner of the Laureus accolade.
âLast year was an incredible season for me, returning from injury to win Wimbledon and the US Open is something Iâll remember forever,â Djokovic said after receiving his award.
Despite being overlooked for the Sportsman of the Year award, Kipchoge was handed the Exceptional Achievement Award for his record breaking marathon success.
Meanwhile, US gymnast Biles was named World Sportswoman of the Year after her record breaking performance at the world championships last year.
The 21-year-old, winner of the same Laureus award in 2017, won four gold, one silver and one bronze medal in Doha, Qatar.
Elsewhere, France became the first national football team to win a second Laureus World Team of the Year Award, following on from its success at the 2018 World Cup in Russia
Tennis star Naomi Osaka went home with the World Breakthrough of the Year Award, while golf legend Tiger Woods won the World Comeback of the Year Award.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to football. The Frenchman managed the Gunners for 22 years, famously going an entire English Premier League season unbeaten.
Motogp
“Ricciardo’s Shock Return? F1 Insider Hints at New Team Deal for Aussie Star”
Published
3 months agoon
July 5, 2024By
Solomon55Daniel Ricciardoâs F1 career may just be about to receive a lifeline amid reports that the Aussie was facing the chop from Red Bull.
Reports last week emerged that Ricciardo facing the sack, with the summer break firming as the most likely time for the team to make a move.
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Ricciardo had been teased for a shot at Sergio Perezâs seat in the top Red Bull team if he knocked the doors down this
But the 34-year-old was out-driven by young teammate Yuki Tsunoda in the early stages of the season.
And with young New Zealander Liam Lawson waiting in the wings, Ricciardoâs career appeared to be coming to an unceremonious ending.
Particularly after Perez re-signed with Red Bull and Tsunoda committed to the Visa Cash App RB for another season.
And Marko telling German publication Bild: âWe will offer him (Lawson) something. A cockpit for next year.
âIt is clear that RB are a junior team. That is also communicated internally and everyone has understood that.â
Ricciardo turned the tables in Austria, comfortably beating his teammate to finish in ninth.
Now leading F1 pundit Will Buxton claimed there was a chance for Ricciardo to continue his career at a fifth team with Williams.
Williams is believed to have gone after Carlos Sainz, who was axed from Ferrari for Lewis Hamilton in 2025, but he has yet to make a decision on his next team.
Alexander Albon is signed on a multi-year deal at Williams until the end of 2026, but rookie Logan Sargeant is expected to be axed by the end of the year.
Sainz has been less than committal however, and Buxton said Williams team boss James Vowles is growing frustrated by the Spaniard.
Could this be the opening Ricciardo needs to stay in F1?
â(Ricciardoâs) entire future (is) on the line right now,â Buxton said oon F1TV.
âThere is much talk that he will be out of this seat after the summer break. There is talk that he may be in negotiations with Williams for their second seat next year alongside Alex Albon.
âWilliams, as we understand, are sick of waiting for Carlos Sainz to make his mind up on where he wants to go next year and may close that door off for him.â
It could be a situation where Ricciardo has to go all in on the Williams seat as despite several seats being available, many have strong links to the roles.
One seat was filled on Thursday with 19-year-old Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman is officially the F1âs next driver after agreeing to a multi-year deal with Haas.
At Red Bull, reports emerged that the teamâs junior driver program was stacked with talent that was âready to goâ.
But RB CEO Peter Bayer said the team needed to develop from just being a development team into a force of its own on the grid, saying Ricciardo had played a key role in that move.
âWe donât need to develop Daniel. He came into the team to perform and to help us with Yuki,â he told PlanetF1.com.
âBetween Daniel and Yuki, Daniel has been part of that Yuki development project. At the same time, we obviously were also expecting from him as a very fast and experienced driver, we were expecting performance from him and we are expecting performance from him.â
But he also admitted that if the performances werenât there âit will be difficult to put him into the car next yearâ.
In more good news for Ricciardo, F1âs Lawrence Barretto tweeted that the Aussie may yet have a bit more time in the RB.
âLots of chatter re: Daniel Ricciardoâs future in Austria after Helmut Markoâs comments that RB should have a young driver in the car soon. My sources say Ricciardo isnât under threat of losing his seat mid-season and will be given the time to prove he can be fast consistently,â Barretto tweeted.
With Markoâs blunt comments and Christian Horner refusing to confirm the Aussieâs seat is safe for the remainder of the season, although itâs âalways fluidâ, it certainly seems as though the ball is in Ricciardoâs court to demand a new Red Bull deal with his performances.
