Wilberforce University set to begin third HBCU gymnastics program in the nation

Wilberforce will launch its first women’s gymnastics team in partnership with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG). BGDG’s mission is to provide access, coaching, training, and other forms of support to athletes.

This expansion follows the announcement of the university’s new women’s soccer and volleyball programs.

“The introduction of a gymnastics team aligns with our commitment to provide inclusive athletic programs and highlights our belief in the power of diversity in sports and empowering future generations of gymnasts,” said President Dr. Vann R. Newkirk.

This joint venture, in conjunction with the HBCU Gymnastics Alliance, signifies the expansion of athletic opportunities at HBCUs nationwide

In honoring this commitment, BGDG and Wilberforce University will host Camp Isla™ this summer. The gymnastics camp is scheduled to take place on campus June 20-23, 2024.

The new Wilberforce team will begin competing in January 2026.

Simone Biles to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is among 17 civilians who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced Friday.

At the age of 25, Biles will become the youngest athlete ever to receive the honor.

Recognized as the nation’s highest civilian honor, the award is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

Biles, the most decorated American gymnast in history, has won a combined 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. In recent years, she’s become a prominent advocate for athletes’ mental health and safety, children in the foster care system, and victims of sexual assault.

The awards will be presented at the White House on July 7.

Complete list of recipients:

Simone Biles

Sister Simone Campbell

Dr. Julieta García

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

Fred Gray

Steve Jobs

Father Alexander Karloutsos

Khizr Khanis

Sandra Lindsayis

John McCain

Diane Nash

Megan Rapinoe

Alan Simpson

Richard Trumka

Wilma Vaught

Denzel Washington

Raúl Yzaguirre

Trinity Thomas Wins All-Around title at NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships

Florida senior Trinity Thomas scored a perfect 10 on her closing floor exercise to edge Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee for the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships all-around title on Thursday.

Thomas, a former U.S. national team member became the fourth Gator to win the all-around in the past decade. She also added uneven bars and floor titles to her all-around crown.

"I feel absolutely amazing," said Thomas, who finished with an all-around total of 39.8125, just ahead of Lee at 39.675 and Florida teammate Megan Skaggs at 39.6625. "I've been working through this ever since I got to school and just having a few setbacks, you know, I kept fighting. And to finally do it this time is literally a blessing."

Watch her winning floor exercise below:

Fisk University Launches First HBCU Intercollegiate Women’s Artistic Gymnastic Team

Fisk University is delighted to announce the launch of the first HBCU Intercollegiate Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team. Woman’s gymnastics exemplifies the values of Fisk University: determination, excellence, and a commitment to a more just and equitable future. These values have consistently been at the forefront of women’s gymnastics and Fisk could not be more excited to welcome these remarkable student-athletes to the campus starting this coming fall. Fisk University has always been recognized for its commitment to academic excellence and social justice. In recent years, the University has focused on increasing its athletic profile considering the growing interest among student-athletes for an elite HBCU experience. With NBA legend Kenny Anderson and former Soccer star Desmond Armstrong as well as an outstanding woman’s volleyball program under Coach Jessica Enderle, Fisk is poised to develop elite national programs.

Fisk University has built remarkable momentum in recent years said, President Vann Newkirk. The University is committed to preparing the next generation of leaders and c-suite executives. Student-Athletes depend on an institution that enables them to translate their unique skills to professional success. Fisk’s many corporate partners are excited about the talent pipelines and the programming that has been put in place to maximize the potential of our students and our student-athletes. The recent announcement of Fisk’s partnership with the Los Angeles Lakers adds another opportunity for Fisk students to excel in the sports industry. In anticipation of this women’s gymnastics announcement, Fisk University has already begun securing scholarship funding for these future student-athletes. Fisk University also plans to host several conferences, clinics, and invitationals in partnership with organizations like Brown Girls do Gymnastics.

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Dianne Durham, first Black national gymnastics champion, to be inducted into USAG Hall of Fame

USA Gymnastics announced Friday that Dianne Durham, the first Black woman to win a USA Gymnastics national championship and a gymnastics instructor in Chicago, will be a member of its Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

Durham, who died in February at age 52, was a pioneer in American gymnastics. Her victory in the all-around at the 1983 national championships as a teenager was the first by a Black woman.

