Becoming the longest-reigning Black singles champion in WWE history is an honor Bianca Belair isn’t taking for granted — and it’s one that she says is bigger than her alone.

Belair recently surpassed MVP as the longest tenured Black titleholder of any WWE singles championship, with her Raw Women’s Championship reign hitting 344 days. She claimed the belt on night 1 of WrestleMania by defeating Becky Lynch, and has made 11 successful televised defenses of it since then.

It was a natural topic of conversation for her appearance on The Whole Story Podcast (h/t Fightful), where she talked about understanding the significance of such a long title run relatively early in her career.

I know I’ve had a lot of success very quickly, but I’ve only been on the main roster for, [I’m] going on my third year. So to know that I’m currently the longest-reigning black champion in WWE history, it’s something that’s really hard to put into words. It’s an honor, it makes me feel like I’m doing something right, and it really puts, not pressure but significance on how big this moment is, and that it’s not just about me. I think that’s what I love about it the most is that I feel like it’s not just about me. It adds a why to what I’m doing. It’s representation, it’s inspiring others.

Belair also credited husband and fellow WWE star Montez Ford for pointing out that her appearance in the WrestleMania 37 main event was equally historic. Belair defeated Sasha Banks in the final match of night 1 in Tampa to claim the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Though it’s not expected to be a main event, Belair has another championship match on WWE’s biggest stage in Los Angeles in a few weeks, when she’ll once again defend her title against Asuka. Even if she ends up dropping the belt there (and oddsmakers have it as more or less a pick ’em at the moment), she appreciates what this opportunity has meant for not just herself, but for many WWE fans.

“So I’m riding this wave,” she said. “I hope I’m doing it right. I want to be representation, I want to be inspiration, and I just really want my title reign to be more than just about me, and that’s what it’s becoming, and I think that that’s special.”

According to the Olympics’ 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 world’s 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.

Lindsey Vonn says she seriously considered switching sports from downhill ski racing to Formula 1 racing … but claims a policy about pregnancy prevented it from happening.

The 35-year-old Olympic legend explained the whole thing on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” … saying she was specifically told she would need to make a 3-year commitment to NOT getting pregnant in order to get a shot as a pro driver.

Vonn says the opportunity would have been with the Red Bull racing team — and it’s something she would have “loved to have done” … but ultimately, she wasn’t down to put off having a family.

BTW, Vonn is engaged to NHL star PK Subban — and it’s clear having kids is definitely on the table.

Lindsey is a huge fan of race car driving — she’s a natural behind the wheel. And, says if F1 didn’t work out, jumping to NASCAR was also a possibility.

During the interview, which airs on TV this weekend, Vonn also mentions how much MONEY race car drivers make compared to skiers.

“Probably the salary of one racer is probably the total amount of money that ski racing has for their annual budget as a sport. [Lewis Hamilton] makes more money than all of ski racing combined!”

There’s a lot more … Vonn also talks about her wedding plans with PK and the racism she’s encountered for being in an interracial relationship.

When she is away, her imminent return dominates the headlines—such is the case with gymnast Simone Biles. The 27-year-old took a two-year hiatus from the sport following the Tokyo Olympics. She returned in 2023, blazing a trail of excellence. First at the USA Classic and then at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, she demonstrated her unparalleled talent. Her remarkable comeback was celebrated by fans worldwide and recognized by prestigious platforms like ESPY and Laureus. Consequently, ESPY honored her with the award for the best comeback performance of the year.

On Thursday, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old gymnast received the much-cherished award. Adding to the moment’s significance, tennis legend Serena Williams announced her as the winner. This full-circle moment was especially poignant, as both Serena Williams and Simone Biles inspire the same generation through their achievements as Black athletes in their respective sports.

During the US Olympic gymnastics trials at Target Center, the stands were packed with young fans soaking up inspiration from their favorite Paris-bound Olympians. Among them was Simone Biles‘ favorite fan and the youngest member of the Biles clan, Ronni, aka Baby Biles. It’s clear that Ronni dreams of following in her TT Simone’s footsteps.

In May, she joined the elite training center where Simone and other Team USA members train, WCC, owned by Simone’s parents. The 7x Olympic medalist Biles proudly announced on social media, “WCC’s newest elite team member, my niece Ronni.” In the days following the trials, Ronni, inspired by the Paris Olympians, skipped playtime to watch Simone Biles’ mesmerizing gymnastics to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Baby Biles cannot get enough of her TT Simone Biles’ mastery
In a heartfelt post on X by Simone Biles’ sister-in-law Sammi Biles, she shared a sweet video of Baby Biles enjoying her Fourth of July celebrations, completely enthralled as she re-watched the US Olympic gymnastics trials. Ronni eagerly dashed to the TV, mimicking her aunt Simone’s signature moves with raised hands and a little jump. Sammi playfully captioned the moment, “She loves a TT ‘stick it’ 😂”

As Ronni spotted her grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, on screen, she couldn’t contain her joy, giggling and pointing excitedly. Sammi also shared, “Anyone else’s 1.5 year old not watch cartoons but would rather watch @USAGym ?! or just ours 😆 not mad about it one bit,” tagging her husband Ron Biles II.

