Biles posted an Instagram Story on July 29 with Owens in what looks like the Colts’ training camp, with the parking lot in the background. She captioned it, “ year 9.”

The caption honored Owens starting his ninth NFL season. The veteran defensive back has spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and now the Indianapolis Colts since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Throughout that journey, Biles has been one of his biggest supporters.

The couple met through the Raya app in 2020 and have been supporting each other’s careers. Biles was a regular at Soldier Field during Owens’ tenure with the Chicago Bears in 2024 while Owens received permission from the team to leave training camp and cheer her on at the Paris Olympics.

Biles also shared another photo from the day that captured a quiet goodbye.  Owens stood beside his suitcase in the parking lot; he looked ready to report for another demanding NFL season. Adding a lighthearted touch, Biles captioned the post, “first day of school type s–t.”

Owens’ comeback has been a positive one thus far for Indianapolis. On the first day of the Colts’ training camp, Owens broke up Anthony Richardson’s first pass in camp during 11-on-11 situations.

While Jonathan Owens is back to his football duties, when will Simone Biles get back to her gymnastics commitments?

Will Simone Biles return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

Simone Biles hasn’t competed since the Paris Olympics, when she took home three gold medals. Instead, she has spent the past two NFL seasons supporting Owens from the sidelines, regularly attending his games with the Chicago Bears. With the LA28 Olympics now less than two years away, several of Biles’ Paris teammates, including Jade Carey and Suni Lee, have already returned to competition.

Biles, however, has taken a different path. She has not announced her retirement, but she has also stopped short of committing to another Olympic campaign. “Never say never. The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know,” Biles said when asked about competing in Los Angeles.

She has also stressed that the decision is about much more than whether she is physically capable of returning. “I’m trying to enjoy life, travel, spend time with my husband, and really live as a woman,” she explained. “To return, it would have to be something that genuinely excites me.”

Biles has admitted that the Paris Olympics took a heavy toll on her body. She collapsed after returning to the Olympic Village and was sick for several days afterward.  The mental side of the sport will also be a deciding factor. “Mental is a huge thing… the road’s not easy,” Biles said, adding that therapy continues to play an important role in her life after the challenges she faced around the Tokyo Olympics. For now, there is no timeline for her return.

The post Simone Biles Bids Goodbye to Husband Jonathan Owens Ahead of NFL Year 9 appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On July 28, Lee posted a brief training update on her Instagram story, featuring a video of her from inside the gym. She was performing an acrobatic sequence that involved an aerial cartwheel followed by two layout step-outs. It was captioned as “Fun!”.

The series was familiar to gymnastics fans because it was the same skill combination she performed during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Lee successfully hit the routine in the team final, helping Team USA secure the gold medal. She scored 14.600 on beam in the team final, the highest beam score among the U.S. gymnasts whose scores counted toward the team total. Although the training video ended before Lee completed the second layout step-out, the clip was enough to excite fans.

Lee had only been in the gym for a couple of days and already proved that her power in the beam was still intact. On July 20, 2026, Lee officially began her gymnastics training again at Midwest Gymnastics Center in Little Canada, Minnesota with the help of Jess Graba, her longtime coach. After her first practice back, Lee opened up about how different she feels heading into this Olympic cycle.

“I kind of got my glow back,” Lee said. “I am confident as who I am as a person. I am excited to take that into training because I think I am a lot more confident.” This time, Lee wants to combine that confidence with the physical strength she was missing during her Paris journey. Before the 2024 Olympics, she battled a kidney-related illness that disrupted her training and limited her preparation.

Despite having only around six months of healthy training before Paris, Lee still managed to win three medals. Now, she has a much longer runway ahead of the LA 2028 Games. I didn’t really get a full chance to, I guess, compete at my full potential. And I think this time around, I want to give myself that chance,” Lee said.

For Lee, the goal is clear: return to the Olympic stage and finally complete the missing piece of her career by winning a beam medal. Her coach Jess Graba believes that dream is still driving her comeback. “She felt like she was a medalist on beam, and we didn’t get one,” Graba said. “So I think she’d like to rectify that.”

With her first training clips already showing strong signs of progress, Lee’s journey toward Los Angeles 2028 has officially begun. But to reach the LA 2028 Olympics will not be easy for Suni Lee, even though she is already an Olympic champion and six-time medalist.

