In 1997, the minimum age for women gymnasts was raised to 16. Some thought it would usher in a less competitive era. Instead, athletes of incredible skill and longevity emerged.
Emotions were running high for Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles — but mostly for different reasons — after they prevailed in the final gymnastics event at the Paris Olympics.
You might be surprised to learn that "Grey's Anatomy" and recipes were on the Brazilian gymnast's mind on the eve of her gold medal winning routine in the Olympics floor event.
Rebeca Andrade grew up one of 8 kids raised by a single mom. At age 4, she showed off at a gym tryout. After her silver medal in the Paris Olympics, Brazil is hailing her as a "national treasure."
Six years ago, USA Gymnastics was on the brink of collapse amid a sex abuse scandal that had cost it sponsorships and piled up lawsuits. Now, the organization hopes it has turned the page.
After a two-year absence and less than three months into her return to competition, the American superstar won the individual all-around title at the world championships for the sixth time.
The U.S. women won a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships. The team of Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong edged out Brazil and France.
Simone Biles, 26, is now the only U.S. woman ever chosen for six World Championships. The star gymnast is heading back to Antwerp, where she competed in her first Worlds in 2013.
Biles became the oldest woman to win a national title since USA Gymnastics began organizing the event in 1963. Her eight crowns moved her past Alfred Jochim, who won seven between 1925-33.
Confidence growing with every rotation, Biles soared to victory in her first meet since the Tokyo Games. Her all-around score of 59.100 was five points better than runner-up Leann Wong.
Biles' return is great news for USA Gymnastics, which just announced a new sponsorship deal with Nike. Also returning is Suni Lee, who took home the Olympic all-around gold after Biles dropped out.
Biles hasn't competed since the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, when she withdrew and spurred a global conversation on the pressures faced by athletes. Lee stepped into the spotlight and won all-around gold.
The president will present the nation's highest civilian honor to 17 people, who also include Oscar-winning Denzel Washington, the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and soccer Olympian Megan Rapinoe.
