Category Archives: Olympics

This article was produced byNational Geographic Traveller (UK).

Pinned by the Eiffel Tower, threaded by the Seine and punctuated by grand gardens that are multiplying as part of the citys bid to become one of Europes greenest, Paris is among the worlds most impressive destinations. Here are 17 ways to discover the City of Lights this summer.

Battery-powered cars have become an increasingly popular sight in Paris over the last decade all part of the citys plan to outlaw all but e-vehicles by 2030. In a vintage Renault 4L, retrofitted by tour company 4 Roues Sous 1 Parapluie with a specially designed battery, you can slip silently between the honey-coloured apartments and cast iron balconies of the eighth arrondissement, the vast alabaster arch of the Arc de Triomphe and the broad, latticed feet of the Eiffel Tower, close enough to see the cogs rotating. This year, it will have been 100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympics in 1924, and the tower is being repainted gold closer to the colour Gustave Eiffel originally chose to mark the occasion.

Off Paris Seine is one of few ways travellers can live on the water in the city.

Photograph by Ludivine Le Cornec (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Nicolas Anetson (Bottom) (Right)

(Paris is going electric for a new perspective on the city, take a low-carbon car tour.)

July to September, Paris embraces beach mode, carving out waterfront stretches of its emblematic river and canals for temporary urban beaches - complete with deckchairs, potted palm trees, ice-cream sellers and entertainment. At Htel de Ville (City Hall), quays along the Seine between Pont dArcole and Pont Neuf buzz with outdoor, family-friendly action such as a mini via ferrata, football, giant chess, plus sun-loungers between potted palm trees and ptanque. Across the water on the left bank, soak up urban beach life on the stretch of beach between Pont dAlma and Pont de la Concorde. The Paris Plages prime swimming hub is Bassin de la Villette - until 2025, when three open-water swimming spots will open for summers in the Seine: at Bras Marie beneath Pont Marie (4e), by the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir footbridge in Bercy (12e), and at Port de Grenelle (15e).

Moored at the foot of the Gare dAusterlitz in central Paris, bobbing gently in the wake of each passing barge, Off Paris Seine offers one of the very few ways in the city to live the life aquatic. Lying low on the surface of the water low enough for the rivers waves to wash against the walls the 58 floating rooms here face the city or the Seine, taking inspiration from the natural setting with plenty of warm woods, and accenting them with bright pops of gold and neon orange. The latter takes a maximalist turn in the designer Sunset suite, where everything, from the four-poster bed to the bathtub, is the same vibrant tangerine hue. Come the evening, enjoy a plate of roast octopus with pepper cream beside the pool on the sheltered restaurant terrace, close enough to the water to see shoals of tiny fish rippling across the surface, and watch the tales of the riverbank unfold. From 230 (197) for a quay-view double, B&B.

No licence is needed to take in the beauty of the city from an electric boat.

Photograph by Marin deau Douche

Life moves slowly on the banks of the Bassin de la Villette. The largest artificial lake in Paris a former industrial port 20 minutes walk northeast of the Gare de lEst is a place where cormorants bob atop yellow buoys and pet dogs trot in the shade of tall trees. Parisians come here to practice their ptanque and picnic on crusty baguette, legs dangling over the edge of the water. One of the best ways to take it all in is out on the water in an electric boat. From Marin DEau Douces marina on its southern end, you can journey north at barely walking pace, your soundtrack the lapping of the waves, the distant clinking of glasses and the tinny music of the carousel that sometimes appears on its banks. Youll know when youve reached the Parc de la Villette, with its metallic orb-shaped cinema, and the Canal de LOurcq, the banks of which form an al fresco gallery for street artists. Three hours e-boat rental for five from 110 (94); no licence required.

Its late summer and the sun is filtering through the clouds, spotlighting the bathers snoozing in their deckchairs in fluffy, white bathrobes, as swimmers paddle languidly back and forth.The frenetic pace of the city slows in the 16th arrondissement beside the pool of the Molitor, sheltered from the street on all sides by its tall, canary-yellow walls. When it opened in 1929, it was much as it is now: a place where Parisians could escape and sip glasses of Chablis between the palms part urban oasis, part social club.

All sorts of events, from artists galas to beauty contests, were held here. At one time, a tobacconist and even a hair salon fringed its borders. It was known for being an avant-garde place. Perhaps most famously, French designer Louis Rard unveiled the first bikini here in 1946. His design was considered so scandalous that no model would wear it, so he had to turn to an exotic dancer for its poolside debut.

When it opened in 1929, the Molitor was a place where Parisians could escape and sip glasses of Chablis between the palms now it sits within a hotel.

Photograph by Sebastien Giraud, Alamy

But by the 1970s, cracks began to show literally, with chlorine eroding the concrete. The pool closed in 1989, no longer able to fund its vision of extravagant lifestyle, and graffiti artists washed in as its waters drained away. For years, the Molitor lay derelict a landmark transformed into a backdrop for underground raves. But its story didnt end there.