LA 2028 will be Suni Lee’s biggest test yet

For U.S. gymnastics, Lee cannot automatically make the team because of her past success. She will have to compete through the national selection process and perform well enough to be chosen at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, where gymnasts will compete for spots on the Olympic roster. The challenge is especially high because the U.S. has a deep pool of talented gymnasts.

Simone Biles has not confirmed whether she will return for LA 2028, but if she does, she would immediately become one of the favorites for a team spot. Lee will also face fellow Olympic champion Jade Carey, who has already announced her own comeback for the 2028 Games. Rising stars such as Paris 2024 team gold medalist Hezly Rivera, two-time world team champion Skye Blakely, and World Championship medalist Leanne Wong are also expected to be in the mix for the limited Olympic roster spots.

For Lee specifically, the biggest challenge is not her ability. It is maintaining her health and reaching her full potential after dealing with kidney disease before Paris. She has already said, “This isn’t about proving anyone wrong. It’s about showing up for myself and discovering what’s possible. Through the setbacks and the victories, I’m giving myself one more chance to find out what happens when I keep going.”

If her first eight days back in the gym are any indication, that journey is already off to a promising start.

The post Suni Lee Doubles Down on LA Olympic Comeback With Gymnastics Update appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On July 26 in Glasgow, Black competed in the women’s all-around final. There, the veteran gymnast defeated Australia’s 24-year-old Breanna Scott and her Canadian teammate, 16-year-old Lia-Monica Fontaine, to capture the gold medal with a score of 53.050. Scott finished second with 52.900 points, while Fontaine claimed bronze with 52.800 points.

With it, Ellie became the first female gymnast to win two Commonwealth Games all-around titles after previously claiming the crown in 2018. But her success at Glasgow 2026 did not end there.

On July 25, Black also helped Team Canada secure silver in the women’s artistic gymnastics team final. Canada finished behind gold medallists Australia with a score of 157.300, with Black competing alongside Gabrielle Black, Lia-Monica Fontaine, Lia Redick, and Alyssa Guerrier-Calixte.

She later added another silver medal in the uneven bars final, completing a three-medal haul at the Games. Australia’s Kate McDonald won gold with a score of 14.333, while Black finished second with 13.900. Wales’ Emily Roper took bronze.

For Black, the achievement represented much more than another medal. In gymnastics, where many athletes retire in their early 20s because of the physical demands of the sport, continuing to compete and win at 30 is a rare achievement. Her journey has become a message for future generations. Inside Gymnastics Magazine also highlighted her story on Instagram, sharing Black’s belief that athletes can continue breaking barriers and inspiring others:

“We’re changing the narrative of women in sport and in gymnastics, and hopefully inspiring the coming generation to see that there’s no age cap.” And Black is not done yet. The Canadian star still wants to continue competing and has her sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which would be her fifth Olympic Games. If she reaches that stage, she will be 32 years old, further challenging the traditional timeline of a gymnastics career.

We’ve got a few steps we have to do before we get to L.A., so just working on strengthening our team, getting that qualification secured in a couple of years from now and then trying to see if we can push to be on that podium,” Black said. However, Ellie Black’s journey to the top has never been easy.

Three painful setbacks that could have ended Ellie Black’s career

Black’s first Olympic appearance came at the 2012 London Olympics when she was just 16 years old. She had already made history by helping Canada reach the women’s team final for the first time since 1984 and earned a place in the vault final.  During her first vault attempt, Black suffered a dangerous landing and injured her left ankle.

She was unable to land the vault safely, and so it received a score of 0.000. Although she prepared for a second attempt, the injury forced her to withdraw from the event.  The setback put a temporary hold on her 2012 campaign as she worked on recovery. Black’s next big hurdle came at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart years later.

She injured her ankle on her vault during the women’s all-around final. The timing could not have been worse, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics less than a year away. Black needed to regain her fitness and strength and build back up to Olympic form. However, she did not give up and went back to the competition.

Black had another disappointing run in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics. She sustained another ankle injury at the end of the training and had to miss the all-around finals of the women’s competition. After years of preparation, it was a terrible moment, but Black refused to leave Tokyo without making her mark. She made a recovery in time to race in the balance beam final, where she finished fourth, earning Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in the event.

Those moments could have ended many careers, but Black continued pushing forward to reach where she is today.