Continuing her fun-filled Fourth of July, Ronni enjoyed pool time and popsicles with her dad, even attempting a tiny headstand while the family dog, Blu, looked on. Sammi captured the moment perfectly on Instagram stories, writing, “Ronni showing Blu her gymnastics.” Reflecting on this deep love and passion for gymnastics, let’s explore how the US Olympic trials will be a core memory for Baby Biles.

Ronni’s witnessing history is gearing up to carry the family torch forward
In the past, Baby Biles has been caught trying to lift herself on the rings by her crib, with her mom capturing the moment and writing, “Watching TT and wanting to be like her.” At Target Center, Ronni stole the show in a striking leotard that resembled the one Simone Biles wore during the 2021 gymnastics trials, standing out proudly among the crowd. Joining the entire Biles clan, Ronni celebrated as her TT topped the all-around standings and secured her ticket to the Paris Olympics, making history.

she loves a TT “stick it” 😂 anyone else’s 1.5 year old not watch cartoons but would rather watch @USAGym ?! or just ours 😆 not mad about it one bit @RonBilesII pic.twitter.com/3bQBGW4djm

— s a m m i l e e 🌶 (@sammibiles) July 5, 2024

Additionally, when Simone Biles secured her spot for her third Olympics, Sammi took to Instagram to congratulate and commend her for balancing her roles as a strong woman, champion, wife, and more. Posting a picture of the whole Biles clan with Simone in the centre, Sammi wrote, “So mind blowing + so ecstatic for you + your husband & honored our little fam, especially Ronni who gets to be a part of this journey too. It’s really special seeing how Ronni lights up when she sees her TT competing /in the gym + the interest she is showing in the sport too. Ronni has the best gymnastics TT role model around!”

Reflecting on these moments, as Ronni imitates Simone Biles at every opportunity, what did you think of her adorable Fourth of July celebrations? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Simone 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 Women’s 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, couldn’t help but shout out on his X platform, “Simone!” His words echoed the excitement of millions of American fans tuning in across the country.

Alexis Ohanian’s 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 ‘s ‘Ready For It?’ 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 Ohanian’s applause for Simone Biles, it’s clear this isn’t the first time he’s 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, “It’s so good to see her back.”

Furthermore, he also delightedly recounted how his and Serena Williams’ 6-year-old daughter, Olympia, a passionate sports fan like her parents, couldn’t contain her excitement when she watched Biles’ comeback clip. He wrote in another post, “Jr. sees this and starts tumbling over the sofa. Love to see it.” But did you know Olympia’s 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, “Can’t wait for Olympia Ohanian to get tips from Simone Biles.”

Simone Biles quickly spotted the post and commented, “Oh my goodness, I’ll give her a lesson any day!” 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. It’s heartwarming to see her longtime supporters still cheering her on.

What are your thoughts on this wholesome connection between Serena’s family and Simone Biles? Share in the comments below!

Few celebrities were as thrilled as Kim Kardashian was when Lionel Messi opted to join Inter Miami last summer. Kardashian has loudly and proudly proclaimed her love for the magic Messi — and as a property owner in Miami, the reality TV star is able to see him up close practically whenever she wants.

In a new post on Instagram, Kardashian has again professed her Inter Miami — and Messi — fandom amid the team’s successful start to the 2024 Major League Soccer season, which many hope will end with Messi leading the Herons to their first-ever MLS Cup this fall.

Kim K’s long-held admiration for Messi

Saint walking Messi out on the field tonight at the La Galaxy vs Inter Miami game!!! He is living the absolute dream! pic.twitter.com/g6ZEy6ujYr

— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) February 26, 2024

Thank you for watching

In a photo shared to Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Kardashian posted a black and pink Inter Miami shirt — the team’s away strip for this season — in addition to a pink Inter Miami sash, both uploaded seemingly unprompted.

Following their 3-1 win over Nashville SC on Saturday, Inter Miami sit atop the Eastern Conference with 18 points from 10 games. Messi scored twice in the game, surely delighting Kardashian — who previously said that son Saint was “living the dream’ as he had the chance to walk Messi out onto the field at Dignity Health Sports Park for a game against the LA Galaxy in February.

Kim Kardashian is also present at Messi’s Inter Miami debut 📹🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/MGOZJh6Z2r

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 21, 2023

Messi and Kardashian met briefly last season, shortly before the Argentine made his official North American debut in a Leagues Cup game against Cruz Azul — which he ended with a game-winning free kick in second-half stoppage time. Plenty more interactions between Kardashian and one of the sport’s GOATs can be expected as Inter Miami push for the MLS Cup this season.

