USA Gymnastics Wins Gold

NORTHRIDGE, CA-The U.S. gymnastics team continues to dominate in Rio.

NY Daily News

The USA gymnastics team took the gold medal in Rio on Tuesday. Russia took second place and China took third. Spectators predicted that Simone Biles would win the gold, and she did.

Judges, fans and people around the world have been supporting her along the way and they think she may be the best female gymnast in history. Before the qualifying round last Sunday, Biles’ mom tweeted her daughter words of encouragement.

Biles and her teammate Aly Riesman gave a nearly perfect performance. Biles took first and Raisman placed second at the all-around competition last Sunday. Gabby Douglas performed well too, only a few points behind Riesman. But her effortless routine was not enough to allow her to compete in the all-around competition. There is a two person per country rule which means each competing country can only have two members qualify.

Douglas wasn’t able to defend her 2012 title from London, but she was allowed to compete on the uneven bars Tuesday. Raisman says “the two person per country rule is the dumbest thing ever.”

In 2012 something similar happened during the all-around qualifying competition. Raisman and Douglas took first and second place, which denied the 2008 champion, Jordyn Wieber from defending her title.

Nastia Liukin, a 2008 Olympic champion, said no one can beat Biles, if anyone had doubts, then they should think about the fact that she took first place in the floor exercise, vault, and the balance beam.

She even has a move named after her, because she was the gymnast to land an advanced move, including a half-twist and blind landing in a competition.

Biles’ coach Aimee Borman said, “Simone doesn’t require a lot of run into her tumbling skills, so she can fit a longer pass onto the floor than a lot of athletes.”

When Biles does vault she goes higher and farther than her competitors. When it comes to the balance beam, she is the only one in the world who uses a beam that is 4-inches wide. Liukin also pointed out that most gold medalists win by half a point, Biles wins by two or three points.

By Angel Johnson

Contributions made by: NY Times, NBC, and US Weekly

Photo: NY Daily News

EDUCATE YOURSELF

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2016/08/14/489989606/simone-biles-wins-third-gold-medal-of-rio-games-on-the-vault

http://www.today.com/news/simone-biles-beam-upset-laurie-hernandez-s-silver-i-m-t101876

http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-sp-oly-rio-2016-u-s-gymnasts-laurie-hernandez-and-1471290031-htmlstory.html

 

Gymnastic Hopefuls to Watch for on Team USA

LOS ANGELES, CA- As the Olympics kick off in Rio different teams from around the world get ready to take their mark. 

Team USA

Despite a myriad of problems facing the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, young athletes from around the world are focused on one thing and one thing only—winning the gold.  Here’s a look at a few shining stars on Team USA:

Gabby is back.

The U.S Olympic gymnastics team is more diverse this year. Gabby Douglas, Simone Biles and Laurie Hernandez were selected to be on Team USA in gymnastic competition. Douglas and Biles are both African American and Hernandez is the first Latina to compete since 2004. USA Today says this team is a reflection of what America really looks like.

In 2012 Douglas was a part of the Fierce Five Olympic team in London. She was the first African American woman to win the all-around championship title. She also won a silver medal in the world championship last year.

Blies is the first African American woman to win three world championships in a row.  Over  the years, she won 14 world championship medals.  Her wins didn’t come easy. She was born to a mother addicted to drugs and alcohol. At a young age, Blies was placed in foster care and when she was six her grandparents adopted her. She pushed through her hardships and has become a champion.

Hernandez is the first Puerto Rican to compete on Team USA. She started gymnastics when she was five years-old and has had the same coach.  Not only is she the first Puerto Rican but, Hernandez is also the youngest, she just turned 16 in June. She is known as the human emoji because of her versatile facials throughout her performances.

Each of the girls on the team this year are unique. They have different body builds, hair textures and eye colors. A diverse team like this, helps to inspire youth from different backgrounds because they see people who look like them. Back in 2012 a young girl named Mya and her father Marshall attended Gabby Douglas’ tryouts in San Jose. The young girl was ecstatic because Douglas looked like her. Mya began to mimic Douglas’ floor routine. She told her father that she was going to be the next Gabby Douglas.  A couple months later, Mya met Douglas backstage.

Today Mya is a four-time competitive gymnast. Douglas said she never thought she would be this influential to African American girls in the community but it’s amazing. Team USA is scheduled to compete on Sunday, August 7th.

 

Each of the girls on the team this year are unique. They have different body builds, hair textures and eye colors. A diverse team like this, helps to inspire youth from different backgrounds because they see people who look like them. Back in 2012 a young girl named Mya and her father Marshall attended Gabby Douglas’ tryouts in San Jose. The young girl was ecstatic because Douglas looked like her. Mya began to mimic Douglas’ floor routine. She told her father that she was going to be the next Gabby Douglas.  A couple months later, Mya met Douglas backstage.

Today Mya is a four-time competitive gymnast. Douglas said she never thought she would be this influential to African American girls in the community but it’s amazing. Team USA is scheduled to compete on Sunday, August 7th. NBC.  Check local listings for event times.

By Angel Johnson

Contributions made by: USA Today, Romper

Photo: Team USA

EDUCATE YOURSELF

http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/gymnastics

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/gymnastics

A New Iron Man

NORTHRIDGE, CA–Marvel continues to become more diverse. 

CNBC

The next Iron Man will actually be a black woman. Robert Downey Jr. tweeted his support for the new Iron Man. He said, get ready for a new generation of Marvel.

Over the past few years, Marvel comics have become more diverse. There has been a Muslim Ms. Marvel, an Asian Hulk and a biracial Spider-Man.

Writers still need to figure out what the new Iron Man’s superhero name will be. But her real name is Riri Williams. She is a 15-year old girl who built her own Iron suit in her dorm at MIT.

Marvel writer Brian Michael Bendis was inspired to create the Williams’ Iron Man character when he was working in Chicago. There was an idea for a show about a girl who grew up in a rough neighborhood. She faced many hardships that could have easily ended her life. Luckily, she was able to go to college and pursue her education.

placesyoullsee.com

The show didn’t air but, Bendis wanted to create Williams. He said, she is the modern version of what a superhero or superheroine looks like.

Writers are currently merging three storylines together. Tony Stark is facing many hardships himself. His best friend died, his company is falling apart, and he is in the process of finding out who his real parents are.

Stark is the type of character who avoids conflict, so it’s hard for him to cope with everything going on. One way he tries to distract himself is by working with the Avengers.

Stark also hears that Ms. Williams is  flying around in an uncompleted iron suit. So he tracks her down to see what she’s up to. Stark is intrigued by her intellect. She is only 15-years old and has accomplished so much. Williams also has a different view on things, which gives her iron suit a unique touch.

All of these events create the path for Williams to take Stark’s place. Writers say fans are going to have to wait for the end of the comic, Civil War II and see how that will play out. The comic will be released this Fall.

By Angel Johnson

Contributions made by: Time Magazine, and Marvel

Photo: CNBC

EDUCATE YOURSELF

http://marvel.com/comics

http://www.dccomics.com/

http://www.hypable.com/marvels-cinematic-diversity-problem/