By 2014, it was restored and reopened its doors as a hotel. Those same artists that had instilled beauty into its earlier neglect were invited back, this time to add the finishing touches to the lobby where a graffiti-splashed Rolls-Royce now sits and wall murals.

There are 124 rooms, designed to emulate the feel of an ocean liner; portholes overlook the watery scene below, with the swimmers, snoozers and croque monsieur-ers. After the piscine was rebuilt, it made its Hollywood debut in The Life of Pi. And with bikinis back at the Molitor, the Parisians flooded back, too. Doubles from 330 (283), B &B. Day pass, including room access, from 290 (248) for two.

Piscine Josphine Baker

Swim on the river rather than in it at this pool, named after the legendary Jazz Age performer. Its set on a permanently moored barge, floating on the Seine in the 13th arrondissement not far from the Bastille. The glass roof retracts in good weather, allowing for sunbathing on deck. Alongside the main pool, theres a paddling pool for children, as well as solariums, saunas, a gym and changing rooms.

Piscine Roger le Gall

To the east of the capital, in the 12th arrondissement, the 164ft Roger Le Gall pool is part of a sports complex, with a retractable roof so that swimming becomes al fresco on sunny summer days. Its named after a French resistance fighter, and has rolling lawns for sunbathing and dedicated sessions each month for naturists.

Piscine de la Butte-aux-Cailles

One of Pariss rare listed pool complexes, Butte-aux-Cailles in the southern 13th arrondissement opened its doors in 1924. The main indoor pool still has its art deco arches, while there are also two outdoor ones. Theyre all open year-round, kept warm at a toasty 28C thanks to the complexs natural sulphur spring.

Tour guide Ana Gimena takes visitors on a historical excursion of the city, concluding in the garden of the Petit Palais.

Photograph by Amelia Duggan (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Ludovic Balay, Getty Images (Bottom) (Right)

Its easy to slip back in time in Paris; pockets of the gilded belle epoque have been preserved throughout the city centre, casting a spell on most who walk the capitals streets. This golden age of bohemia, optimism and technological progress flourished in the peaceful years between 1871 and the start of the Second World War. To find its legacy, you need only pay a visit to restaurants like Bouillon Chartier, a timewarp workers bistro built with breathtaking flamboyance in 1896, where tables are shared and uniformed waiters still tally the bill on the tablecloth. The Grand Palais, Alexandre III Bridge, Muse dOrsay and Galeries Lafayette are products of this period, too.

Many walking tours cater for those wanting to immerse themselves in the era; family-friendly guide Ana Gimena dresses for the era on her tours around the galleries of the Petit Palais and the esplanades around the Seine. Or try the Visit Montmartre with Hysterical Feminists tour by Feminists in the City to learn the stories of embattled and half-forgotten female figures from the gilded period.

(Does Paris's belle poque appeal live up to the hype?)

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism in the city where it all began. Monet, Czanne, Bonnard and many more ventured to the French capital to find inspiration in its skies and landscapes. A stroll along the Seine, along with a visit to the Gardens of Versailles, Tuileries Garden and Luxembourg Gardens will provide great backgrounds for a painting session with Rola Cusson, a tour guide and art teacher with a studio on La Grande Jatte the setting of Seurats 1884 painting A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. For contemporary art, 59 Rivoli is a former artists squat-turned-gallery and exhibition space that hosts free concerts every Saturday and Sunday.

For a non-touristy Paris morning, stroll along the Seine's Left Bank and take in the half-mile outdoor gallery.

Photograph by Jonathan Stokes

Tracking down mosaics by Pariss anonymous street artist, Invader, means ducking and diving around streets, squares and courtyards off travellers usual radar. To add to the 23 million flashes validated since 2014, download the FlashInvaders app and snap each pixelated piece you find: space aliens inspired by the 1978 arcade game, but also pop culture figures such as Bugs Bunny, Cinderella, Mario, Picasso, Nina Simone. Score 100 points apiece with Pariss highest (on the Eiffel Tower), biggest (at Place Igor Stravinsky) and most recent (Invaders 1500th Parisian mosaic, atop a blue rooftop pipe at Centre Pompidou), which was erected in February 2024.

Stroll along the Seines Left Bank, between the Pont de Sully and Pont dAusterlitz bridges, and youll encounter an outdoor gallery stretching for almost half a mile along the waterfront. Opened in 1980, within the Jardin Tino Rossi, the Muse de la Sculpture en Plein Air is still in immaculate shape, displaying remarkably graffiti-free works by 20th-century artists including Csar, Constantin Brancusi, Nicolas Schffer and mile Gilioli. Some pieces are set proudly along the quayside, like oversized mooring posts, while others are weathering gently among the prettily planted gardens patchworked along the riverside, bothered only by the occasional jogger, dog walker and pedestrian commuter, plus a rare tourist or two.

