Category Archives: News

2024 MLB Trade Deadline biggest storylines left

It’s the ultimate countdown.

The finished trades will certainly assist form the pennant races, however there are many gamers in commerce limbo because the Deadline attracts close to. MLB.com appears at among the most intriguing storylines that can play out within the hours forward.

Are the White Sox accomplished promoting?

We’ve been speaking about Chicago’s impending fireplace sale for weeks (months?), but it took till Monday afternoon for the White Sox to begin making strikes. The three-way commerce with the Cardinals and Dodgers despatched Tommy Edman, Michael Kopech and Oliver Gonzalez to Los Angeles, Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham to St. Louis, whereas the White Sox obtained SS Miguel Vargas, 2B Jeral Perez (LAD No. 17 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and INF Alexander Albertus (No. 23) from the Dodgers.

Even after pulling off the three-way commerce, normal supervisor Chris Getz could have a busy day forward of him, for the reason that Sox nonetheless have gamers producing numerous levels of curiosity main as much as the Deadline.

Garrett Crochet stays the large prize, although the left-hander’s demand for a contract extension to pitch in October has sophisticated issues to some extent.

“The communication had been very robust between Garrett and I and his company,” Getz mentioned. “And I used to be a little bit shocked and brought aback by how they went about it, contemplating I had a dialog along with his agent the evening earlier than.

“That’s not precisely the tactic I’d have taken, even being a former participant fairly truthfully. … I feel it created some questions during which generally I’m capable of fight a few of that simply due to the relationships I’ve with different golf equipment. Nevertheless it undoubtedly created some questions that short-term and long-term penalties are unknown.”

Luis Robert Jr. is unlikely to maneuver as a result of Chicago’s asking value has been larger than groups are apparently keen to pay, per sources. Paul DeJong and his expiring contract are prone to get dealt, and regulate Andrew Vaughn, who has two years of management past 2025 and will fill a first-base gap for a variety of groups.

Will the Tigers commerce Tarik Skubal?

Skubal is among the many favorites for this yr’s American League Cy Younger Award, and whereas the lefty has two years of management remaining, the Tigers have been getting calls concerning the 27-year-old for weeks.

If Detroit decides to deal Skubal – which nonetheless seems like a longshot – the Orioles and Dodgers determine to be the 2 most severe suitors. Baltimore has the very best and deepest farm system within the recreation, giving GM Mike Elias a wealth of prospect capital to make use of in such a commerce. Los Angeles is alleged to be intrigued by Skubal, and whereas the Dodgers have a powerful system, Baltimore would seem to have the sting when it comes to what it may provide.

The guess right here is that Skubal stays with the Tigers, who most executives imagine will maintain on to the pitcher. However given among the costs we’ve seen this week, Detroit may discover itself with a suggestion it may’t refuse.

Is Blake Snell actually getting traded?

Two issues would have been unthinkable a month in the past:

But right here we’re, lower than 24 hours from the Commerce Deadline, and Snell is among the most talked about names in the marketplace. That’s what occurs when a two-time Cy Younger Award winner returns from the injured checklist and provides up two runs over 24 innings, together with a 15-strikeout efficiency in his remaining begin earlier than the Deadline.

The large questions that have to be answered concerning Snell are, in no specific order: Are the Giants sellers, or will San Francisco attempt to make a run on the postseason? What’s going to potential suitors be keen to surrender for a pitcher who may be not more than a two-month rental? Will potential suitors be keen to threat a poor end or harm, both of which may end in Snell not opting out, saddling them with a $30 million wage for 2025?

All indicators level to Snell being traded to a contender; the Orioles, Astros, Yankees and Padres are among the many groups which were related to the lefty.

Will rental costs come down?

So far, the prices for gamers on expiring contracts have been fairly excessive. Monday evening, the Astros despatched RHP Jake Bloss – who was set to change into Houston’s No. 2 prospect within the midseason re-rank – to the Blue Jays as a part of a three-player package deal for LHP Yusei Kikuchi.

