Biles wins third, fourth gold medals at world championships
Simone Biles was not too worried about the medal count, or the color of the medals, at the gymnastics world championships this week.
That approach has sure paid off. The American superstar claimed a third, then a fourth, gold medal on the final day of the 2023 competition on Sunday, winning the women's balance beam and floor finals in a dominant fashion.
In Antwerp — where she started her collection of 23 world titles 10 years ago as a 16-year-old — Biles has made a stunning return to the international stage. In addition to the pair of gold medals she won Sunday, she also claimed a silver medal on vault after the sixth allaround title that made her the most decorated gymnast in history, male or female.
And, in the absence of Russian rivals because of sanctions imposed as a result of the war against Ukraine, Biles led the U.S. women to a record seventh straight victory in the team event.
“It's like as long as I get out there, do those routines again, like it's a win in my book,” the four-time
Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after setting a world record Sunday at the Chicago Marathon.
Olympic gold medalist said about how she approached the meet. “It doesn't matter if I end up on the podium or not.”
Biles was competing at her first world championships since 2019 after a two-year break she used to focus on her mental health following the Tokyo Olympics. She only returned to competition this summer.
Biles was a bit worried on her comeback to the world stage, but the confidence of having trained properly combined with what she called her new “whatever happens, happens” attitude helped her back to the top and demolish the competition.
She will keep the same laid-back attitude on the road leading to the Paris Olympics next year.
“I think we're going to take that approach, the same one that we took this year, just meet by meet and we'll see where we end up,” said Biles, who applies herself to regular therapy sessions that helped her in her comeback.
Swiatek wins China Open
Second-ranked Iga Swiatek won the China Open final with a nearperfect 6-2, 6-2 victory over Liudmila Samsonova for her tour-leading fifth title of the season.
Swiatek's triumph, in her first visit to China, was her 16th career title and adds to her impressive 2023 haul that includes titles at Roland Garros, Doha, Stuttgart and Warsaw.
Like her dominant defeat of third-ranked American Coco Gauff in the semifinals, Swiatek's serve was again the telling difference in Sunday's final, denying Samsonova a single break point opportunity throughout the 69-minute match.
Both players stayed on serve in a steady opening until 22ndranked Samsonova double-faulted on her first break point of the match. Swiatek then held for 5-2, and broke Samsonova again to take the first set.
Kiptum sets world record
Kelvin Kiptum set a world record in the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 35 seconds to shatter fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge's old mark by 34 seconds.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands also took advantage of cool and cloudy weather that's considered ideal for a marathon to win the women's race in 2:13:44 — the second-fastest ever for a woman at the 26.2mile distance.
Kiptum won the London Marathon in the spring in 2:01:25 and shaved almost a minute off the world record set last year in Berlin by Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and the most successful marathoner ever.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record — I am so happy,” Kiptum said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”
Angel City FC wins, still in hunt for berth in playoffs
Savannah McCaskill scored the game-winner in stoppage time and visiting Angel City FC stayed alive for the playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League.
Andressa scored for the Dash in the 44th minute with a shot from the top of the box that went through Jun Endo's legs and into the goal. It was her first NWSL goal.
Alyssa Thompson came into the game as a substitute and moments later outmaneuvered Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell for a goal in the 68th minute to pull Angel City even. McCaskill got the game winner about a minute into stoppage time.
Angel City (7-7-7) faced elimination from the playoffs with a loss, but instead moved into eighth in the standings. Houston (6-7-8) dropped to 10th.