Standout pieces include Demeurre 1, a bold, blackened bronze gathering of totemic structures created by Etienne Martin in the 1950s, and La Grande Fenetre, by Cuban artist Augustin Cardenas. The latter creates a gleaming white marble waterfront window through which to watch the open-roof bateaux mouche tourist boats chug by. On weekend evenings during the summer months, the sculptures become a backdrop for couples practising tango in the small amphitheatres carved into the Quai Saint-Bernard promenade.

New bike lanes in the city means getting around on two wheels might just rival the Nordics.

Photograph by Jonathan Stokes

With just over 250 miles of cycleways, including 75 miles of brand new lanes, linking the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde and other soon-to-be Olympic venues, exploring Paris by bike has never been so easy. Dedicated bike tracks link up with shared bike-bus lanes and car-free trails for use by both cyclists and pedestrians. The best routes include a loop along the Seine, taking in landmarks like the Louvre and Notre-Dame; a spin along Canal St-Martin, passing 19th-century locks and lift bridges; and an exhilarating urban route along Street Art Avenue to Frances national stadium in Saint-Denis.

The Friday Night Fever skate tour organised by the Pari Rollers association is one of the largest meetups of its kind in the world, offering rollerbladers a fun and fast-paced tour of the capital after dark. The weekly, 13-mile urban skate kicks off at Place Raoul Dautry, regularly attracting upwards of 800 participants, and is geared towards confident skaters rather than first-timers. The atmosphere is like a carnival: as well as impressive feats of skating by seasoned pros, theres music blaring from portable speakers, participants in fancy dress and even parents in the mix with off-road prams. Those who arent confident with rollerblading can join the cyclists, e-scooters and longboarders bringing up the rear of the procession or simply come to watch participants career along the Parisian streets.

(What it's like to party in the French capital with the Pari Rollers.)

The original High Line isnt in New York its in Paris. The Coule Verte Ren-Dumont, or Promenade Plante as its become known, was the worlds first elevated urban park when it opened in the late 1980s, transforming a disused railway viaduct into a linear garden of swaying trees, starlings and reflecting pools. Paris is planning to quite literally become one of Europes greenest capitals, with current mayor Anne Hidalgo promising a massive greening when she was elected, and the plan to plant 170,000 trees by 2026 underway. Simultaneously, attention has turned to La Petite Ceinture, another train line that was abandoned in the 20th century and still circles the city, with some very short stretches open to urban hikers. Parisians are divided on what to do with this ghost line, with some calling to preserve its biodiversity and open up the entire stretch to pedestrians though most of its length is still closed, in part due to still-active electrical lines. For now, while the authorities decide, the Little Belt runs in a broken circle, some of it used for flourishing community gardens and craft fairs, and the rest left to be reclaimed by nature.

(The 'original' High Line is in Paris here's why you should walk it.)

Paris' current mayor Anne Hidalgo made big promises of a massive greening if she was elected. Now the city hopes to be one of Europes greenest capitals.

Photograph by Jonathan Stokes (Top) (Left) and Photograph by Jonathan Stokes (Bottom) (Right)

The eighth-floor terrace of Pariss most venerable department store is where the capitals beautiful young things come to pose with cocktails in summer, backed by Galeries Lafayettes landmark cathedral-like glass dome. Among the sweeping city views, there are other knockouts, too: the Eiffel Tower, Sacr-Coeur and Notre-Dame can all be seen from up here. The terraces pop-up restaurant usually opens for the season around May and runs until the end of September. In previous years, its been hosted by socialite French chef Julien Sebbag, whose vegetarian small plates menu celebrates eastern-Med salads and focaccias such as the courgette-starring Summertime Sadness best paired with a spritz of prosecco, orange blossom, cognac and apricot liqueur.

Tuck into summers bounty of berries, beets and all other manner of fruits and veggies, freshly harvested from Europes largest urban rooftop farm, at Le Perchoir (The Perch) a plant-filled conservatory dining spot crowning Pavilion 6 of the exhibition centre Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The restaurant overlooks Nature Urbaine, a high-tech farm that provides fresh produce to the surrounding 15th arrondissement and some nearby hotels. Produce is grown using aeroponics a soil-free cultivation technique that can minimise irrigation creating an edible Eden in a sky-scraping urban space. Whats grown here enriches the menus at Le Perchoir, which is a hot ticket for DJ-led weekend brunches and cocktail-infused evenings. Order la haut (the top) with gin, citrus shrub, rosemary, Peychauds bitters and house tonic, alongside a summer vegetable vol au vent, and breathe in the heady scent of rooftop-grown herbs.

Galeries Lafayette is as much a Parisian landmark as the Arc De Triomphe, with the added experience of rooftop cocktails.