The post “There is No Age Cap”: 30-Year-Old Gymnast Wins Gold Medal to Break Another Glass Ceiling appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On July 26, Biles attended Faces of Fitness Fest in Chicago, an event focused on health, movement, and wellness. The appearance marked one of her first public outings after her recent procedure. Biles even shared glimpses from the event on her Instagram Stories.

Looking confident and full of energy, Biles arrived wearing a red tank top, matching red leggings, white sneakers, and black sunglasses as she took part in the festival activities on the second day of the event. She even shared her thoughts on wellness and the importance of taking care of both physical and mental health. Interestingly, Biles has previously been open about the importance of listening to her body.

During the Tokyo Olympics, she stepped away from several events after experiencing the “twisties,” a moment that sparked a worldwide conversation about athlete mental health and the pressure performers face at the highest level. Biles also reshared a post from Tessa Johnson, who celebrated meeting the gymnastics legend while holding a real goat. The post featured a playful caption: “11 goats for the goat, this is my dream…”

Biles, however, had a different reaction to the animal encounter. After trying to touch the goat, she jokingly admitted she was nervous and wrote, “terrified of my own family,” giving fans a playful glimpse of her personality during her recovery period. Even Biles also gave a special treat by showing off a few of her gymnastics skills during the festival.

Known as the “Lollapalooza of fitness,” Faces of Fitness Fest welcomed around 12,000 attendees for workout sessions, nutrition education, and discussions about mental health.  Faces of Fitness co-founder Lindsay Grass praised Biles’ presence at the festival, saying, “She was just an incredible person to meet. She was so personable and she was excited about the event, which made us even more excited,” Grass said.

While Biles looked fit and full of energy during her recent appearance, she has not revealed the exact details of the medical procedure she underwent. Her return to the public eye showed that she is recovering well, but the bigger question remains: is she physically and mentally ready for another Olympic comeback?

Simone Biles keeps LA 2028 dream alive

Following her historic haul of three gold medals and one silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Biles improved her Olympic medal count to seven gold and one silver. Many thought her Paris run would be her last Olympics, but the prospect of her being able to represent her country at home in Los Angeles 2028 has kept her in the game.

When asked about a potential LA 2028 return, Biles has repeatedly said “never say never.” The idea of competing in front of a home crowd is exciting, but she has also acknowledged the demanding physical and mental commitment required to compete at the highest level.

Biles’ choice isn’t just whether her body can take another Olympic season, but if she’s mentally prepared for the additional stress that comes with it. Previously, she had shared that her decision would be a “50-50” as her coaches would help her prepare physically while she would have to prepare mentally.

The physical toll of her career has also played a major role in her thinking. After Paris 2024, Biles admitted that her body needed time to recover after years of intense training and competition.

If Biles does compete at LA 2028, she would be 31 years old making her one of the oldest female gymnasts to represent Team USA at an Olympic Games. Her coach Laurent Landi has also kept the possibility open, encouraging Biles to take her time and focus on what feels right for her future.

The post Simone Biles Shows Up for Biggest Fitness Event Just Days After Medical Procedure appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Speaking to Olympics.com on July 25, Sumanasekera said her lifelong Olympic dream and her connection with her parents’ country Sri Lanka helped her decide. She said, “I am hoping to qualify to the LA 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”

Sumanasekera began her career as an elite athlete at 10 and joined Team USA at just 13. And when she reached the Paris Olympics trial, she understood she had potential to compete at the highest level. “In 2024, I became an Olympic alternate, and it really kind of shifted my perspective on my capabilities,” she explained.

Making the Olympic team was a huge achievement, but Sumanasekera also understood what it takes to make a U.S. team, which has just five spots. That realization influenced her to represent Sri Lanka, where her parents, Rajitha and Ruwangi Sumanasekera, were born. The gymnast not only wanted to achieve her Olympic dream, but she was also respecting her family heritage.

“From a little girl, I’ve always wanted to compete at the Olympics,” she said. “For me, I thought the best decision would be to be representing my parents’ home country of Sri Lanka.”

Since making the switch, Sumanasekera has embraced the opportunity and said she has received overwhelming support while beginning this new chapter. “I’m so proud and honored to be here and to be doing so,” she said. “I’ve received the most love and support I could ask for, and I’m just very, very grateful.”