Fox Sportsâ Michael Lamonato even suggested Red Bull had âbuyerâs remorseâ after re-signing Perez and could help Ricciardo hang onto a seat to stay at Red Bull.
Ricciardo admitted he hadnât had his role dangled over his head just yet, but that heâd been around long enough to know he was under pressure.
âThere hasnât been any pressure, any ultimatum â nothing like that,â Ricciardo said.
âBut also Iâve been in the sport a long time. I know that, if Iâm getting my a** kicked every weekend, at some point someone will be like âhey mate, step it up, otherwise âŚâ but I havenât had that.â
He responded in Austria, out-qualifying and out-racing Tsunoda to claim points for the second time in a full race this season. He also had a fourth-place finish in the Miami sprint race.
Entertainment
As Simone Biles Triumphs, Serena Williamsâ Husband Alexis Ohanian Joins America to Cheer for US Gymnastics Trials Queen
Published
3 months agoon
June 29, 2024By
Solomon55Simone Biles electrified the Target Center during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, putting herself just one step away from the Paris Olympics. The reigning gymnastics queen soared to the top of the standings on Womenâs Night One, commanding attention with an impressive all-around score of 58.900.
As she prepared for her fourth and final rotation, the arena erupted with cheers, but none was louder than the enthusiastic support from Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder, 776 Foundation founder, and husband of Tennis phenom Serena Williams. Alexis, caught up in the moment, couldnât help but shout out on his X platform, âSimone!â His words echoed the excitement of millions of American fans tuning in across the country.
Alexis Ohanianâs comment came right after Simone Biles dazzled the audience with her Floor Exercise routine, where she unleashed her explosive power and artistic flair to Taylor Swift âs âReady For It?â tunes. Her routine showcased impressive moves like a triple-double and a front layout full through to a double-double sequence.
Although she made some minor adjustments to her landings, Simone delivered a commanding performance, earning a solid score of 14.850. Reflecting on Alexis Ohanianâs applause for Simone Biles, itâs clear this isnât the first time heâs been awestruck by her and her impressive Floor Routine.
How Alexis Ohanian cheered Simone Biles on her Olympic-year comeback
Earlier this year, at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, Simone Biles made a triumphant comeback to the Olympic year with a brand-new Floor Routine that featured her iconic Triple Double first pass, choreographed to Taylor Swift hits. Alexis Ohanian took to X and shared a post showcasing the routine, expressing, âItâs so good to see her back.â
Furthermore, he also delightedly recounted how his and Serena Williamsâ 6-year-old daughter, Olympia, a passionate sports fan like her parents, couldnât contain her excitement when she watched Bilesâ comeback clip. He wrote in another post, âJr. sees this and starts tumbling over the sofa. Love to see it.â But did you know Olympiaâs admiration for Biles began when she was just 1-year-old?
Back in 2019, Serena Williams and a gymnastics coach supported the tiny Olympia as she bravely walked across a high balance beam. The little toddler looked laser-focused. Sharing the moment on Instagram, the tennis pro captioned the photo, âCanât wait for Olympia Ohanian to get tips from Simone Biles.â
Simone Biles quickly spotted the post and commented, âOh my goodness, Iâll give her a lesson any day!â As Biles now stands just two days away from securing her ticket to her third Olympics, this heartfelt connection to Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian adds to the excitement of her journey. Itâs heartwarming to see her longtime supporters still cheering her on.
What are your thoughts on this wholesome connection between Serenaâs family and Simone Biles? Share in the comments below!
Sports
the worst day in my life: Lindsey Vonn Shares Photos from Her Leg Surgery: âI Had More Damage Than………
Published
3 months agoon
June 16, 2024By
Solomon55Lindsey Vonn is on the mend â but her leg injury was worse than expected.
The newly-retired skier, 34, underwent surgery on Monday to fix her âcompletelyâ torn LCL, or lateral collateral ligament, in her right leg. Vonn was injured in November, but put off surgery (and fought through the pain) to finish out her final professional season on the slopes.
âObviously skiing with a brace this season didnât go as well as I had hoped,â she wrote on Instagram. âI was waiting to have surgery because I had obligations, such as my fundraiser for my foundation and I didnât want to let anyone down. So yesterday [Monday] was a great day for surgery.â
But the four months since the injury caused additional problems.
âUnfortunately since I put off surgery I had more damage than expected,â she said. âI had an additional meniscus tear and needed chondroplasty of my knee cap.â
Vonn thanked her surgeon, Dr. Robert LaPrade in Colorado, and his staff for the successful surgery, which included an LCL reconstruction, lateral meniscectomy, chondroplasty and peroneal nerve neurolysis.