Previous to that, the Angels obtained two extremely regarded pitching prospects from the Phillies for nearer Carlos Estévez, whereas the Crimson Sox despatched three gamers, together with a High 30 prospect, to the Blue Jays for catcher Danny Jansen. The Mariners additionally traded two Minor Leaguers, together with No. 10 prospect Jonatan Clase, to Toronto for reliever Yimi García.

Will leases proceed to convey again such sizeable hauls because the Deadline attracts close to?

“Costs are excessive, however I can see the market collapsing,” an AL govt mentioned. “In some unspecified time in the future the rising rates of interest of rental gamers will cease the market.”

Among the many most notable gamers accessible with expiring contracts are Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty, Marlins LHP Tanner Scott and Rockies C Elias Díaz.

Are the Yankees accomplished shopping for?

New York made a giant transfer with its acquisition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins, including a bat the lineup sorely wanted. The Yankees additionally picked up reliever Mark Leiter Jr. from the Cubs to bolster their bullpen. New York nonetheless stays out there for an infielder and maybe a beginning pitcher and/or one other reduction arm.

Studies on Monday urged the Yankees had been pursuing Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, and if such a deal had been to happen, New York may look to deal lefty Nestor Cortes. Upgrading the rotation is a necessity for the Yankees, although not as urgent because the bullpen and infield.

Simply what number of relievers will get traded?

The Rays obtained three of the Padres’ prime 12 prospects for reliever Jason Adam, whereas Estévez and García commanded robust returns as talked about above. Different relievers traded embrace Leiter (Cubs to Yankees), Lucas Sims (Reds to Crimson Sox), Nick Mears (Rockies to Brewers), Jalen Beeks (Rockies to Pirates), Ryne Stanek (Mariners to Mets), Seranthony Domínguez (Phillies to Orioles), Hunter Harvey (Nationals to Royals), A.J. Puk (Marlins to D-backs) and Phil Maton (Rays to Mets).

Scott is the very best reliever accessible, whereas Nationals RHPs Kyle Finnegan and Dylan Floro, Rays RHP Pete Fairbanks, Angels RHP Luis García, White Sox RHP John Brebbia, Athletics RHP Lucas Erceg, and Reds RHP Buck Farmer may additionally probably be on the transfer.

Will the Blue Jays stand by their plan?

Toronto has maintained for weeks that it has no plans to maneuver its controllable gamers, lots of whom – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Jordan Romano and Kevin Gausman – would internet vital returns.

The Blue Jays have already dealt Kikuchi, García, Jansen, Trevor Richards and Justin Turner, every of whom are headed to free company on the finish of the season. Chad Inexperienced – who’s below contract for 2025 – may be the lone controllable piece to get moved.

May normal supervisor Ross Atkins change his stance and make Guerrero or any of the opposite controllable gamers accessible? That would definitely boost Deadline day, although as of Monday, Toronto nonetheless had no plans to explode the roster totally, satisfied it may deal with that core in 2025.

Do the Rays have extra strikes to make?

Tampa Bay has been among the many most energetic groups thus far, buying and selling away Isaac Paredes, Zach Eflin, Randy Arozarena, Jason Adam, Amed Rosario and Phil Maton in trade for a haul of prospects, additional boosting their already spectacular farm system.

The Rays entered Monday solely three video games out of an AL Wild Card spot, and whereas the assumption was that the membership would toe the road between shopping for and promoting, thus far Tampa Bay has accomplished way more of the latter.

If the Rays are nonetheless trying to transfer established gamers for youthful, extra cheap expertise, they might commerce Yandy Díaz, Pete Fairbanks and Brandon Lowe, amongst others. Given the strategy they’ve taken thus far, nothing could be a shock in the present day.

Three arrested for murder of Florida rapper Julio Foolio

Three folks have been arrested and two others are being searched for the ambush killing of Florida rapper Julio Foolio final month, officers mentioned.

The 26-year-old sufferer, whose authorized title was Charles Jones, died on 23 June after his car got here beneath a barrage of gunfire in a parking lot of a resort in Tampa.

Resort surveillance footage launched by police exhibits the attackers wearing black carrying masks as they take up their positions within the automotive park, opening hearth with two semi-automatic rifles and one pistol.