Now representing Sri Lanka, Sumanasekera hopes to inspire young gymnasts in the country while chasing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. “It would mean the world to me. I’m so, so proud to represent my parents’ home country and hopefully inspire young Sri Lankan girls,” she added. But now the question arises: Can Sri Lanka provide Tiana Sumanasekera the pathway to LA28?

Tiana brings elite experience to Sri Lanka’s growing gymnastics program

Sri Lankan gymnastics has yet to establish its foothold in the international arena, but over the past few years there has been consistent improvement. Sri Lanka’s leading gymnast Nuyara Fernando secured 24th place with a score of 42.699 in the all-around at the 2025 Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships. The nation’s highlight in gymnastics was when Milka Gehani de Silva made history as the first Sri Lankan gymnast to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But now that Sumanasekera is part of it, she brings something different to the program: years of experience. Prior to changing her nationality, she trained at the World Champions Centre with Olympic champions like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles. The high level of training she received might help her to reach the grandest levels in the sport. But one challenge could come from balancing her NCAA career with her Olympic ambitions.

After signing with the Bruins in 2023, Sumanasekera committed to UCLA for the 2026 season. However, new NCAA eligibility guidelines might affect the ways in which collegiate athletes are able to juggle their sport and national team goals. The Division I Cabinet voted unanimously for a “five for five” system that would allow athletes to play five seasons over five years, while eliminating redshirt and most eligibility waivers.

Sumanasekera’s FIG nationality has been changed to Sri Lanka, and she is eligible for qualification for Los Angeles 2028. Training for NCAA gymnastics and the Olympics, however, may be a challenge, given the athlete’s emphasis on competition only at the international level.

The post US Gymnast Gives Reason Behind Switching Nation to Represent at Global Stage appeared first on EssentiallySports.

The photo captured a procedure that took place the day before, on Owens’ 31st birthday.

“His birthday but he takes me to get my procedure ,” Biles wrote on her Instagram story, adding that she’d woken up singing BossMan Dlow’s “Talk My S–t,” a small, lighthearted detail that stood in contrast to the seriousness of the visit itself. She didn’t share what the procedure was for, or whether it connects back to the original health scare.

That original emergency dates back to June 6, when Biles first told fans, “Almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card.” She described it as one of the scariest experiences of her life, made harder by the fact that Owens wasn’t there when it happened. He was in Indianapolis at the time, fulfilling practice obligations after signing a one-year deal with the Colts in March.

“I’ve been in bed resting this week,” Biles wrote at the time. “I’ll explain sooner or later but shoutout to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited and or sent flowers.”

About a week after that first post, Biles traveled to the Dominican Republic with Owens as part of her recovery, sharing photos and videos from the trip, including moments with non-alcoholic drinks. Some fans pushed back on the timing, with one commenting, “Almost died but look at these traveling selfies.” Biles didn’t let it slide.

“Ugh these comments make me sad,” she wrote. “I hope you understand that life changing experiences can shift your perspective.”

She has kept the door closed on further medical detail since, even as this latest update adds a new, still-unanswered question: whether whatever brought her in for this procedure has any bearing on a return to elite competition.

Simone Biles leaves door open for historic fourth Olympic appearance

Biles has gone back and forth on this question for a while now, and where she actually stands has moved since the immediate aftermath of Paris 2024. Right after winning her seventh Olympic gold in the vault final, she famously said “never say never” about LA 2028, adding, “Next Olympics are at home. So you just never know. I am getting really old.”

That openness softened by early 2025. Speaking to Sports Illustrated in January, Biles said she was leaning toward not competing again, weighing what a fourth Olympic cycle would actually cost her at this stage of her life.

“Life and death,” Biles said. “Because I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do, rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what? What sacrifices would be made if I go back now? When you’re younger, it’s like prom, college. Now it’s like starting a family, being away from my husband. What’s really worth it?”

By that April, at the Laureus World Sports Awards, she hadn’t fully closed the door either, saying she was still enjoying time off before deciding anything, and that she’d “be at the Olympics, whether it’s on the floor or in the stands,” regardless of whether she’s competing.

A fourth Olympics would be a historic milestone for Biles regardless of which way she leans. It would also require exactly the kind of years-long commitment she’s now openly weighing against a very different set of priorities than she had heading into Paris, a decision made even more uncertain while the specifics of her recent health scare and procedure remain unexplained.