After recounting all of the procedures â and sharing a gruesome photo of the surgery, she joked that with her newly-aquired medical knowledge people can âcall me Dr. Vonn.â
Vonn also shared a video from just after the surgery while she was still coming off the anesthesia.
âSurgery was a success,â she said. âDonât worry guys. Everything is great. My mom is feeding me Goldfish.â
The World Champion skier officially retired after the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on Feb. 10. She said a few weeks later that waking up and not heading to the slopes was âreally weird.â
âItâs hard,â Vonn told Today. âItâs been my whole life since I was 2½ and I hope that Iâve done something in my career thatâs more meaningful than 82 wins. I hope that the mountains remember me. I definitely know that the fences will.â
Vonn had hoped to break the record for most World Cup wins, which belongs to Ingemar Stenmark with 86, but her body couldnât make it.
âItâs been an amazing ride and I couldnât be more thankful,â she said. âI truly have loved ski racing my entire life and Iâve been lucky enough to do it for so long and unfortunately my body gave out, but my passion for skiing will always remain.â
And in the fall, Vonn told PEOPLE that sheâs still proud of what sheâs been able to do.
âI have been saying the past few years that Iâll keep skiing until I break the record, but Iâve come to the realization that my career is not the sum of this record,â she said.
Football
âBest Role Modelâ: Tom Brady Celebrates Fatherâs Day with His Kids, Aims to Mirror His Own Dadâs Parenting
Published
3 months agoon
June 16, 2024By
Solomon55Tom Brady is a dedicated family man, and he has proven it yet again! The retired NFL GOAT has been seen recently preparing for his broadcaster role at the Fox Sports booth, but amidst all the preparation, his parents and kids remain his top priority. The former Patriots QB has always been vocal about the influence of his father, Tom Brady Sr., in his life. This was most evident during the 2017 Super Bowl when Brady, with teary eyes, said, âI think my dad is my hero because heâs someone I look up to every day. He was always someone who supported me in everything I did.â
This sentiment rings true as Tom Bradyâs success story is a testament to the power of family support. Despite facing initial challenges through high school and college, he has never hidden his admiration for his parents, consistently crediting them for his achievements in the NFL. Now, as a father himself, Tom Brady sees an ideal persona in his dad, learning from him every day. And now, with the arrival of Fatherâs Day, Brady once again takes the opportunity to honor his father, as he continues to prioritize family above all else.
On Fatherâs Day, the Patriotsâ Hall of Famer took the time to write a heartfelt note to his father on Instagram. Posting a series of pictures with his family on June 16th, starting with a shot of himself with his kids from their vacation, followed by photos of him with Tom Brady Sr., Brady wrote in the caption: âHappy Fatherâs Day to my HERO and the best role model I could have ever asked for.â
âTHANK YOU to these kids for giving me the gift of being a father, a joy that I could have never imagined until you came into my life. I hope that I can give you all that my dad gave me⌠unconditional love and support â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸,â he further added. As a father himself, Brady not only expressed his gratitude to his father but also shared how his dad inspires him every day to be an ideal father to Jack, Benjamin, and Vivian. SpĐľaking of Brady as a fathĐľr, his JunĐľ 12th Hall of FamĐľ spооch also included a fĐľw linĐľs dĐľdicatĐľd to his kids.
Tom Bradyâs hĐľartfĐľlt Hall of FamĐľ spооch for his kids
Bradyâs children joined him on Wednesday in Foxborough where the Patriots inducted him into their Hall of Fame and retired his No. 12 jersey at Gillette Stadium for his Hall of Fame ceremony. And being surrounded by both his New England family and his children, the seven-time Super Bowl champion took this opportunity to honor both for supporting him with their unwavering love and support.
While Brady delivered a lengthy speech dedicated to his Patriots team and his former head coach Bill Belichick, he concluded with a special message to his kids. âYour dad loves you more than anything in this world,â Brady said in his speech. âThereâs no greater joy than watching the three of you grow and teach me things on your way to becoming incredible young adults.â
Bradyâs dedication and prioritization of his children highlight how much he cherishes his role as a father. His commitment to providing for his three little ones, who are likely the happiest part of his life at the moment, demonstrates his profound love for parenthood.
Sports
âParalyzing Thoughtsâ: Simone Bilesâ Confession Reminds Gymnastics Legend Of Her Own Trauma Decades After Olympics
Published
4 months agoon
May 18, 2024By
Solomon55In the high-stakes competitive realm of sports, where triumphs and strengths are celebrated with pomp and show, failures are often hidden. But in the world of gymnastics, two phenomenal figures have broken the silence on an issue that transcends medals and honors. Simone Biles has prioritized her mental well-being over chasing Olympic glory. And 64-year-old former US gymnast Kathy Johnson Clarke stood by her side in utmost solidarity as she narrated her own stories of fighting her intrusive thoughts and inner demons.
