Showing posts with label Rio Olympics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rio Olympics. Show all posts

Saturday, August 20, 2016

NJ Boxer Shakur Stevenson wins silver medal.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Olympic boxer Shakur Stevenson didn't win the gold medal but he still made us in his home state of New Jersey proud. Shakur lost the gold medal match to Cuba's Robeisy Ramirez in a split decision of their three round fight (2-1). He will be bringing a silver medal back to his hometown of Newark NJ.

Shakur was distraught after the fight and believed that he let everyone down. The young man didn't let anyone down and we here in NJ are all proud of him. He is the first American man to bring back a boxing medal since 2004 and has a promising future ahead.

Today he didn't come out on top but he will be a champion at the next level one day. The silver medal is just the beginning of a long journey. American fighters like Michael Carbajal (5X Champion), Virgil Hill (4X champion), and Riddick Bowe (1x undisputed heavyweight champion) all won a silver medal and went on to have great careers.

Something tells me Shakur will join that list.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Thursday, August 18, 2016

While some hated on Gabby Douglas, Ryan Lochte became a national embarrassment

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com [EMAIL]

Last week many online denizens took it upon themselves to criticize Gabby Douglass for forgetting to place her hand over her heart during the playing of the national anthem after the USA Gymnastics team won the all around competition. People had heart attacks and conniptions (WTF is a conniption; he) about how unpatriotic Douglas was and how aloof she had become.

Some criticized Gabby for not seemingly fully embracing her teammate and the phenomenon that is Simone Biles, and then others, of course, went after her hair because they have absolutely no life.

So those same people that went after Gabby should be ready with the torches and pitchforks to go after Ryan Lochte who along with a few Olympic teammates embarrassed the United States by making up a false story of being robbed. They made up the story to cover the fact that while in a drunken state they had vandalized a gas station.

Let's be clear here, Lochte and crew exhibited thuggish behavior while in their drunken state and destroyed property. That's not boys being boys that's thugs being thugs.

Some are saying "the boys" mad a mistake and that a simple apology can make everything okay and others are already trying to cover up for Lochte and his crew.

We have to understand that these kids were trying to have fun,” IOC Rio Games spokesperson Mario Andrada said. “They came here; they represent their country to the best of their ability. They train for years. They competed under gigantic pressure. I understand they’re under investigation. I can’t go much further into the details."

“But let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret. Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all times. They had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on.”

That's some BS right there. Ryan Lochte is 32 years old, he's not a kid by any stretch of the imagination. The man is a national embarrassment and while stripping him of his medals away may be extreme taking the prize money that goes with them is not. There should be a price for acting like a hooligan while you are representing your country. These miscreants took the spotlight off all that is great about Team USA and became the ugly Americans the world hates.

So, if what Gabby did got your dander up you should be downright livid right now, you should be seeing red, and your panties should be in a bunch.

If you were angry at Gabby and not at Ryan I have to wonder why. I mean what could be the difference between Gabby and Ryan? Both are Olympic athletes who have won multiple medals. Both represent the USA.

I mean what could possibly be the difference? (That's a rhetorical question people)

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Ibtihaj Muhammad and team win bronze medal

Earlier this week Ibtihaj Muhammad became known for making history as the first American woman to wear a hijab during Olympic competition. Now she along with her her fencing team have a medal to show that they belonged with the world's best.

Maplewood NJ native Ibtihaj Muhammad failed in her attempt at an individual medal at the Rio Olympics she didn't give up. Along with her teammates Dagmara Wozniak, Monica Aksamit, and Mariel Zagunis Team USA defeated Italy 45-30 in the bronze medal bout of the team sabre event.

"This has been a long journey for us," Muhammad said. This is six years in the making. We've worked so hard for this, and to be able to compete at the level that we've worked towards, on the world's biggest stage at the Olympic Games, is truly a blessing for us."

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Team USA fencer Daryl Homer wins silver medal

Daryl Homer, the son of a single mother from the Virgin Islands who became fascinated by fencing when he saw a picture of two fencers in a children’s dictionary at the age of 5, became the first American to win a silver medal in men’s individual sabre in 112 years Wednesday night at the Olympic Games.