Photograph by Jonathan Stokes

Once home to Dali, Degas and Van Gough, Pariss bohemian hilltop Montmartre neighbourhood is also the site of the French capitals oldest vineyard. Wine production dwindled in the le-de-France after industrialisation in the 19th century and by the 1950s, Paris was all but shunned by viticulturalists. Today, however, the areas vines are seeing a resurgence. Free from additives, Montmartres grapes are harvested to great fanfare every October during the Fete du Vendanges, and are just one of a booming number of low-intervention wines now being made across the le-de-France. A walking tour of Montmartre with Paris Wine Walks can take vinophiles on a historical romp through the cobbled backstreets around the Sacre Coeur, with a finale tasting session of wines from independent vineyards in Paris and beyond.

(Winemaking in Paris is back, and you can discover its history in Montmartre.)

Book a meal at two-Michelin-starred Le Jules Verne, helmed by French chef Frdric Anton. The second-floor salon sits 410ft above ground, with five- and seven-course tasting menus that include indulgences like souffle of scallops with shellfish butter sauce, caviar and caramelised calf sweetbread.

Bite into the Jardin sur la Seine macaron, a raspberry confection laced with single-origin Millot Plantation Madagascar dark chocolate. Its an exclusive creation for Pariss Iron Lady, by chocolatier-patissiere Pierre Herm, available at the second floors lower-level macaron bar.

Celebrate Pariss seasonal produce, plucked from farms and kitchen gardens around the French capital, with chef Thierry Marxs informal menus at Madame Brasserie, on the towers first floor.

Have a chocolate ice cream, cocktail and more in the open-air Ferri Pavilion terrace on the first floor. Garden seating-style armchairs and sofas create a relaxed space with breezy views across the capital and classic French bistro food.

Get a glass of finest French fizz almost 1,000ft above Pariss streets in the towers little Champagne Bar. Its a bijou dispensary rather than a place to sit; the tipples can be paired with caviar if desired.

From elsewhere in the UK, there are dozens of flights per week to the French capital, including from Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.

To ride Pariss Metro, pick up a contactless Navigo travel card from a RATPsales office or other approved retailer, which offers daily or weekly passes for two travel zones, from 8.65 (7.40). Alternatively, theParis Visite Ticket, which covers zones one to three/one to five, costs from 13.95 (12)/29.25 (25) per day for unlimited travel.

To use Pariss increasing number of cycle lanes to get from A to B, hire a bike from the citys Velib bike-sharing stations.

When to go: Annual temperatures peak in July and August, with daytime highs of around 25C; the city can empty out during August, when locals tend to take summer holidays. Travel in spring or autumn for fewer crowds.

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Paris beyond the Olympics: 17 things to do in the French capital - National Geographic

The Spanish federation is trying to avoid a repeat of what happened with Pedri, who played in 2021 played in the UEFA Euro and the Olympic games one after the other. Many people blame Pedris hectic schedule for subsequent injuries.

Thus, its understood that for Barcelonas newest wunderkinds, they will only play one or the other tournament this year.

Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubars are expected to play only in the Euro, and to avoid playing in the Olympics.

Instead, the Barcelona players who could go for the gold in Paris this summer are Fermn Lpez and Eric Garcia, who is returning from loan to Girona.

However, Fermn still has chances to go to the Euros, having made the initial 57-man pre-list. If that were the case, he would likely not play in the Olympics. Garcia, for his part, will not be at the Euros, unless something changes.

Players who go to the Olympics will not be present in FC Barcelonas USA summer tour in June. However, players who participate in the Euros could be in the tour, if Spain does not make it all the way to the final.

Read this article:

Spain's plans with Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubars & Fermn Lpez for the Euros and Olympic Games - Barca Blaugranes

She also won gold medals both in 2012 and 2016 as part of the Fierce Five and Final Five of the US womens team in artistic gymnastics and nabbed the title of World All-Around silver medallist at the young age of 20.

Recently, she was the oldest gymnast at the US Winter Cup in February, and went head to head with Suni Lee and Simone Biles at the US Classic in May.

Her wins were not only milestone moments for the gymnast herself they marked a significant era in her sport. Douglas is the first African-American to take home the title of individual All-Around Champion at the Olympics and the only American at the time to also bring home the same title for team competitions in 2012.

So what else do we know about her?

Like many American athletes, the 28-year-olds success in the arena translated to fame in pop culture. In the tradition of American Olympians, Douglas appeared on the box of Kelloggs cornflakes cereal, inspiring a whole generation of gymnastic hopefuls.

Her first Olympic golds in London brought with her a slew of adoring fans, which ultimately led her to several projects beyond gymnastics. Her story was turned into a Lifetime film in 2014, dubbed The Gabby Douglas Story, which detailed her meteoric rise to success and the long, gruelling journey that led to it.

At the height of the reality TV era, Douglas also got a deal to star in her own television series, Douglas Family Gold. The show, which launched in 2016, was short-lived and didnt get picked up for a second season after the first six episodes.

But her quest to inspire young fans did not stop there. She penned a memoir Grace, Gold and Glory detailing her trials and tribulations, offering an account of how she came to be one of Americas top gymnasts.