The 1984 Olympics medalist recently opened up about her unexpected struggles with PTSD decades after her retirement. Kathy Johnson Clarke retired from the field of gymnastics about 40 years ago. Post-retirement, she began a new journey as a sports commentator. But years after her retirement, Clarkeâs words reflected how mental illness can take a huge toll on oneâs life.
40 years post-retirement, Kathy Johnson Clarke reveals her battle with PTSD resonating with the struggle of Simone Biles
Simone Biles is undoubtedly one of the greatest in the world of gymnastics. But the queen of the mat too faced a mental health crisis in the most unfortunate situation. Despite arriving at the face of the Games, during the Tokyo Olympics, Biles decided to prioritize her mental health and withdrew from the global stage. Her act of courage to prioritize her well-being over potential gold medals resonated worldwide. Recently Kathy Johnson Clarke too stood by Bilesâ decision.
In a recent X post, Kathy Johnson Clarke shares a report by AP News and wrote, âAt nearly 65 and 40 years post retirement after the 84 Olympics I learned this year how real PTSD is. I didnât expect âthose paralyzing thoughts & feelingsâ again.â She suffered from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) recently and Johnson Clarke shared how she fought against the illness without giving up easily. Through their vulnerability and resilience, both Biles and Johnson Clarke inspire a broader dialogue about the importance of mental health, not just in sports, but in every aspect of life.
Back in 2021, during the Tokyo Olympics, Biles had to withdraw because of âTwistiesâ (a disorienting condition where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness mid-air). But with the Paris Olympics knocking on her door, has Simone Biles fully recovered from the illness? âItâs a trauma that happened to her and that came at a bad time and she could not handle it. Itâs as simple as this. She could not function. She could not be a gymnast at that time,â said Laurent Landi, who along with Cecile Landi coached Biles in 2017.
Biles overcomes stress and anxiety to triumph in the U.S. Classics, and eyes Paris Olympics
After she decided to leave the Olympic stage because of mental health issues, returning to the mat became an even bigger challenge. Fighting against anxiety, PTSD, and uncountable barriers, she started to prepare herself for the upcoming U.S. Classics. With her mother, Nellie Biles, by her side, she emerged victorious, securing several accolades in the event.
âItâs not like I think that âOlympicsâ is a plague and Iâm trying to avoid it or trying not to say it. I just think there are other things I have to get to before that,â stated Simone Biles, sharing her thoughts about the Paris Olympics. Both Clarke and Biles share a common thread. That is their ongoing journey of managing mental health amidst public scrutiny and personal expectations. Their stories highlight a poignant truth that even the most accomplished athletes are not immune to the invisible battles within. And that mental well-being must top the list of priorities for all.
Football
Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova, serena Williams Tops the List of the 20 Most Charitable Athletes in the World
Published
5 months agoon
April 25, 2024By
Solomon55Athletes have a significant influence on our society. Soccer, basketball, tennis, motorsports and swimming are a few of the most popular sports worldwide. Sport gives hope, strength and confidence; it inspires and unites the globe. A lot of professionals not only achieve success through their determination and persistence. The most charitable athletes choose to make a change, fight poverty, help communities and donate to create a safer and better world for humanity and people in need. Here are the 10 most charitable athletes worldwide:
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most charitable professional athlete in the world. The soccer player is famously supporting his home country, Portugal. Ronaldo is an ambassador for Save the Children, Unicef and World Vision. He notably donated $1 million to Portuguese hospitals to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and $83,000 to a young Indian boy who needed brain surgery. The celebrity does not have tattoos, for a charitable reason. He donates blood frequently in his hometown.
Ronaldo once donated $83,000 to pay for a child’s brain surgery and used $165,000 to fund a Portuguese cancer center, among a laundry list of good-guy gestures.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is one of the worldâs best tennis players, and she is known for her activism. The Serena Williams Foundation has made relevant changes so far. Her foundation helped to finance a Secondary School in Matooni as well as a school in Jamaica. Williams has been awarded multiple times by the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador program, including the âYoung Heroes Awardâ and the âFamily Circle and Prudential Financial Player Who Makes a Difference Award.â She encourages young people to achieve their dreams, and her philanthropy speaks for itself.
Lionel Messi
This soccer player created a non-profit organization, The Leo Messi Foundation, with a focus on giving children the same opportunities to make their dreams come true. Messiâs foundation donated âŹ1 million to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Leo Messi has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2010. He was involved in helping Syrian children to attend school by rebuilding establishments â1,600 Syrian children got the opportunity to go back to education.