Homer, 26, the 2015 world silver medalist who is ranked 10th in the world, lost the gold medal match to longtime rival Aron Szilagyi of Hungary, 15-8. Szilagyi also won the gold in London four years ago, where Homer finished sixth.

“I’m just very, very pleased,” Homer said. “Just happy to be on the podium, happy that I competed, happy that I left it all out there. I think I just overthought the match a little bit, got a little of the heebie-jeebies.”

Homer became the first U.S. man to win an Olympic medal in individual sabre since Peter Westbrook, who won the bronze at the boycotted 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Like Westbrook, Homer is black, a rarity in the sport.

[SOURCE]

Michelle Carter: First American woman to win gold medal in shot put

Michelle Carter, who calls herself the “Shot Diva,” unleashed a Herculean final throw in the women’s shot put competition Friday night in Rio to take home the first-ever gold medal by an American woman in the event.

Carter, 30, heaved her last shot 20.63 meters to surpass and upset two-time defending gold medalist Valeri Adams of New Zealand. Adams had set the distance to beat, 20.42, and Carter’s first five throws had ranged from 19.12 to 19.87. But she came up big on her last attempt.

Carter had never medaled at the Olympics, but took bronze at the 2015 World Championships, and won gold at the 2016 World Indoor Championships.

Carter is the daughter of former NFL defensive lineman Michael Carter. Michael won a silver medal in the shot put in 1984 in Los Angeles, and won the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in the same year. He is the only person to win an Olympic medal and a Super Bowl in the same year.

Michelle’s gold also makes her and her father the first American father-daughter duo to medal at the Olympics.

[SOURCE]

Friday, August 12, 2016

Simone Manuel: First African-American woman to medal in an individual swimming event.

Simone Manuel won a gold medal in the women's 100 freestyle final Thursday night, surprising even herself.

Her jaw dropped as she looked up to the scoreboard and saw a tie for gold and an Olympic-record time of 52.70 seconds. A FINA official confirmed that Manuel is the first African American woman to win Olympic gold in an individual event.

The last time an American woman won gold in the event was 1984, when Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also tied.

This is the first tie for a gold medal since Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall Jr. did it in the 50 free in Sydney in 2000.

[SOURCE]

Sunday, August 07, 2016

Black Olympian Spotlight: Jenny Arthur, Weightlifting


Other Black Olympians: Shakur Stevenson boxer, Colton Brown wrestler

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio who wont get as much publicity as a Serena Williams or the USA men's basketball team. I would like to introduce to you to weightlifter Jenny Arthur.

Weight class: 69kg
Height: 5'5
What year did you being lifting? October 2009
How did you get involved? I started lifting to improve in other sports.
Favorite Competition Lift? Clean and Jerk 
Favorite Training Lift? Snatch off the blocks
Education: I want to major in Child Development.
Personal Goals: I feel my talents are a complete gift from God so my goals are to use them with the best of my ability.
Favorite Food: Chinese Food
Favorite Book: Bible
Favorite TV Show: Extreme Home Makeover
Favorite song that gets you motivated: Victory By Yolanda Adams
Hobbies/Interested outside of Weightlifting: Spending time with family/friends,Track and Field,Tennis, Softball and reading magazines.
Most people don’t know that….I want to volunteer at many different homeless shelters across the world.

Saturday, August 06, 2016

Black Olympian Spotlight: Colton Brown, Wrestler

Other Black Olympians: Jenny Arthur weightlifting,Shakur Stevenson boxer

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio who wont get as much publicity as a Serena Williams or the USA men's basketball team. I would like to introduce you to Piscataway, N.J. wrestler, Colton Brown.

Ranked No. 27 in the world, Brown earns his first Olympic team selection riding a wave of progress, including winning a silver medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships after fifth-place finishes the prior two years. The 24-year-old has won world cup or continental open medals on five continents, including five medals on four continents in 2015. He won the Pan American U-20 title in 2010.