Zendaya has earned rave reviews from netizens for her incredible performance in Luca Guadagnino’s tennis-themed movie Challengers. Meanwhile, from Jessica Pegula to Venus Williams, many renowned tennis personalities praised the Emmy-winning actress’s red carpet look she donned to promote the movie. While Zendaya impressed the fraternity with her acting skills, she also showed her humbleness by dropping an adorable message for one special person from her Challenger team.

The renowned Hollywood actress is the face of the movie, no question! However, she went beyond her own self and showcased the beautiful people who made this movie a successful project.

Zendaya gives a “shoutout” to the lie umpire in Challengers movie

Zendeya recently shared a picture of one of her co-stars from the movie Challengers on her official Instagram story. In this photo, fans spotted Zendaya’s co-star, Darnel Lapping, dressed as a line umpire on the tennis court and smiling. Sharing this picture, Zendaya wrote- “An extra special shoutout to our incredible umpire…so proud of you @darnellapping love you.” Zendaya’s heartfelt post brought a smile to her fans’ faces as they witnessed the actress expressing gratitude towards her talented co-stars.

While this was more like a gratitude post, Zendaya also shared many hilarious behind-the-scenes glimpses from the shoot. Previously, in one of her Instagram stories, fans spotted her co-stars, John O’Connor and Mike Faist mimicking kissing a tennis racquet with Zendaya’s wig on it. This was in reference to one of the scenes in the movie where both of her costars start kissing her. Faist brought out the funny element in the video clip, he said, “This is the makeout scene,” as he along with O’Connor attempted to kiss the racquet together.

Zendaya didn’t seem to take any offense but enjoyed the whole banter. She shared those BTS moments from the shoot and wrote– “A little bts dump in honor of @challengersmovie coming out in a couple days. This is my first time leading a film in this way so ya girls been nervous but everyones excitement and encouragement has meant the world to me,”

Moreover, Zendeya gave her take on the controversies she faced regarding her intimate scenes in the Challengers movie. Safe to say, for actors, it comes with the territory, doesn’t it?

Zendaya feels her intimate scenes from the Challengers movie were a “normal part of the job”
Zendaya’s Challengers is the newest topic of discussion nowadays. Showcasing a tennis-themed love triangle, Challengers garnered both positive and negative attention for its take on sexuality, love, and tennis. However, Zendaya faced criticism due to the intimate scenes in the movie.

In a conversation with Jake’s Takes, the Euphoria actress said– “I have no idea. I don’t know if it’s because they want it to be, like, a viral thing, I don’t know. But I have noticed that, with me specifically, I feel like other actors don’t… if it was somebody else here, you probably wouldn’t [have] asked that question. But yeah, it is a part of my job and it is a completely normal part of the job despite, I think, maybe other people’s perception of our job. But yeah, it is odd.” She made this statement when Jake Hamilton reminded her how much over-the-top attention people pay to kissing scenes.

Have you watched the movie yet? Did you like Zendeya’s performance in it? Let us know in the comment section below.

Deva Cassel has revealed how her famous parents have helped her modelling career as she starred on the latest cover of V Magazine.

The 19-year-old daughter of Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel is a rising starlet and has been going from strength to strength on both the catwalk and in landing coveted acting roles.

Deva looked stunning as she posed for the cover shots for Gen V by V Magazine, showing off her model genes from her famous parents.

She rocked rugged and smokey eyeliner on the cover, looking the epitome of high fashion with a thoughtful pose, while opting for a bold bare-faced look in another snap.

Deva offered the world a glimpse of her natural beauty as she sported a long plait and winged eyeliner for a captivating look, displaying her high cheekbones and strong facial features.

Alongside her photos, Deva shed light on her relationship with her parents and how they have encouraged her career in the industry.

She told the magazine: ‘They taught me to always look forward, to always protect myself, to always be kind, and always keep wonder in mind.

‘There’s much more, but the point is that they’ve taught me how to handle unexpected situations and live by my own rules, while always respecting people and the environment I’m in.

‘I remember browsing through my mom’s huge fashion books that she kept in the house for as long as I can remember.

‘Everything was so looked after and beautiful. I knew I wanted to work in that industry at some point in my life, but I definitely didn’t expect to love it this much and make a living out of it.’

Deva continued: ‘I really did not want to be an actor for most of my childhood. It was something that everyone kept asking me as a kid and it really pushed me away from that career path.

‘However, with time, I started getting more and more interested in the cinematic industry, the people, and the experiences it could offer.’

Deva has been making leaps and bounds into the world of beauty and fashion, sharing a cover of Italian Vogue with her mother for the July 2021 issue.