Being an athlete can be demanding, both physically and mentally. In 2022, Douglas shared with her 1.5 million Instagram followers that she would be stepping back from social media to take time to focus on her mental health. Though the star athlete did not go into details as to what exactly triggered the decision, she did reveal in her post that shes been feeling weighed down by physical, emotional and mental stress and saw taking a hiatus from social media as one way to cope with whats most important in her life.

Luckily, earlier this year, she announced her return to social media with a post revealing how she was on a journey to find joy again in the sport she loved dearly.

The elite athlete never officially retired, but she didnt attend the Tokyo Olympics. I didnt want to end this sport how I did in 2016. I wanted to take a step back and work on my mental state, she shared in an interview with NBC. I love gymnastics and love pushing myself I never wanted to walk away on a bad day.

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Gabby Douglas Paris Olympics 2024 comeback but why did she take time off? - Style

Olympic gymnastics champion Gabby Douglas' comeback following an eight-year layoff will take another important step on Saturday at the U.S. Classic.

Douglas, who became the first Black woman to win the Olympic all-around title when she soared to gold at the 2012 London Games, is among a star-studded field that will compete at the XL Center in the last major tuneup before the U.S. Championships.

The meet also includes 2016 Olympic champion Simone Biles and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee as well as Olympic medalists Jade Carey and Jordan Chiles, among others.

Douglas, 28, competed for the first time in eight years at the American Classic in Katy, Texas last month. While there was some noticeable rust, Douglas also showed flashes of why she is intent on making a run at the five-woman U.S. team that will head to Paris as heavy favorites in August.

Travel issues prevented Douglas from landing in Connecticut until early Friday morning. She estimated she got about two hours of sleep but felt it was important to get comfortable on the equipment in her first competition in a large venue since helping the U.S. team win gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

I felt like, so much nostalgia, Douglas said.

Nostalgia will likely give way to jitters when she salutes the judges on Saturday. While she acknowledged there may be more than a few butterflies at the U.S. Classic, she also stressed, it's a really fun moment.

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

A somewhat unexpected one, too. Douglas went on a sabbatical that looked an awful lot like retirement after leaving Rio.

It ended rough for me in 2016 so I didnt want to end on that note, Douglas said. "Regardless of the outcome, I wanted to make sure, like, I end on love and joy instead of hating something that I loved.

She felt the pangs to return while watching the 2022 U.S. Championships and has spent nearly two years training in the Dallas area preparing for this moment.

She's had a couple of weeks to regroup after the American Classic, which hinted at the talent she still has at an age when most American elite gymnasts have long since retired.

Her double-twisting Yurchenko on vault had plenty of amplitude and on bars her best event she had the pieces of a routine that would certainly be competitive at the elite level.

The challenge will be finding a way to put all the pieces together consistently.

Douglas came off bars twice and her floor routine lacked the crispness and endurance to stack up with what will be required for anyone hoping to make a serious bid for the Olympic team.

She's not looking for perfection on Saturday, just improvement.

I just want to go out there and do my very best and not try too hard or try too much, Douglas told reporters. "Just try to do my normal.

Read more here:

Olympic champion Gabby Douglas' takes another important step in her comeback bid - NBC DFW

CHARLESTON, W.Va. Two cyclists competing in this weeks USA Cycling Pro Road Nationals have qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

Over 100 athletes representing multiple countries completed the 33.7-kilometer course in downtown Charleston Wednesday. About 50 of those athletes were racing for a spot on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games team.

First up, at the top of the Womens Elite Time Trial race was Taylor Knibb of Boulder, Colorado and Trek Factory Racing. Her time of 41:54.69 was good enough to become National Champion and qualify for the Olympics.

Im in shock. Ill be perfectly honest, Im just in shock, she said after finding out she won.

Knibb qualified for the USA Triathlon team at the Paris test event last year. Now, shes officially heading to Paris to represent USA Cycling.

A new bike and new setup helped Knibb perform better this year. She said the Charleston route is a more flat course but very few hills thrown in and thats more her speed.

Last year there were so many turns but only four times did I have to get to race-pace, said Knibb, There are so many incredible riders out here, it was such an incredible day riding with them.

Kristen Faulkner (Homer, Alaska; EF Education-Cannondale) posted a 42:05.88 and Amber Neben (Lake Forest, Calif.) finished with a 42:44.53 to round out the podium.

Spurts of heavy rain wouldnt slow down the Elite Men where over 28 athletes made an attempt to make the USA team. Finishing with of a time of 37:42.08, Brandon McNulty (Phoenix, Ariz.; UAE Team Emirates) beat second place finisher Tyler Stites (Tucson, Ariz.; Project Echelon Racing) by just under a minute. Neilson Powless (Houston; EF Education Easypost) finished out the podium with a third place time of 38:44.17.

McNulty qualifies for his second Games appearance. He said this victory ranks towards the top for his career which has included many runs in Europe.