The post Simone Biles Shares Recovery Update After Undisclosed Health Scare appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Team England had been trailing Canada heading into that rotation, still within range of gold. Langton appeared motionless immediately after the impact. Nine medical staff attended to him before he was placed on a stretcher and taken from the arena in a neck brace. He showed signs of response as he was carried out, moving his arms and legs.

Watching from the broadcast booth, three-time Olympic gold medallist Max Whitlock, the gymnast Langton had replaced on the team, described what he’d seen.

“Both hands came off the bar, which is unusual on a skill like that, and then coming down onto his head from that height,” Whitlock said. “It wasn’t nice to watch.”

Team England later confirmed Langton had been taken to hospital. “We are grateful to the medical teams who responded immediately to provide assistance,” the team said in a statement.

“He has been taken to hospital and we will share more information when it is available.”

Langton had only joined the squad this month, called up after Whitlock withdrew with a hand injury. Once the competition resumed following a lengthy delay, he was unable to join his teammates on the podium.

Luke Whitehouse had the difficult job of following Langton straight back onto the high bar. He managed just 11.70 on the apparatus, leaving him 23rd overall on the event.

“When something like that happens, you’ve just got to forget about it and reset,” he said. “I just had to focus on my routine one skill at a time.”

Canada’s Félix Dolci offered his own tribute to how England responded.

“All our thoughts go to Gabriel and the team,” he said. “Pushing through this is definitely not easy. England stayed focused, they stayed in the zone. A huge shout out to them because that’s not an easy one.”

Once the competition resumed, the gold medal itself still had to be settled, and it came down to that same apparatus.

Canada hold off England’s late fight to claim historic Commonwealth Games gold

Seven nations competed across the six men’s apparatus, including England, Canada, Australia, Scotland, Cyprus and Wales. Canada moved into the lead through the opening rotations and led with 122.200 points after three, with England in second and Australia and Scotland also in the mix for the podium.

England pushed back as the meet wore on. Whitehouse gave the team an early lift with the top floor exercise score of the night, and Alexander Yolshin-Cash produced the best parallel bars routine to help close the gap on Canada.

Canada’s lead nearly slipped away during that same high bar rotation, before Langton’s fall, when veteran René Cournoyer came off the apparatus and scored low, opening the door for England to push for gold heading into the final routine. Dolci shut that door again, delivering the top score on high bar to seal the win.

Canada won gold with 241.400 points, its first Commonwealth Games men’s team title in 20 years. England finished second, and Australia took bronze. For now, the result sits behind the bigger question in the arena: Team England has yet to share a further update on Langton’s condition since confirming he’d been taken to hospital.

The post England’s Commonwealth Silver Overshadowed by Teen Gymnast’s Horror Fall appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On July 20, USA Gymnastics released the field of athletes who earned qualification spots for the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. The senior women’s field featured 21 athletes, including Olympic champions and rising stars.

The qualified gymnasts were Isabella Anzola, Skye Blakely, Charleigh Bullock, Dulcy Caylor, Lavi Crain, Ally Dmelio, Tatum Drusch, Jade Carey, Reese Esponda, Addy Fulcher, Jayla Hang, Greta Krob, Zoey Molomo, Caroline Moreau, Claire Pease, Lila Richardson, Hezly Rivera, Alessia Rosa, Simone Rose,  Izzy Stassi and Leanne Wong.

However, the list does not guarantee that every athlete will compete, as final registration is still pending. But seeing Ohashi missing from the field has sparked a strong reaction from fans who want the comeback star to receive another opportunity. One supporter wrote, “We want katelyn ohashi Magnifc ginástic.”

But that is a bit difficult for her. The 2026 U.S. Classic was the final qualifier for women’s artistic gymnasts hoping to reach the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships. For Ohashi, if qualified, it would have given her another chance to compete against the nation’s best and continue building momentum toward her goal of reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, she was unable to secure the required score.

At the 2026 U.S. Classic in Hartford, Connecticut, Ohashi entered only two events: balance beam and floor exercise. On balance beam, Ohashi scored 13.200 after hitting her routine, including difficult acrobatic elements and her dismount. On floor exercise, she earned another 13.200. Her combined two-event total was 26.400. To have automatic qualification for the 2026 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, she had to score a total of 26.800 and was just 0.400 shy of the required mark.

Although she didn’t make the cut, her return at age 29, after years away, garnered a tremendous response from the fan base as they realized she was still able to compete at the highest level.