An injury prevented her from competing in the 1984 Olympic Trials.

“I think between her and Mary Lou Retton, they felt they introduced more of a power gymnastics,” Durham’s husband, Tom Drahozal, told the Associated Press in February. “Dianne was a pioneer for Black gymnasts as well. ... She paved the way for others.”

After her career in competition ended, Durham went on to own Skyline Gymnastics in Chicago and was a gymnastics instructor at Morgan Park Academy Summer Camp.

[SOURCE: CHICAGO SUN TIMES]

Dominique Dawes: First African American Olympic gymnastics medalist

Before Simone Biles and Gabby Douglass there was Dominique Dawes.

Born on November 20, 1976, in Silver Spring, Maryland, Dominique Dawes began taking gymnastics lessons at age 6. She participated in the Olympic Games as part of the U.S. women's gymnastics team in 1992, 1996 and 2000, winning a team medal each time. In 1996, Dawes's team won Olympic gold and Dawes won an individual bronze medal—becoming the first African American to win an individual Olympic medal in women's gymnastics. She retired from gymnastics after the 2000 Games.

Simone Biles breaks gymnastics worlds medals record

Simone Biles will finish the 2019 World Gymnastic Championships with the most medals in history won by any gymnast male or female.

Biles earned a record-breaking 24th and 25th medals, winning the balance beam and floor exercise on the last day of the meet on Sunday. She earned five gold medals alone at these worlds, believed to be the most by one gymnast since Soviets Larisa Latynina and Boris Shakhlin in 1958 (when Latynina was pregnant).

Biles now stands alone in total medals, passing 1990s Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo on Sunday. Biles did it more efficiently than Scherbo, competing one fewer year and with fewer medal chances (women compete on four apparatuses; men six). She already had the career gold medals record and upped it to 19 on Sunday.

[SOURCE: NBC SPORTS]

Simone Biles Wins Fifth All-Around World Championship Medal

Simone Biles is a step closer to being the greatest gymnast ever to have competed in the World Gymnastics Championships.

Biles won her fifth world all-around title by dominating the field at the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. With the win, she now holds 22 world medals.

Biles, 22, scored 58.999 points, ESPN reported, putting her 2.1 points ahead of the second place finisher, China’s Tang Xijing — and marking the biggest margin of victory of her career.

“I don’t know; I feel like it’s not me,” Biles said after her win, per the Times. “Sometimes I wonder how I do it. I feel like it’s just, like, not me. I wish I could have like an out-of-body experience to witness it, because sometimes I think I’m going crazy.”

“I really don’t know how I do it sometimes,” she added.

Simone Biles just became the first gymnast to land a double-double dismount

22-year-old, Simone Biles became the first gymnast to ever attempt and land a double-twisting, double somersault dismount off the balance beam, according to Team USA.

The five-time Olympic medalist and 14-time world champion completed the move on Friday at the 2019 US Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. Watch her spectacular moment below.

Simone Biles wins every gold medal at U.S. Championships

Simone Biles, in the second meet of her comeback, won her record fifth U.S. all-around title and swept the four apparatus titles, combining scores from Friday and Sunday at TD Garden.

She never thought it would be possible, but she also wants to work on pre-meet nerves, consistency and confidence.

“I’d give it a B-plus,” Biles told Andrea Joyce on NBC.

The four-time Rio Olympic gold medalist became the first woman to win all five golds at the national gymnastics championships since Dominique Dawes in 1994.

She won the all-around by 6.55 points over 2017 World all-around champion Morgan Hurd, the largest margin since the perfect-10 system was thrown out in 2006. That gap is larger than that separating Hurd from the 11th-place gymnast.

“I knew I was capable of [scoring this well], but I kind of thought I was going to be a nervous wreck and maybe fall apart,” said Biles, who wore a teal mint leotard in part to stand with fellow Larry Nassar sexual-abuse survivors (teal ribbons were worn at NCAA meets in the winter and spring). “Going into these events, I know I kept telling my family like I don’t know if I’m going to be able to calm myself down the way I did before and handle the nerves, but so far, so good.”

