By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
With the Paris Olympics just around the corner, injuries to key American gymnasts have ended the hopes and dreams of Shilese Jones, Skye Blakeley and Kayla Dicello, all sidelined with significant lower extremity injuries. Jones, a favorite to make the Olympics team, was injured during the first rotation at trials, making it uncertain if she would be able to continue competing. Dicello, last year’s Pan American Games all-around champion, was a strong contender to make the U.S. team in Paris.
Another favorite to make the team, 19-year-old Skye Blakely, suffered an Achilles injury during training, ending her dream of competing for America, a bitter disappointment after suffering an injury at the 2021 trials that caused her to miss the Tokyo Games. Let’s pray that the injury bug ends there.
Held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the trials were highlighted by the dynamic Simone Biles, who after a mundane performance on the balance beam, bounced back with an impressive floor exercise to the lead the American contingent. Other sure bets to make the team are Tokyo silver medalist Jordan Chiles and all-around champion Sunisa {Suni} Lee.
On the men’s side, keep a keen eye on Frederic Richard, a University of Michigan sophomore comparable in talent to Simone Biles and already a social media sensation with his own personal marketing line. Richard hopes to lead the men’s team to a medal in Paris.
In NBA Golden State’s Klay Thompson signed a 3-year $50,000,000 contract with the Dallas Mavericks while Jason Tatum signed a 5-year $314,000,000 extension with the Celtics. Donovan Mitchell followed suit, agreeing to a 3-year max contract in $150,000,000 range to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The U. S. men’s national soccer team loss 1-0 in group stage play to Uruguay, eliminating them from Copa America, calling into question the status of head coach Gregg Berhalter. For your edification, Copa America is the top men’s quadrennial football tournament contested among national teams from South America.