Fans refuse to give up on Katelyn Ohashi’s comeback dream

“Is there anyway @usagym that @katelyn_ohashi can petition to compete? After not competing elite in decades & to come out & do what she did… that is muscle memory & pure talent!!!” One fan added.  Another added, “Petition for Ohashi as a wildcard!”

Before stepping away from elite gymnastics, Ohashi was once viewed as one of the biggest future stars in the sport. Many fans believed she could have been an Olympic contender after seeing the talent she displayed at a young age. Ohashi made her national debut as a junior in 2009, became the 2011 junior national champion, and earned a spot on the USA Gymnastics Junior National Team four times. In 2013, she defeated Simone Biles at the American Cup to win the all-around title.

However, injuries and the challenges surrounding elite gymnastics changed the direction of her career. Instead of continuing toward the Olympics, Ohashi stepped away from elite competition and began a new chapter at UCLA, where she rediscovered her enjoyment of the sport. At UCLA, Ohashi went on to become one of the most popular gymnasts in NCAA history. She won an NCAA title, was a 10-time All-American, and claimed several Pac-12 championships, as well as recorded 11 perfect 10s.

And now, as she was not able to qualify for the Championship, that made one more fan say, “How come Leanne Wong go to the USA championship but Katelyn Ohashi beat Leanne last week! That’s not fair”

However, the situation was not simply decided by one event score. Wong competed only on balance beam at the U.S. Classic because of a recent wrist injury and scored 11.900. Ohashi competed on both balance beam and floor exercise. When comparing only balance beam, Ohashi did score higher than Wong, with a 13.200 compared to Wong’s 11.900. But their qualification situations were different.

Wong had already secured her place at the championships after meeting the qualification requirements through her previous elite achievements, including being part of the 2025 World Championships team. Ohashi, meanwhile, had to earn her spot at the U.S. Classic, which she missed. That miss made fans even more eager to see her receive another opportunity. One supporter asked, “Can Katelyn petition? I didn’t realize she missed it by 0.4.”

Although Ohashi does not have an automatic place at the 2026 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, her chances are not completely closed. With the final field depending on athlete registration, she could only enter if a spot becomes available or if USA Gymnastics decides to give her an opportunity through its selection process.

The post 13 Year Wait for National Gymnast Pushes Fans to Demand US Gymnastics to Overlook Rules appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Speaking in a recent interview with Forbes, Comăneci revealed that the funding concerns surrounding Romania’s side may no longer be an issue. “I understand that [the amount] is paid for,” Comăneci said. The five-time Olympic champion added that she had spoken directly with officials from the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR). “They have the money to pay for this,” she confirmed.

Her comments suggest that Ana Bărbosu’s legal team will continue defending her Olympic bronze medal as the reopened CAS proceedings move forward. However, continuing the fight comes with a major financial cost. According to CAS sources cited by GOLAZO.ro, Romania was required to pay around 90,000 Swiss francs in arbitrators’ fees and court costs for the rehearing to begin. The broader legal action will likely be even more expensive, as the Romanian Gymnastics Federation had earlier estimated damages could amount to some 250,000 Swiss francs.

To this end, Comăneci asked Romanians to be part of the effort, stating that it is not just a matter of financial contributions. “I think that [everyone] could give a penny and could support this cause,” she said. “Not because we don’t have money, but because we have pride in having this fight to see how we can get this medal.”

Although Comăneci does not hold a leadership position within COSR, she remains closely connected with Romanian gymnastics officials and continues to be an influential voice in the sport. Also, Bărbosu herself addressed the funding situation, saying she had received full backing from Romanian sports officials.

“COSR President, Mr. Covaliu, and the FRG President, Mr. Suciu, told me that I have their full support in this case, and, following the signed representation contract, the retrial process is a priority for them,” Bărbosu said. “As they told me, we must function as a team, just like we did at the 2024 Olympic Games.”

With financial concerns now appearing to be resolved, the focus returns to the CAS rehearing and the new evidence submitted by Chiles and USA Gymnastics.

Why CAS is reopening the controversial Olympic Bronze medal case

The case was reopened after Jordan Chiles and USA Gymnastics presented new video evidence to the Swiss Federal Tribunal earlier this year. The evidence came from footage recorded during the Paris Olympics floor final and was used to argue that Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, actually made the verbal inquiry within the allowed one-minute deadline.