The budding model has certainly made a name for herself in the business and now boasts an impressive 1m followers on Instagram.

She also made her acting debut in the indie film The Beautiful Summer this year.

And she is now set to star in the upcoming Netflix series The Leopard, based on the classic novel of the same name by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.

Filming began earlier this year, with production on the lavish period piece to take place in the Sicilian cities of Palermo, Syracuse and Catania as well as the Italian capital over the next few months.

The historical series with elements likeable to Downton Abbey and The Crown is a modern take on the Sicilian saga famously adapted into a film by Luchino Visconti starring Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon and Burt Lancaster.

The film, now an Italian cinema classic, won the 1963 Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Deva will star as Angelica Sedara, the young stunning middle class woman who becomes a catalyst of social disruption in the six-episode epic set against the backdrop of social revolution in 1860s Sicily.

Deva’s parents Monica and Vincent split in 2013 after 14 years of marriage and the pair share daughters Deva, 19, and Leonie, 13.

Former Bond Girl Monica, 59, is now famously dating director Tim Burton – after announcing their romance in June.

She was previously married to Oceans 12 actor Vincent Cassel from 1997 to 2013.

The former model met Cassel in 1996 on the set of Gilles Mimouni’s film l’Appartement.

They were together for three years before marrying in a quiet ceremony in Monaco, on the French Riviera.

Monica spoke about love in an interview with Paris Match back in 2011 when she was still married to Cassel, admitting there is ‘no rationality’ for her when it comes to relationships.

She said: ‘I am carried by the moment and instinct. No rationality, only emotions. You love or you don’t.’

‘You don’t decide sitting around a table: OK, so I have two kids, 16 years of life as a couple, that would be nice if it lasts, but how I am going to make it work?

‘I don’t think at all that a couple is something “you work out”, as we say.’

How many people know Simone Biles returned to the Tokyo Olympics to win a bronze in the balance beam final after experiencing “twisties”? It’s mind-boggling how people simply discussed Biles’s decision to withdraw from the event finals, as she rightfully presumed “the world is going to hate me.” Imagine the strain that builds up to the point where you fall awkwardly on the Olympic floor to what gymnasts call a “mental block.” Fortunately for Biles, she learned her lesson to prioritize her mental health and bravely spoke to the world about it.

After a long break, Simone Biles entered gymnastics competitions again last year with the obvious goal of participating in her third Olympics this summer. Last year, she tallied 37 international titles along with five signature moves, to become the most decorated gymnast in the world. And now there are shared fears from the Tokyo Olympics fallout which prompted US shot putter Raven Saunders to share her own challenges from the Mega Games.

Simone Biles becomes a force to be reckoned with

In an interview with the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast that was released this Wednesday, Biles revealed how the Tokyo Games’ “twisties” affected her. Raven Saunders, the silver medallist in the women’s shot put from Tokyo, could relate to a clip of the interview that was shared on X. Saunders aka the self-described “Hulk,” wrote on X, “Chile she a real one bc after losing my mom 2 days after winning silver, the whole 2022 year I was afraid to do well at a track meet bc it felt like the world would end if I did.”

When Biles stumbled and fell awkwardly during her vault routine, it obviously shocked the world. Biles later realized she needed to focus on mental health and withdrew from the team final and the individual all-around final. Still, she was mindful of her choice. Simone Biles painstakingly recalled her thoughts and explained, “If I could have got on a plane and flown home, I would have done it. As soon as I landed (the vault), I was like, ‘America hates me, the world is going to hate me, and I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now. That was my first thought … I thought I was going to be banned from America. Because that’s what they tell you, ‘Don’t come back if it’s not gold. Gold or bust – don’t come back.’”

The four-time Olympic gold medalist described the twisties in more detail on the podcast, drawing comparisons to baseball or golf’s yips. But in gymnastics, the phenomena could be more hazardous if it leads to a risky landing for an athlete. The same goes for any other sport. Similarly, the two-time Olympic medalist Saunders also suffered from horrifying experiences.

Another solemn voice bellows Simone Biles’ sentiments
2016 saw Raven Saunders place fifth in the shot put competition at the Rio Olympics. However, in just two years, she reached her lowest point and considered ending her life. Saunders had a difficult journey to Tokyo after publicly battling depression for years after the Rio Olympics and then stepping away from the spotlight to resume a regular life. She admitted, “Being quite young in my journey and seeing friends that were living the life that I wanted to have at that point, it just became a lot mentally weighing down on me.”

After being admitted to the hospital and suffering injuries, she was given another opportunity to compete internationally. To help others feel less alone, Saunders said she has been fairly open about her struggles with mental health just like Simone Biles. It also explains why, as a queer Black woman, she wears her identities with such pride. Now, with the fast approaching games, Simone Biles, 27 will look to increase her medal tally, putting her dark days behinf her.