Its always special to win a National Title, but this one had a bit more importance to qualify for the Olympics. This is a big one for me, McNulty said in a drenched suit after the game.

The last few kilometers were the toughest but McNulty said he pushed through and it paid off in the end.

I knew there was a headwind in the final stretch, I knew that would be the last big push, and I was dying, he said. Then luckily, I had a couple guys to catch in front of me to keep me motivated and pushing.

Both cyclists said they enjoyed the cycling on Charlestons roads. McNulty called it a simple course. Knibb said shes looking forward to being in the city for the next four years.

Podium Results for the U23 Womens Time Trial:

Betty Hasse (Providence, R.I.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group): 45:38.85 Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling): 47:51.28 Ella Brenneman (Gibsonia, Pa.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group): 48:00.55

Podium Results for the U23 Mens Time Trial:

Artem Shmidt (Cumming, Ga.; Hagens Berman Axeon): 38:52.17 Troy Fields (Hendersonville, Tenn.; Team California P/B Verge): 39:52.27 Owen Cole (Chapel Hill, N.C.; UAE Team Emirates Gen Z): 39:52.29

Racing resumes Thursday starting at 6:30 p.m. for night one of the twilight criterium featuring Junior Women, Junior Men, and U23 Men who will take the course first.

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Two American cyclists conquer streets of Charleston and clinch Olympic team berth - West Virginia MetroNews

STILLWATER FROM ATHLETES WHO CAME FROM AROUND THE STATE FOR THEIR MOMENT TO SHINE. THE SPECIAL OLYMPIANS LEARNED THE EVENTS THEY HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR WERE CANCELED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. K-O-C-OS KILEY THOMAS TALKED WITH THEM AND ORGANIZERS. SPECIAL OLYMPIC ATHLETES TRAIN FOR WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS FOR THE SUMMER GAMES. BUT BECAUSE OF FLOODED FIELDS LIKE THIS ONE, MANY WONT GET THE CHANCE TO COMPETE. IM SO DISAPPOINTED WE GOT UP REAL EARLY THIS MORNING AND LOOKED OUTSIDE AND WENT, WELL, THIS ISNT GOOD. ON THURSDAY, SPECIAL OLYMPICS OKLAHOMA CANCELED ALL OUTDOOR EVENTS. ORGANIZERS SAY HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING CREATED HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR THEIR ATHLETES. ITS ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS I HAVE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, ITS BUT WERE ALSO LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FOLKS. WE DONT WANT TO CANCEL. WE WISH WE HAD AREAS WE COULD MOVE INSIDE. WE JUST DONT. THE CANCELLATION MEANT HUNDREDS OF ATHLETES COULDNT COMPETE ON THE BIGGEST DAY OF SUMMER GAMES, INCLUDING TEAM POTEAU. IT TAKES ABOUT 3.5 HOURS TO GET HERE, SO ITS ITS A BIG DEAL FOR US. IM HOPING THE THIRD TIMES A CHARM. HASKELL COMPETES IN SOFTBALL AND TRACK. TOMORROW WILL BE HIS ONLY CHANCE AT COMPETING, BUT HE SAYS ITS ALL FUN AND GAMES. I HOPE I DO GOOD AND I HOPE TODAY MY BETTER DAYS ARE GOOD BECAUSE OUR TEAM IS THE BEST TEAM THERE IS, AND IM HOPING THE GOOD TEAMS STAY STRONG. WE TRIED TO SHOW THEM THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU JUST MAKE THE BEST OF THE SITUATION BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR KIDS, THIS IS THEIR VACATION. YOU KNOW, THEY DONT GO ANYWHERE UNLESS THEY COME HERE. AND THATS WHY WERE SO THANKFUL FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND WHAT THEY DO HERE. TEAM BONO, BON

Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater, disappointing athletes

The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games

Updated: 7:30 PM CDT May 16, 2024

The overnight storms forced the cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater on Thursday, leaving athletes from around the state disappointed."I'm so disappointed," said Griffin, a 13-year-old Special Olympics athlete who competes in bocce.The decision to cancel all outdoor events was made early Thursday morning. "We got up real early this morning and looked outside and went, 'Well this ain't good,'" said Jim Scott, the games director for Special Olympics Oklahoma. "It's one of the worst decisions that I have to make, but we're also looking out for the safety of our folks. We don't want to cancel. We wish had areas we could move inside. We just don't."The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games. This included Team Poteau."It takes about three and a half hours to get here, so it's a big deal for us," said Barbara Leonard, assistant coach for Poteau.Despite the cancellation, Haskell, a Special Olympics athlete who competes in softball and track and field, remained hopeful."I'm hoping that third times a charm," Haskell said. "Tomorrow, I hope I do good and I hope today, my better days are good because our team is the best team there is. And I'm hoping the good team stays strong."Leonard echoed Haskell's positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of making the best of the situation."We just try to show them no matter what, you just make the best of the situation because for a lot of our kids," she said. "This is their vacation; they don't go anywhere unless they come here, and that's why we're so grateful for Special Olympics and what they do here."Top Headlines Court Documents: 22-year-old man confessed to killing parents, sister at Chickasha home Man arrested in connection with 2023 child abuse death of 5-week-old Oklahoma City baby Strong winds snap power poles and trees during severe storms in Edmond WATCH: Sky 5 shows storm damage in Oklahoma City metro Severe storms bring large hail, damaging winds to parts of Oklahoma

The overnight storms forced the cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater on Thursday, leaving athletes from around the state disappointed.