Originally, CAS ruled that Chiles’ inquiry was submitted four seconds too late. The ruling relied on the official timing information from the Omega system, which showed the inquiry being entered after the one-minute limit. Because of that, Chiles’ increased score was removed, and Ana Bărbosu was restored as the bronze medalist. However, the Swiss Federal Tribunal accepted that the new video evidence could potentially change the outcome.

The court said the footage could show that the verbal inquiry happened before the deadline, even if the official system entry happened later. Because of this, the case was sent back to CAS for another review. Now, with the rehearing expected to move forward, the focus will be on whether CAS considers the moment the verbal inquiry was made or the time it was officially entered into the system. The latest review could determine whether Chiles regains the bronze medal or whether Bărbosu keeps the Olympic honor.

The post Jordan Chiles’ Bronze Medal Case Almost Closes With Gymnastics Legend’s Recent Statement appeared first on EssentiallySports.

On July 17, George Washington announced Hilary Steele as the new head coach of its gymnastics program. They shared an Instagram post that included a portrait of Foster-Cunningham along with a message from the retired coach welcoming Steele to GW.

“The news of Hilary taking this position at GW is so exciting,” Foster-Cunningham wrote. “She’s such a competitor. From her days as a national champion as an athlete, now into coaching and the recruiting world, Hilary and her family are known across the world of gymnastics. She’s a uniter, with communication skills that make her a powerhouse. Her spirit and fire will be infectious.” While the post was meant to celebrate Steele’s arrival, Foster-Cunningham’s appearance in it drew a strong reaction from Zois.

Two days later, on July 19, Zois shared a screenshot of the announcement on her Instagram Story and called out the program for continuing to feature the retired coach. “@gw_gymnastics not yall still CHOOSING to protect an abusers image… after she’s BEEN gone,” Zois wrote.

She further added, “or are yall still relying on her robots to keep calling me and everybody else that got abused a liar ????? where is her karma ???? she too good for it ???? or again … are yall just still choosing to protect her…”

Zois competed for George Washington from 2022 to 2024 and became a notable name on the squad. She competed in the program for three seasons and won five All-EAGL awards and is a 2023 EAGL vault champion. In July 2024, Auburn announced that Zois would join the Tigers for the 2025 season. At the time of her transfer, she did not publicly discuss any issues involving George Washington or Foster-Cunningham, but she did give hints.

For the 2025 season, Auburn featured her in a “Get to Know Sarah Zois,” and she was asked about the biggest adjustment after spending three years at GW. “The biggest difference is the environment here and the people I’m surrounded by,” Zois said.

She also offered advice to younger gymnasts considering their college options. “Just keep pushing and reaching out and make sure you’ll have a good relationship with the coaches and really like the institution.” While Zois never publicly explained her decision to transfer at the time, her recent comments have led some to view those remarks in a different light.

Prior to the recent allegations, many former athletes had publicly expressed their admiration for Margie Foster-Cunningham, particularly in her retirement announcement in 2024.

A 39-year legacy that made her a GW gymnastics icon

The George Washington gymnastics community came together in celebration of the retirement of Margie Foster-Cunningham. She was one of the most successful coaches in program history and retired after 39 years coaching Colonials at the end of the 2024 season. Prior to his tenure at GW, Foster-Cunningham was a five-time All-American at Penn State, along with helping the Nittany Lions win the 1980 NCAA national title.

She also represented the United States at the 1979 World University Games, helping the American team earn a bronze medal. Her coaching resume at George Washington was equally notable. During her nearly four decades at the helm, Foster-Cunningham guided the program to 20 EAGL championships and 15 NCAA Regional appearances.

When her retirement was announced, several former athletes publicly praised the impact she had on their lives. GW alumna Meena Flynn described Foster-Cunningham as “an exceptional coach who took a personalized approach to helping each individual reach their full potential. She not only helped us achieve our goals in the gym, but also in our personal lives during very formative years.”

Another former gymnast, Kristie Helfrich, a member of the Class of 1997, called Foster-Cunningham a defining figure in the program’s history. “Margie Cunningham Foster is synonymous with GW gymnastics,” Helfrich said. “It is difficult to measure the incredible impact that she has made on the program and hundreds of women that have been lucky enough to be coached by her…”

Those tributes painted a picture of a coach whose impact stretched far beyond wins and championships.

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