Sports

How ‘the twisties’ stopped Simone Biles cold

Published on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 1:53pm
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By Will Graves
AP Sports Writer

TOKYO (AP) — Maybe Simone Biles made soaring through the air look too easy. It’s not — a fact she and other gymnasts who constantly negotiate with the laws of physics have long understood.

Every leap, no matter how routine, requires an innate sense of time and space. You have to know how many fractions of a second you have to make your body do what it needs to do. Just as crucially, you need to know you’ve got enough room to do it before the ground renders a verdict one way or another.

Out, then in: US gets a reprieve after mixed relay DQ

Published on Fri, 07/30/2021 - 1:53pm
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TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. men have a long history of dicey baton exchanges in the Olympic relays. So do the U.S. women.

Their latest was a first-of-its-kind chance to flub one together, which they might have, but they caught a break that gives them a chance to still win a medal. 

The country’s difficult history in relay races reappeared in the Olympic debut of the 4x400-meter mixed relay when the team was disqualified for a bad exchange, only to be reinstated after filing a middle-of-the-night protest that got resolved early Saturday in Japan.

American gymnast Sunisa Lee takes Olympic gold

Published on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 3:34pm
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TOKYO (AP) — Sunisa Lee wanted to quit during quarantine. 

It all had become too much. The lingering pain from a broken foot. The deaths of two family members from COVID-19. Her father’s slow recovery from an accident that left him paralyzed. 

The urge eventually passed. It always does. Still, less than two months ago the 18-year-old gymnast hobbled around the podium at the U.S. championships, getting by more on grit than anything else.

Tokyo seemed far away. The top of the Olympic podium, even further.

Living up to the hype: Dressel wins 1st individual gold

Published on Thu, 07/29/2021 - 3:33pm
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TOKYO (AP) — Caeleb Dressel climbed atop the lane rope, a look of wonder in his eyes. He gazed all around the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, eager to soak up every last moment of something he’s never done before.

Win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

The most dominant swimmer of the post-Michael Phelps era filled in the last hole on his resume, winning a gold all by himself with two furious laps of the pool Thursday.

Dressel, whose three previous golds were all on relays, lived up to the hype at an Olympics where several U.S. stars have faltered.

Olympic champ Biles withdraws from all-around competition

Published on Wed, 07/28/2021 - 3:38pm
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TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title.

The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.

U.S. women’s hoops team captures 3-on-3 gold

Published on Wed, 07/28/2021 - 3:37pm
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TOKYO (AP) — Their scrapbooks and trophy cases are filled with memories from Final Fours, national titles, All-America honors and even some impressive showings in the pros. 

Now, they have Olympic gold medals to go with all that. 

The U.S. team of Stefanie Dolson, Allisha Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young took an early lead against the team from Russia, then held on for an 18-15 victory Wednesday to win the title in the debut of 3-on-3 basketball at the Olympics. 

Disbelief, support in Japan after Naomi Osaka’s elimination

Published on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 3:49pm
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TOKYO (AP) — “Masaka” — or, in English, “No way.” That’s how an incredulous Japan reacted Tuesday to the unexpectedly early loss of Naomi Osaka at the Tokyo Olympics, erasing her chances for gold. 

And people quickly turned to an outpouring of sympathy. 

“Watching you gave me courage. You don’t have to win a medal. Watching you play is enough for all your fans,” said Yuji Taida, a novelist. 

Japanese media relayed urgent reports on her loss, with “masaka” in the headlines. 

Biles withdraws from gymnastics final to protect team, self

Published on Tue, 07/27/2021 - 3:49pm
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TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. She convinced herself she was prepared for the pressure. That she was ready for the spotlight.

Only, as the women’s gymnastics team final approached on Tuesday night, something felt off for the American star. So rather than push through the doubts that crept into her head as she’s done so many times before, she decided enough was enough. 

Russia edges Japan, China for gold in men’s gymnastics

Published on Mon, 07/26/2021 - 12:00am
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TOKYO (AP) — Nikita Nagornyy huddled with the rest of the Russian men’s gymnastics team, stared at the scoreboard and waited.

Livingston out of tourney

Published on Fri, 07/23/2021 - 4:58pm
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The Livingston Braves lost their second game this morning, taking them out of the American Legion Baseball tournament, which began Thursday with four games in Livingston.  

The Braves lost to the Belgrade Bandits on Thursday, and again Friday to the Helena Reps in the end-of-season tournament for Class A South. The tournament is being played at Jack Weimer Park and the championship games will be played Sunday.

The Braves lost their second game 7-6 in the double-elimination tournament.