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SPORTS Thursday 29 June 2023

Gymnastics star Simone Biles returning to competition in August

By WILL GRAVES Biles used the Classic as her
AP Sports Writer comeback meet in 2018
Simone Biles is back. following a two-year hia-
The gymnastics superstar tus after her record med-
plans to return to compe- als haul in Rio de Janeiro.
tition at the U.S. Classic It took her all of two hours
outside Chicago in early to show she remained the
August, her first event since gold standard in her sport,
the pandemic-delayed setting the stage for an-
2020 Tokyo Olympics. other spectacular run that
USA Gymnastics an- included two more world
nounced Wednesday that all-around championships
Biles, a seven-time Olym- in 2018 and 2019 and three
pic medalist and the 2016 more national titles.
Olympic champion, is part Things could be different
of the women’s field for this time around, in more
the single-day event set ways than one.
for Aug. 5 at NOW Arena in Biles courted the spotlight
Hoffman Estates. during her run-up to Tokyo,
Biles has taken most of the becoming in many ways
last two years off following the face of the U.S. Olym-
her eventful stay in Japan in pic movement. She ap-
the summer of 2021, where pears to be taking a more
her decision to remove her- Simone Biles reacts after competing on the balance beam at the Tokyo Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. subdued approach with
self from multiple events to 3, 2021. the Paris Games about a
focus on her mental health Associated Press year away. She’s kept her
shifted the focus from the awareness when airborne. Olympic tour in the fall around the subject is con- various social media chan-
games themselves to the Biles returned for the bal- of 2021 and married NFL stantly evolving, Biles’ re- nels almost entirely gym-
overall wellness of the ath- ance beam final, where player Jonathan Owens turn to the sport she domi- nastics-free, instead using

letes. she won a bronze medal now a defensive back for nated for nearly a decade them to highlight snippets
She served as a cheerlead- that tied Shannon Miller’s the Green Bay Packers this suggests an athlete who of her personal life.
er as her American team- record for most Olympic spring. The 26-year-old Biles wants to go out on her own And for the first time since
mates won the team silver medals by an American has also become one of terms. The U.S. Classic is rising to stardom as a teen-
then sat out the all-around, female gymnast. She hint- the most vocal advocates one of the marquee events ager in 2013, Biles won’t
vault and floor exercise fi- ed at the Paris 2024 Olym- for athletes finding space on USA Gymnastics’ annu- have to shoulder the bur-
nals she had qualified for pics but only after taking a to protect their mental al calendar and typically den of being the standard
while dealing with what is lengthy break. health after her stand in Ja- serves as a warm-up of sorts bearer for the U.S. program.
known as “the twisties” a The last two years have pan put the issue front and for the national champion- Sunisa Lee, who won gold
gymnastics term for when been a whirlwind of sorts. center. ships, this year scheduled in the all-around final in To-
an athlete loses their spatial She headlined her post- While the conversation for late August in San Jose. kyo, will also be at the U.Sq

Tennessee State will become the first HBCU to add ice hockey

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — the university is located. HBCUs adding sports out- Tennessee State University interests in areas where
Tennessee State University “Together, we celebrate side their more traditional is a part of our continued they have traditionally had
announced Wednesday the power of collaboration offerings of football, men’s commitment to provide our limited or no access,” uni-
that it will become the first as we dismantle barriers, di- and women’s basketball students with new opportu- versity president Glenda
historically Black college versify the game, and pro- and men’s and women’s nities and to broaden new Glover said.q
and university to introduce pel hockey into a new era track and field. Earlier this
ice hockey. of inclusivity,” Tennessee year, The Associated Press
The school plans to have State athletic director Mikki contacted 46 Division I and
a men’s team playing at Allen said in a statement. D-II HBCUs and five con-
the club level in 2024, with “This partnership serves as ference offices about the
a goal of fielding Division I a catalyst, driving change trend. Twenty schools re-
men’s and women’s teams and ensuring that the sponded, saying they had
“in the near future.” game we love embraces added at least 42 NCAA
The Tennessee State pro- the beauty of diversity.” championship or emerging
gram has been created Since 2017, the NHL and sports since 2016, including
in partnership with the Na- the players’ union have at least 32 sports since 2020
tional Hockey League, the sponsored feasibility stud- alone.
National Hockey League ies for U.S. colleges and In 2022-23, Fisk University
Players’ Association and universities interested in became the first HBCU to
the Nashville Predators. The exploring the addition of offer women’s gymnastics.
announcement was made Division I men’s and wom- Morgan State will become Minnesota Wild hockey player Ryan Reaves talks with NHL
hours before the start of the en’s programs. The study the only HBCU offering Di- commissioner Gary Bettman before a news conference to
NHL draft, which is being for Tennessee State began vision I men’s wrestling this announce the formation of the Player Inclusion Coalition,
held at Bridgestone Arena in 2021. Tennessee State’s coming school year. Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
in Nashville, the city where addition follows a trend of “Bringing ice hockey to Associated Press