"I'm so disappointed," said Griffin, a 13-year-old Special Olympics athlete who competes in bocce.

The decision to cancel all outdoor events was made early Thursday morning.

"We got up real early this morning and looked outside and went, 'Well this ain't good,'" said Jim Scott, the games director for Special Olympics Oklahoma. "It's one of the worst decisions that I have to make, but we're also looking out for the safety of our folks. We don't want to cancel. We wish had areas we could move inside. We just don't."

The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games. This included Team Poteau.

"It takes about three and a half hours to get here, so it's a big deal for us," said Barbara Leonard, assistant coach for Poteau.

Despite the cancellation, Haskell, a Special Olympics athlete who competes in softball and track and field, remained hopeful.

"I'm hoping that third times a charm," Haskell said. "Tomorrow, I hope I do good and I hope today, my better days are good because our team is the best team there is. And I'm hoping the good team stays strong."

Leonard echoed Haskell's positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of making the best of the situation.

"We just try to show them no matter what, you just make the best of the situation because for a lot of our kids," she said. "This is their vacation; they don't go anywhere unless they come here, and that's why we're so grateful for Special Olympics and what they do here."

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Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater - KOCO Oklahoma City

Anti-sex beds have been installed at the Olympic Village in Paris ahead of the 2024 games to put a halt to the wild sexual liaisons reported at past competitions.

The beds are made with recyclable materials, which will make sexual relations tricky should athletes consider hop, skip and jumping into the sack together.

However, despite the beds having this unusual function, Inside the Games has claimed the primary reason for making them in this way is sustainability.

I hope that Paris 2024s efforts to reduce its impact will show that it is possible to do things differently, Georgina Grenon, director of environmental excellence for the organizing committee, said.

The beds, which are made from completely recyclable mattresses and cardboard frames, may be familiar to competitors who participated in the Tokyo Olympics having been rolled out in 2020.

There have been extensive reports of wild sex at previous Olympic Games.

Ex table tennis player Matthew Syed told The Times that he got laid more often in those two and a half weeks than in the rest of my life in reference to the 1992 games in Barcelona.

However, he did admit that it was only twice but described it as a miracle for this then-21-year-old self.

Meanwhile, at least one foursome is reported to have taken place at the London 2012 Olympics between two male and two female athletes, the Mirror reported of the sex-mad Olympic Village.

Ive seen people having sex right out in the open, one athlete is reported to have said. On the grass, between buildings, people are getting down and dirty.

Because of the importance of sex at the competition, former long jump athlete Susen Tiedtke believes that any attempts to curb it will be futile.

[The ban] is a big laughing stock for me, it doesnt work at all. Sex is always an issue in the village, she told Bild. The athletes are at their physical peak at the Olympics. When the competition is over, they want to release their energy.

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The 'anti-sex' beds to stop Paris Olympic athletes jumping into sack but will they work? - Yahoo Singapore News

The 15-year-old sustained a MCL tear in her knee, according to NBC, and will subsequently miss the series, which starts in Shanghai on Thursday.

She told NBC: Every injury Ive had, Ive come back stronger. So this is just my time to really think about what I want to do next. It really puts a fire in my heart, and yeah, it happens, it is part of life.

Brown claimed park skateboard bronze at just 13 years old in the sports debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

She is currently ranked number three in the Olympic World Skate rankings behind Japanese duo Cocona Hiraki and Hinano Kusaki, the former of whom earned silver in the park skateboard event in Tokyo.

Brown had hoped to represent Team GB at this years Paris Olympics in both surfing and skateboarding, but failed to qualify at the ISA World Surfing Games in March.

It is expected that she will return in time for the second Olympic Qualifier Series event, which takes place in Budapest next month, and she hopes to medal again in Paris.

Brown added: Since the [last] Olympics, Ive won every event and I dont want to lose that streak. So Im going to keep going to try to get gold in every event, especially the Olympics.

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Skateboarder Sky Brown to miss Olympic Qualifier Series event due to knee injury - Thetford & Brandon Times

Two months before the Olympics are scheduled to begin in Paris, the global agency tasked with policing doping in sports is facing a growing crisis as it fends off allegations it helped cover up the positive tests of elite Chinese swimmers who went on to compete and win medals at the last Summer Games.

The allegations are particularly vexing for the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has long billed itself as the gold standard in the worldwide movement for clean sports, because they raise the specter that the agency and by extension the entire system set up to try to keep the Olympics clean cannot be trusted.