The rapper was killed throughout a weekend of birthday occasions that he had beforehand introduced on social media.

Isaiah Probability, 21, Alicia Andrews, 21, and Sean Gathright, 18 have been all arrested over the weekend and face homicide expenses, police mentioned.

Two extra folks – Davion Murphy, 27, and Rashad Murphy, 30 – additionally face related expenses however have but to be discovered and arrested.

Three different folks have been injured, however survived the assault, Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw mentioned in a information convention on Monday.

Along with the resort’s CCTV footage, detectives additionally used licence plate reader and telephone logs to determine the suspects.

The attackers allegedly have been members of two totally different gangs – ATK and Twelve Hundred – which had labored collectively to co-ordinate the assault.

Jones was a member of the Six Block Gang, Chief Bercaw mentioned.

Within the hours earlier than his dying, the rapper had been posting materials to Instagram about his birthday celebrations, writing that police had “shut us down”.

Rapper Foolio has practically one million month-to-month listeners on Spotify, the place his top-played monitor is Voo Doo.

As just lately as April, he wrote in an Instagram submit that latest months had been “tragic”, citing “a number of makes an attempt on my life”.

He’s mentioned to have been open about his gang affiliations, in keeping with native media.

Dollywood amusement park experiences flash flooding

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (AP) — Sturdy thunderstorms introduced flash flooding to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood in east Tennessee.

Park employees and the Pigeon Forge police and hearth departments directed friends to security on Sunday afternoon, and one minor damage was reported, park officers mentioned in an announcement. The amusement park mentioned it was supporting friends whose autos have been affected and cleanup crews have been deployed. The park was opening at midday Monday and the park’s Splash Nation, which wasn’t affected, opened at its common time.

A street collapse closed McCarter Hole Street on the entrance to Dollywood on Sunday night time, in keeping with the Pigeon Forge Police Division.

JeMiale McKinney of Knoxville and his spouse and two daughters are season move holders and headed to the park Sunday. Typically, when there’s a menace of unhealthy climate, that’s the greatest time to go as a result of many individuals will depart and as soon as the climate clears, you get shorter trip instances, McKinney mentioned.

Nonetheless, it was pouring buckets and inside 10 minutes the doorway was blocked. Folks may see that it wouldn’t be value it to drive via the water that was thigh-deep in some locations, McKinney mentioned.

“We received trapped within the parking zone quicker than we thought,” he mentioned. They have been caught there for 2 hours till a crew broke down a fence so individuals may get out.

“I used to be shocked about how calm individuals have been,” he mentioned.

Practically 5 inches of rain fell within the space in about an hour, Dollywood spokesperson Wes Ramey mentioned in an e-mail.

“Whereas the quantity of rain was troublesome for each the park’s and the town’s infrastructure to handle, the very fact we have now just one minor damage illustrates how properly our hosts dealt with the scenario and the way properly our friends adopted their instructions,” Ramey mentioned.

The park will consider the response to find out whether or not any adjustments are wanted, he mentioned.

Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park in Tennessee hit by flash flooding

At the very least one particular person was injured on Sunday when a robust thunderstorm produced heavy rain that led to flash flooding at Tennessee’s Dollywood amusement park.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – One particular person was injured at Tennessee’s well-known Dollywood amusement park on Sunday after a robust thunderstorm moved throughout the realm and produced torrential rain that triggered flash flooding.

FLOOD WATCH, WARNING AND EMERGENCY: HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

A video recorded at Dollywood in Tennessee reveals a car parking zone that was flooded after extreme climate and torrential rain hit the Pigeon Forge space on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Heavy precipitation was reported throughout Knox and Sevier counties on Sunday, prompting the Nationwide Climate Service workplace in Morristown, Tennessee, to difficulty a Flash Flood Warning for the realm, together with Pigeon Forge, the place Dollywood is positioned.

The FOX Forecast Middle says 2.5 inches of rain fell in a single hour, and 4 inches in whole fell throughout the Pigeon Forge space on Sunday.

