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    Simone Biles Publicly Addresses Olympics Postponement: It 'Takes a Toll on Your Mind'

    The top of 2020 was shaping up to be a banner year for Simone Biles. Widely looked at as the best women’s gymnast of all time, all eyes were on the 23-year-old reigning world champion to see if she’d repeat her stellar performance from the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Then, the coronavirus…

    By

    Anne Branigin

    Published

  • She Slayed: Simone Biles Named 2019 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year

    She did it. AGAIN. Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast of all time, is now the 2019 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. We ain’t surprised. Yesterday, the Associated Press made the announcement, heralding Biles’ unparalleled athleticism: Her triple-twisting double-flip (the “triple double”) at the end of her first tumbling pass on floor exercise is…

    By

    Chanté Griffin

    Published

  • Fast and Fierce: Is the World's Fastest Woman En Route to Being One of Its Most Fashionable?

    Give me a workout session, but make it fashion. That’s what Olympian Tori Bowie did for fashion site Coveteur, which covered the world champion runner in a fashion-fueled stretch, pose and sprint session just prior to her appearance on the red carpet as one of Sports Illustrated’s Fashionable 50 on July 12. The 27-year-old Bowie,…

    By

    Maiysha Kai

    Published

  • Watch: Michelle Carter, the Shot-Put Diva, on Loving Your Body, No Matter Your Size

    USA Track & Field star Michelle Carter walks into any space exuding confidence, with a bright smile, carefully combed tresses and a freshly beat face. Carter is the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s shot put and an entrepreneur. Can you say, #BlackGirlMagic? But life hasn’t always been a crystal stair for this three-time…

    By

    Felice León

    Published

  • Say Goodbye to Rio, Where Black Women's Bodies Were Celebrated

    Simone Biles is known for her body: its power, its capabilities and the heights to which it propels her. I am completely mesmerized by it. I’m not sure if it’s the beauty of her black body prancing; her short, muscular legs seemingly defying physics; or the ease with which she does it all—with a confident,…

    By

    Chanté Griffin

    Published

  • Rio Rundown: Women’s 4×100 Team Retains Gold, Men Appeal Disqualification

    Emerging victorious in the intense rivalry with Jamaica, the U.S. women’s team retained the 4×100-meter relay title, and Allyson Felix won a record fifth gold medal in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Friday. It was the second-fastest women’s 4×100 relay ever, second only to the relay at the 2012 Olympic Games, where…

    By

    The Root Staff

    Published

  • Gabby Douglas and the Damning of Black Women

    In her two Olympic appearances, Gabby Douglas has ignited much discussion, both for her accomplishments and for what others perceive as her less-than qualities. On the very shallow end, we have the comments made about her edges—which, when you have a certain texture of natural hair, no matter how much you brush them or gel them…

    By

    Jouelzy

    Published

  • Michael Phelps' Gold Medals Can't Outshine Usain Bolt's Black Brilliance

    Michael Phelps is an amazing athlete. The most-awarded Olympian of all time, he has collected an incredible amount of hardware for his display case: 23 gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals are nothing to scoff at. He’s an icon, an ambassador for his sport and, to quote Jay Z, not just a…

    By

    Lawrence Ware

    Published

  • Simone Biles Continues Gold Streak, Wins Women's Vault

    Simone Biles, the world’s best gymnast, walked away Sunday from the women’s vault event with her third gold medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the Huffington Post reports. Biles led the U.S. women’s team, dubbed the “Final Five,” to a team gold Wednesday before snagging the all-around gold by a 2-point margin. Her win…

    By

    Breanna Edwards

    Published

  • #BlackGirlsSwimFast: On Simone Manuel and Swimming to Freedom

    Following their 1-2-3 finish in the 2015 NCAA 100 swimming finals, Mark Anthony Neal tweeted #BlackGirlsSwimFast to celebrate the magnificence of Lia Neal, Simone Manuel and Natalie Hinds. On Thursday night at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, it took 52 seconds for Manuel to swim the fastest. And when she touched first in a…

    By

    The Root Staff

    Published