Athletes are openly questioning whether WADA can be relied upon to do its core job of ensuring there will be a level playing field in Paris, where some of the same Chinese swimmers are favorites to win more medals.

And in recent days, pressure on WADA has increased significantly, particularly from the United States, which is one of the agencys chief funders, and as new questions have emerged about WADAs appointment of an independent prosecutor to investigate the allegations, and whether WADA has provided an accurate account to the public about the appointment, according to interviews and documents reviewed by The New York Times.

On Wednesday, the Biden administrations top drug official who is also a member of WADAs executive committee sent a stinging letter to the antidoping agency laying out how it needs to appoint a truly independent commission to investigate how the positive tests were handled and demanding that its executive board hold an emergency meeting within the next 10 days.

Let me underscore the extreme concern I have been hearing directly from American athletes and their representatives on this issue, the official, Dr. Rahul Gupta, wrote in the letter, which was sent on Biden administration letterhead. As I have shared with you, the athletes have expressed they are heading into the Olympic and Paralympic Games with serious concerns about whether the playing field is level and the competition fair.

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Ahead of Olympics, World Anti-Doping Agency Faces a Trust Crisis - The New York Times

Taylor Knibb is one of the most powerful racers in the world. Full stop. Shes proven that she can win at nearly every distance of triathlon. And on Wednesday, she showed that even full-time road cyclists struggle to keep up, winning the U.S. National womens time trial championship in Charleston, W. Va., by 11 seconds over second-place Kristen Faulkner, and 50 seconds over third-place Amber Neben.

With the win, Knibb qualified for a second Olympic spot, after qualifying for the U.S. triathlon team at the Olympic test event last August. This summer, shell have a chance to win three medals in the womens individual triathlon, the mixed relay triathlon, and the womens individual time trial.

Taylor Knibb about to launch off the start at U.S. Nationals. | Photo: Snowy Mountain Photography

Im in shock and Im incredibly grateful, Knibb said after the race. I made a coaching change last year and I wanted to work with someone who knew short course triathlon, long course triathlon, and cycling because I didnt want to close the door on cycling permanently just yet. I wasnt sure if or when I would give it another go, but there was just something in my gut that told me to keep the option open.

Knibb laid down some serious speed on a mostly flat 33.7-kilometer course that went out-and-back from downtown Charleston, clocking a time of 41 minutes and 54 seconds. She took fourth in 2023 on a hillier course in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

I came away from TT Nationals last year a bit disappointed and wanting to do better, Knibb said. My team was supportive of giving it a go and the goal was to go out there, give an all-out effort, and appreciate the opportunity and experience. There are so many strong female American cyclists, so I couldnt really have many more expectations than controlling my process and execution.

Elation after an incredible effort. | Photo: Snowy Mountain Photography

Knibb is heading back to the Olympics after making her first appearance in Tokyo, where she earned a silver medal in the mixed relay. She is also a two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion. In 2021, she won two major individual races at the Olympic distance, World Triathlon Championship Series races in Yokohama and Edmonton, and earlier this month she lined up at Yokohama again and took second.

The Olympics have loomed as Knibbs biggest goal since the start of 2024. She has become famous for seemingly being able to take on any challenge, any time, anywhere, but this year Knibb challenged herself to focus on gold medal glory.

If you saw last years racing, or the previous years racing, I was kind of just looking at the shiny objects, Knibb told the Race Shop in March. I love racing, I love putting myself out there, but Im not always prepared. So actually being forced to write down my priorities, that was a big exercise for me in terms of shaping the year. And the only thing I had as a top tier was Paris.

Taylor laying down the watts in Charleston. | Photo: Snowy Mountain Photography

We cant wait to watch Knibb take not one, not two, but three shots at earning Olympic hardware. She will also join an illustrious group of athletes who can claim that theyve competed as Olympians in multiple sports. But despite now taking on another discipline, her preparation and focus will remain largely the same ahead of Paris.

When I told my new coach about doing cycling and triathlon in one of our first conversations ever, he said he was interested because apparently the TT and WTCS races use quite similar energy systems and can really complement each other, Knibb said. And I already like to alternate riding my road and time trial bikes, so I think the biggest change will be that I will be riding the UCI TT position still vs. my triathlon time trial position (yes, I have two different positions). But well see!

Taylor has her sights set on Paris. | Photo: Snowy Mountain Photography

Knibb has yet to find her ceiling, if it exists. You wont want to miss what she does next. But before she gets right back to work, shes spending time with family and celebrating an incredible feat as one of the most versatile endurance athletes in the world.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Trek and [Trek Race Shop triathlon support manager] Mark Andrews, specifically for being on the ground and making this whole project possible, Knibb said. Thank you for the belief and the support it wouldnt be possible without you.

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Taylor Knibb wins U.S. Time Trial Championship, earning *2nd* Olympic spot - Trek Race Shop