[SOURCE: NBC SPORTS]

Simone Biles admits that she was molested by USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasar

All around Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles stepped forward Monday to allege she also was abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Biles joins 140 other women who have accused Nassar of abuse in his roles at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State. Read her statement below:

Simone Biles welcome home celebration

Gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles returned to Texas on Wednesday, and received a huge welcome after she touched down at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Mayor Sylvester Turner, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and other community leaders, along with the Texans Cheerleaders, family, friends and fans all gathered to show Biles a warm welcome. Watch video of the event below.

Barbie® Unveils One-of-a-Kind Doll Honoring Gabby Douglas

(Black PR Wire) EL SEGUNDO, Calif., - Barbie® honors Gabby Douglas, U.S. Women’s Artistic and Olympic Gold Gymnast (2012 London), by unveiling a one-of-a-kind doll in her likeness to remind girls they can be anything.

The 20-year-old athlete is a force to be reckoned with as she heads to Rio to defend her title. At just 16, Douglas was the first woman of color to win the individual all-around competition for gymnastics. Her confidence, work ethic and belief in herself make her an extraordinary role model to girls.

Named the next Barbie “Shero” honoree, a female hero inspiring girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere, Douglas joins an esteemed group of women including Misty Copeland, Ava DuVernay, Emmy Rossum, Eva Chen, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya, all who have also received the highest honor from the Barbie brand – being immortalized in plastic.

“I love a challenge. I love to push limits and I love that my very own Barbie celebrates me for being a role model to girls,” said Douglas. “Being honored as a Barbie Shero further motivates me to inspire girls by being the best I can be.”

The fashions for the doll were inspired by Douglas’ own signature GK leotard line that she wears while training hard in the gym. Dressed in a red, white and blue Gabby GK Elite leotard, the doll comes complete with a Nike warm-up suit. The doll is fully articulated, allowing her to do almost all of the moves Gabby performs.

“Playing with Barbie allows girls to imagine everything they can become," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "While imagining you can be anything is the first step, seeing that you can is what makes all the difference. Role models like Gabby Douglas show girls that with determination and perseverance their potential is limitless.”

Gabby Douglas wins American Cup

The world championships silver medal should have been enough to erase any doubt in Gabby Douglas’ comeback.

Yes, the reigning Olympic all-around gold medalist is trying to do what has been a sometimes insurmountable task for many talented gymnasts – come back for a second Olympics. And Douglas isn’t coming back for some sort of participation ribbon.

But in case any doubts lingered, she put more to rest on Saturday.

Now 20, Douglas wants to achieve more in the Olympics. She set herself on that path by winning the American Cup at the Prudential Center, earning her first trip to the top of the podium since winning the Olympic all-around in London in 2012.

“From the bottom of my heart, I really believe that I can achieve more,” Douglas said. “And it’s just not for the wrong intentions. I’m like, ‘Guys, I’m back. I’m serious.’ I feel like gradually and the more and more I keep proving that, I really hope that people believe it.”

Read more: Gabby Douglas wins American Cup, proves her push for Olympics is real

Simone Biles and Gabby Douglas Take Gold and Silver at World Championships

Simone Biles came to the World Championships without a rival the last three years. She’ll leave them peerless in gymnastics history.

Biles became the first woman to win three straight World all-around titles, prevailing by 1.083 points over Olympic champion Gabby Douglas in Glasgow, Scotland, on Thursday. It’s the largest margin of victory of her three titles.

Douglas, who also struggled on beam, earned silver after taking two years off following her Olympic all-around title. Douglas is the first Olympic women’s all-around champion to come back and earn a Worlds all-around medal since 1981.

“I’ll take it,” said Douglas, who last year roomed with Biles at her first national team camp since the Olympics. “I really wanted to prove everyone that my comeback was real. It wasn’t fake. It wasn’t for the fame.”

[SOURCE]