Michael Jordan
The retired NBA player is a philanthropist. A multimillion-dollar donation from Michael Jordan to the organization of Friends of the Children helped a national campaign for childrenâs support. The athlete founded the James R. Jordan Foundation in honor of his father. The foundation supports poor
communities in North Carolina and Chicago. Michael Jordanâs brand, Jordan Brand is committed to donating $100 million between 2020 and 2030.
Colin Kaepernick
The former NFL playerâs activism manifests itself in the Know Your Rights organization, which helps the young to attain social justice and education in struggling social layers. The Know Your Rights COVID-19 Relief Fund took on the responsibility to help out those who needed help to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The Nascar driver has helped with his philanthropy worldwide. In 2018, Nationwideâs Make Safe Happen got a new partnership with the Earnhardt family to provide knowledge about home fires. The motorsport athlete donated $400,000 to Nationwide Childrenâs Hospital a year earlier. He envisaged supporting people affected by hurricanes and wildfires.
Eli Manning
The former American football star volunteered to deliver water, baby formula and other needs to people affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Eli Manning Childrenâs Clinics Foundation gained donors after the athlete got involved. He created the campaign named Eliâs Challenge for the organization to fight cancer, Tackle Kids Cancer. Manning donates a significant amount of money every year.
Michael Phelps
The Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer created the Michael Phelps Foundation in 2008 after winning $1 million from his Olympic performance. He aimed to generate a healthy lifestyle for children. Financial assistance and water safety are among his most important goals within the organization. According to the Forbes list of the worldâs most generous celebrities, he is one of the most humanitarian athletes.
Maria Sharapova
The retired Russian tennis player founded the Maria Sharapova Foundation in 2007. The organization focuses on children from socially deprived communities. Financial support and educational chances are at the center of the foundation. As a Goodwill Ambassador, Maria Sharapova is working on poverty issues. She raised money for Chernobyl-affected students to get scholarships.
Athletes are taking action and fighting against poverty for humanity to have a better life globally. The worldâs best achievers are emphasizing the issues of our society and raising awareness with their campaigns to the most burning problems of the world. The most charitable athletes can make a difference by dedicating their activism to the most imperative issues around the world.
Sports
Gisele Bundchen the Brazilian model defends that only couples know what really happens in a relationship amid rumors of infidelity to Tom Brady with Joaquim Valente
Published
6 months agoon
March 24, 2024By
Solomon55Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen announced in October 2022 that their 13-year relationship had come to an end and, since then, speculation began about the reason for the breakup and, also, rumors linking the model with her jiu-jitsu instructor Joaquim Valente.
Bundchen and Valente met in 2022, when they began classes of the martial art for both the model and her children and immediately there was chemistry between them, and it has been confirmed that they have a relationship, although according to a report from a source consulted by the Daily Mail, Brady believes she was dating him since they were married, which led Gisele to break her silence on the subject in an interview with The New York Times, where she called it “a lie” to have cheated on Tom
“This is something that happens to many women who are blamed when they have the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship and are branded as unfaithful. They have to deal with their communities, they have to deal with their family. Of course, for me, this is a bit amplified,” Gisele told The New York Times.
Later, Gisele added that only couples know what happens in a relationship, so the rest is speculation about what is believed to have happened in her story with Tom Brady, with whom she has three children and with whom she will have to continue living together, while both continue with their lives, Bundchen with Joaquim Valente, while the former New England Patriots quarterback, continues to search, although he has been linked in a possible relationship with model Irina Shayk.
“No one really knows what happens between two people, only the two people who are in the relationship,” Gisele added.
Who is Joaquim Valente?
Joaquim Valente is a third generation Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who teaches the sport at an academy based in Miami along with his brothers Pedro and Gui. His older brother, Pedro began teaching in Miami in 1993, after moving from Rio de Janeiro in 1993.
Joaquim is the youngest of the family and the last to migrate to the United States, but his contribution was fundamental to the success of the family business, as he contributed his knowledge acquired in Brazil.
The model, for her part, began training jiu-jitsu in December 2021 and earned her Brazilian blue belt in one year. “I’m a very intense person, so when I enjoy something, I’m committed
Although they were seen together before formalizing their romance, the model denied having a romantic relationship and told Vanity Fair: “I think that unfortunately, because I’m divorced, they’re going to try to link me to anyone”.
The first dates reportedly occurred in November 2022, when both visited the Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, accompanied by the model’s children and several other people. Other versions say that they actually started dating in June 2023