A video shared by a customer to Dollywood in Tennessee reveals park-goers wading by way of flooded shops and walkways because the theme park in Pigeon Forge is hit by a robust thunderstorm on Sunday, July 28.

Images and movies from Dollywood on the time the flash flooding was reported present water protecting walkways and parking tons as individuals, some with strollers, wade by way of the speeding water to try to get indoors.

Movies additionally present flooding creeping into a number of retailers throughout the amusement park.

HERE’S WHAT TO DO AFTER YOUR CAR IS FLOODED

Bailey and Sophie Elkins had been among the many Dollywood guests in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that needed to look ahead to the water to recede after greater than 2 inches of rain triggered flash flooding within the park. 

Different movies present a Dollywood car parking zone surrounded by floodwaters, trapping quite a few autos inundated by the rising water. Individuals can be seen making an attempt to get into flooded autos.

Bailey and Sophie Elkins had been among the many Dollywood guests trapped by the flash flooding. The sisters stated they needed to wait about 2 hours for the water to recede earlier than leaving the park.

The ponds and creeks all through the park rapidly stuffed, enhancing the flooding, in keeping with the Elkins sisters.

“When that rain down poured it actually heightened the rising rise of the water in these ponds and what not, so they simply overflowed so fast,” Bailey Elkins stated. 

After the flooding, Dollywood officers launched a press release saying one minor harm was reported amid the studies of the extreme climate and flooding.

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

“I believe the workers dealt with it with such grace, and so they had been calm and picked up,” Sophie Elkins stated. “It undoubtedly was loads of water all of sudden.”

The Elkins stated they had been in a position to depart by driving by way of a service entrance a number of hours after the flooding began. 

“Dollywood is supporting company whose autos had been affected by this climate occasion, and cleanup crews have been deployed,” Dollywood stated in a press release.

Dollywood is predicted to reopen for enterprise on Monday afternoon.

“Park officers will proceed to evaluate situations and updates can be posted to our social media pages as further data turns into out there,” the park stated.

American swimmer Ryan Murphy finds out his child’s gender after winning a bronze

NANTERRE, France (AP) — It’s a woman.

That’s the shock message that American swimmer Ryan Murphy acquired from the pool deck as he seemed up at his spouse, Bridget Konttinen, within the stands on Monday evening on the Paris Olympics.

Murphy received a bronze on Monday within the 100-meter backstroke. Because the medal ceremony wound down, he noticed Konttinen holding up an indication to let him know their first little one, due in January, shall be a woman.

“I used to be strolling again round and Bridget was holding up an indication and it stated — ‘Ryan, it’s a woman,’” he stated. “That was the primary time I heard the gender.”

“We each — we actually each thought it was going to be a boy,” he stated. “And everybody — like everybody — we have been speaking to, they thought it was going to be a boy.”

An enormous fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Murphy identified that quarterback Trevor Lawrence and his spouse even have a daughter on the best way.

“I hope our daughters will be buddies,” he stated.

Murphy received three gold medals in Rio in 2016, and a gold, a silver and a bronze in Tokyo in 2021. He received his first medal in Paris after ending behind winner Thomas Ceccon of Italy and Xu Jiayu of China.

As quickly a Murphy began speaking in regards to the gender information, not one of the questions returned to his race. It was all in regards to the child.

“I feel that simply sort of like lit me up.” he stated. “And actually introduced this evening to an entire different stage.”

___

AP Summer time Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Swimmer Ryan Murphy learns sex of first child after winning bronze at Paris Olympics

Olympic medals are previous information to American backstroke nice Ryan Murphy. He collected his seventh, a bronze within the males’s 100m backstroke, Monday evening on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nevertheless, as Murphy stepped off the rostrum to greet his spouse, Bridget Konttinen, within the La Protection Area stands, he was hit with some information that immediately took precedence over occasions, splits and medals.

Konttinen unfurled a black-and-white signal that learn, “RYAN IT’S A GIRL,” revealing to Murphy the gender of the couple’s first little one.

IMAGN

“We had been guessing for a pair weeks now what the gender was gonna be, in order that was a good way to seek out out. I feel that simply type of like lit me up and actually introduced this evening to a whole-‘nother degree.”