2015
Oceania Open Wollongong – BRONZE
European Open Glasgow – SILVER
Pan American Open San Salvador – GOLD
Pan American Senior Championships – BRONZE
Pan American Open Buenos Aires – BRONZE
Pan American Open Montevideo – 5th Place
Pan American Open Santiago – 5th Place
African Open Tunis – SILVER
2014
NCAA National Championships - GOLD
Pan American Open, Montevideo - BRONZE
Pan American Open, Santiago - BRONZE
Pan American Championships - 5th Place
2013
NCAA National Championships - GOLD
US Senior National Championships - SILVER
Miami Grand Prix - BRONZE
Pan American Open, San Salvador - SILVER

Friday, August 05, 2016

Black Olympian Spotlight: Shakur Stevenson, boxer


Other Black Olympians: Jenny Arthur weightlifting, Colton Brown wrestler

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. I would like to start of with someone who is from Newark NJ which is right next door to me. That person would be boxer Shakur Stevenson, who many believe gives the United States a good chance at earning it's first gold medal in boxing in 12 years.

Shakur is the oldest of nine siblings and loves being a big brother...He proudly represents his hometown of Newark, N.J., and wants to bring something positive to the city that built him....Shakur began boxing at age five after his grandfather Wali Moses introduced him to the sport and he's been there ever since....He's known for shadowboxing all the time every where he goes. His grandfather jokes that he knew Shakur was awake as a kid because he'd hear that sounds of him shadow boxing...He's named after rapper Tupac Shakur...He's looking to follow in the footsteps of his idol and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal Andre Ward....Shakur has a perfect 23-0 international record and is the first American male to win junior and youth world titles and a Youth Olympic Games gold medal

Sport: Boxing
Discipline(s): Boxing
Weight Class: Bantamweight
Height: 5-8
Weight: 123 lbs
DOB: 6/28/1997
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Team/Club: Alexandria Boxing Club
Coach(es): Kay Koroma and Wali Moses
Olympic Experience
  • 2016 U.S. OLYMPIAN
World Championship Experience
  • 2014 YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • 2013 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Youth Championship Experience
  • 2014 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES GOLD MEDALIST
Other Career Highlights
  • AMERICAS OLYMPIC QUALIFIER GOLD MEDALIST
  • WORLD SERIES OF BOXING BOXER OF THE WEEK
  • OLYMPIC TRIALS CHAMPION AND OUTSTANDING BOXER
  • TWO-TIME YOUTH OPEN CHAMPION
  • 2013 JUNIOR OPEN AND JUNIOR OLYMPIC CHAMPION


Friday, July 22, 2016

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.”

Saturday, July 02, 2016

Usain Bolt injured before 2016 Summer Olympics

Six-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has suffered an injury ahead of Rio after tearing a hamstring at Jamaica's Olympic trials.

Bolt, 29, sustained the grade-one tear during the first round of the 100m and withdrew after winning his semi-final.

He is still expected to defend his 100 and 200m titles as Jamaica's selection policy allows medical exemptions.

Statement from Usain Bolt:

“After feeling discomfort in my hamstring after the first round last night and then again in the semi-final tonight I was examined by the Chief Doctor of the National Championships and diagnosed with a Grade 1 tear. I have submitted a medical exemption to be excused from the 100m final and the remainder of the National Championships. I will seek treatment immediately and hope to show fitness at the London Anniversary Games on July 22 to earn selection for the Olympic Games in Rio”.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Meet Ibtihaj Muhammad: USA Fencing Team

I was talking to my daughter while we were getting something to eat and the store owner had up a picture of Ibtihaj Muhammad, a local and successful fencer from Maplewood NJ who is on the US National Team headed to the Rio Olympics. I asked my daughter if she knew who it was and she guessed that it might be one of Muhammad Ali's children. My wife and I laughed and then explained to her who it was. My daughter wondered how was she supposed to know who she was if nobody told her. I thought about that and decided she's quite right, so everybody meet Ibtihaj Muhammad.

HOMETOWN: Maplewood, N.J.

BIRTH YEAR: 1985

A five-time Senior World team medalist and 2014 Senior World Team Champion, Muhammad will make history in Rio as the first U.S. woman compete in the Olympic Game in hijab. Ranked as high as No. 7 in the world during the 2015-16 season, Muhammad has won both individual and team medals on the World Cup circuit.

Learn more about Ibihaj Muhammad: http://www.usfencing.org/page/show/700219-ibtihaj-muhammad