People

Simone Biles set to be face of 2020 Olympics after record world medal haul

by Clive Morgan -
Simone Biles collecting a gold medal at the Artistic World Championships in Stuttgart

After  becoming the most decorated gymnast in history, Simone Biles can do whatever she wants. So what is next for the US gymnast? We already know that the next stop for her is Tokyo for the 2020 Olympic Games. But, with sprinter Usain Bolt and swimmer Michael Phelps both retired, Biles is

Former FIG president Bruno Grandi passes away, aged 85

by Clive Morgan -
Former FIG president Bruno Grande, who passed away, aged 85

Former FIG President Bruno Grandi has died at the age of 85. Grandi, who led the International Gymnastics Federation for 19 years, from 1997 to 2016, passed away in Italy following illness. The Italian was succeeded by Japan's Morinari Watanabe, who took over as FIG President in November 2016. Grandi was named FIG

Minsk 2019: Russia’s Angelina Melnikova the smiling star of European Games apparatus finals

by Clive Morgan -
Angelina Melnikova

Angelina Melnikova was the star of the artistic gymnastics show walking away with three medals, one gold and two silver, in the apparatus finals. From the moment she started on vault, the Russian gymnast looked calm and as she began winning her medal, the smiles got bigger, there were giggles and

Minsk 2019: Ait Said driven in European Games medal quest by promise to his late father

by Clive Morgan -
Samir Ait Said

Samir Ait Said is determined to win a medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games so he can fulfil a promise that he made to his late father. So far, the French gymnast is living up to the challenge after finishing first in rings in the men's qualifications. "I have not been

Minsk 2019: Oleg Verniaiev comes back to take European Games all-around silver

by Clive Morgan -
David Belyavskiy, Oleg Verniaiev, Vladislav Poliashov

After a disappointing eighth-place finish in the qualifications, defending champion Oleg Verniaiev regrouped to win the men's all-around silver medal at the Minsk 2019 European Games. The Ukrainian is not yet in peak form as he recovers from surgery he had in January on an injury to his left ankle that

Minsk 2019 European Games: Great Britain’s Becky Downie pacing herself for success against younger rivals

by Clive Morgan -
Becky Downie

At 27 years old, Becky Downie believes it is all about pacing herself as she competes with women as much as 10 years her junior at the Minsk 2019 European Games. For example, the leader at the end of the women's individual all-around qualifications, Russia’s Angelina Melnikova, is just 18 years

Minsk 2019 European Games: Uladzislau Hancharou to get extra bounce from home advantage

by Clive Morgan -
Uladzislau Hancharou

Rio 2016 Olympics champion Uladzislau Hancharou is the favourite to jump to the top of the podium when he bounces at the second European Games. Having won the silver medal in the men's individual competition at Baku 2015, Hancharou is hoping to go one better and will be cheered on by

Amy Tinkler driven to overcome injuries by thoughts of Tokyo 2020

by Clive Morgan -
Amy Tinkler

As the youngest member of the Great Britain team at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Amy Tinkler danced her way to an unexpected bronze medal aged just 16. Her medal in the women's floor competition earned plaudits and the promise of a bright and high-profile future. But post-Rio 2016, Tinkler has suffered

Simone Biles: Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be my last

by Clive Morgan -
Simone Biles

Simone Biles has revealed that next year's Tokyo Olympics “will be her last”. The 22-year-old, who last year, in Qatar, became the first woman to win four all-around world titles, is adamant there is no chance of extending her extraordinary reign beyond next year. Referring to a series of relatively minor injuries