Biles wins sixth all-around title at worlds
Not even a slight stumble near the end could stop Simone Biles. Less than three months after returning to competition, the American star is back at the top of world gymnastics once again.
Biles overcame a late blip in her floor routine after an otherwise dominant performance to win the individual all-around title at the world championships for the sixth time on Friday. That made her the most decorated gymnast in history, two years after she put her career on hold to focus on her mental health following the Tokyo Olympics.
Even for someone who has now stood atop that world championship podium 21 times, that was enough to draw some tears during the medal ceremony in Antwerp — the Belgian city where Biles started her collection of titles a decade ago as a 16-year-old.
Biles then acknowledged she was moved.
“Because 10 years ago, I won my first worlds. Now we're back here. So it was emotional,” she said. “It means everything to me, the fight, everything that I've put in to get back to this place, feel comfortable and confident enough to compete.”
Biles scored 58.399 points across the balance beam, floor, vault and uneven bars to beat Rebeca Andrade, the Brazilian defending champion, by 1.633 points. Biles' U.S. teammate Shilese Jones took the bronze medal with 56.332 points.
It was Biles' 27th worlds medal — and 21st gold. It came two days after the four-time Olympic gold medalist led the U.S women to a record seventh straight win in the team event.
And it came after a two-year break following her appearance in the pandemic-delayed Tokyo
Olympics, which was plagued by a bout with a mental block known as “the twisties.” She was expected to repeat as individual all-around champion in Tokyo but removed herself from competition to focus on her mental well-being.
She said the therapy sessions and the breathing and visualization exercises she has been doing on a regular basis since have helped her recover.
Biles now has 34 medals across the world championships and Olympics, making her the most decorated gymnast ever — male or female — at the sport's two signature events ahead of the retired Vitaly Scherbo.
Biles' competition continues this weekend with the women's vault and uneven bars finals today and the balance beam and floor exercise finals on Sunday.
Kings give McLellan one-year extension
The Kings finalized terms on a one-year contract extension with coach Todd McLellan, a deal initially reported by Elliotte Friedman.
McLellan's new deal runs through the 2024-25 season, creating a parallel timeline for the agreements with general manager Rob Blake and lead assistant coaches Trent Yawney and Jim Hiller. McLellan's initial deal was believed to be worth $5 million annually, but no further details were clear regarding the extension.
With 575 NHL coaching victories, McLellan ranks 23rd in league history and fifth among active coaches in wins. His career points percentage trails that of the New York Rangers' Peter Laviolette for the highest among their contemporaries by the slimmest of margins, .001%.
In the past two seasons, the Kings have qualified for the postseason, pushing the Edmonton Oilers to seven games despite being undermanned in 2022 and producing an exhilarating six-game series last season.
49ers acquire rusher Gregory from Broncos
The Denver Broncos traded benched pass rusher Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers in a deal that also includes the exchange of 2024 draft picks, with Denver sending over a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round choice.
• Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller (knee) says it's a “safe bet” that he'll make his season debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Ware, England.
• Chicago traded wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, ending the fourth-year player's disappointing tenure with the Bears. The Dolphins will also receive a 2025 seventh-round pick in the trade in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, the teams announced.
• New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed will be sidelined against the Denver Broncos on Sunday as he recovers from a concussion.
• The Miami Dolphins are placed veteran left tackle Terron Armstead on injured reserve because of a knee injury he suffered in Week 4 against Buffalo.
Verstappen captures Qatar GP pole
Max Verstappen qualified on pole for the Qatar Grand Prix, a day before he can secure his third consecutive Formula One title in the sprint race.
Marlins' Alcantara to miss 2024 season
Miami Marlins ace Sandy
Alcantara will miss the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
Griffin leads PGA Tour event in Mississippi
Ben Griffin joined a crowded pack of contenders in the Sanderson Farms Championship and then moved past them with a 30 on the back nine, sending him to a 9-under 63 and a two-shot lead going into the weekend in Jackson, Miss.
Griffin was at 14-under 130, two shots ahead of Harrison Endycott (65), Luke List (66), Carl Yuan (66) and Henrik Norlander (67).
• Hyo Joo Kim shot a 3-under 68 in The Ascendant LPGA to take a twostroke lead over Sofia Garcia (68) into the weekend, with resurgent Lexi Thompson (65) tied for third at The Colony, Texas.
• Matt Fitzpatrick shot 8-under 64 at Kingsbarns to take a one-stroke lead at the Dunhill Links Championship, the European tour event that also takes place at St. Andrews and Carnoustie. Fitzpatrick, who had Friday's low round, was on 13 under par and a shot clear of Scotland's Grant Forrest (67) and Spain's Nacho Elvira (66).
Rybakina, Gauff reach semifinals in Beijing
Elena Rybakina advanced to her eighth semifinal of the year by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-2 at the China Open in Beijing.
In the semifinals, Rybakina will face unseeded Liudmila Samsonova, who earlier defeated 13th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2.
Second seed Iga Swiatek will face third seed Coco Gauff in the other semifinal.