Murphy, a local of Jacksonville, Florida suburb Ponte Vedra Seaside and big Jacksonville Jaguars fan, already had his future daughter’s social life on his thoughts on the post-race press convention.”

“I don’t know the way far alongside (Jaguars quarterback) Trevor Lawrence and his spouse are, however I feel he has a daughter on the way in which so I hope our daughters might be buddies,” Murphy mentioned.

Djokovic outlasts Nadal, overcoming major hurdle in quest for first Olympic gold

Novak Djokovic is likely one of the most completed tennis gamers in historical past, however there’s one factor that has eluded him all through his profession: an Olympic gold medal.

On Monday, he survived a tricky problem in his quest to win his first Olympic gold. Djokovic toppled two-time gold medalist Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-4, on the identical clay court docket Nadal has claimed as his favourite. The Olympics are being held on the identical website because the French Open, the place Nadal has received 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic simply received the primary set 6-1 and jumped out to a 4-0 lead within the second set earlier than Nadal rallied again to sq. issues at 4-4.

However Djokovic immediately responded by breaking Nadal’s serve to go up 5-4. Djokovic then held serve to shut out the set and the match.

RELATED STORY | Olympics triathlon apply canceled attributable to Seine River water high quality considerations

Monday’s match was the primary time Nadal and Djokovic confronted one another within the Olympics since 2008. Nadal defeated Djokovic within the semifinals of the 2008 Summer season Video games en path to a gold medal. Djokovic claimed bronze in 2008, the one Olympic medal he has ever earned.

General, the 2 gamers have now confronted one another 60 occasions, with Djokovic holding a 31-29 edge. Their two most up-to-date conferences have been additionally on the website of the French Open. Nadal defeated Djokovic in 2022 within the French Open quarterfinals. Within the assembly prior, Djokovic held off Nadal within the French Open semifinals.

Djokovic’s spherical of 32 win on Monday places him 4 victories from a gold medal. Djokovic will face the winner of the match involving Germany’s Dominik Koepfer and Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi.

Olympics tennis: Djokovic beats Nadal at Paris Games in 60th matchup

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic, who gained, and Rafael Nadal, who misplaced, met on the internet and hugged after taking part in on the Paris Olympics within the sixtieth — and fairly probably final — installment of a record-breaking and sometimes riveting rivalry between two tennis greats who share a mutual respect if not a detailed friendship.

This 6-1, 6-4 victory for Djokovic got here in solely the second spherical of the Summer time Video games — as an alternative of a Grand Slam remaining, like 9 earlier head-to-head encounters — and it was not probably the most scintillating contest, both, aside from for a 20-minute interlude within the second set, when Nadal’s remaining push made issues briefly aggressive after he ceded 10 of the preliminary 11 video games.

Afterward, neither Nadal, who’s 38, nor Djokovic, 37, was prepared to concede they gained’t play one another once more, even when that appears seemingly. Nadal actually appears as if he may very well be near retirement; he’s had two injury-filled seasons, wanted hip surgical procedure a bit greater than a yr in the past, and spoke in 2023 about 2024 being his farewell.

However he’s not accomplished at these Olympics, pairing with Carlos Alcaraz in doubles for Spain, and stated Monday he’s a bit bored with getting requested day-after-day about his future.

“I can not stay each single day with the sensation that it’s going to be, or not going to be, my final match. I come right here, I attempt my greatest, I play. And once I determine to cease taking part in, or once I determine to maintain going, I’ll let you recognize. I don’t know,” Nadal stated. “If I really feel that I’m not aggressive sufficient to maintain going or bodily I’m not … able to maintain going, I’ll cease, and I’ll let you recognize.”

What was clear for the primary 1 1/2 hours in opposition to Djokovic is that Nadal was diminished, nowhere close to the expert and ever-hustling model of himself that gained a report 14 French Open trophies on the identical purple clay at Roland Garros that’s internet hosting Summer time Video games matches.

He acknowledged as a lot after leaving Court docket Philippe Chatrier, the place followers repeatedly tried to encourage him with chants of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!”

“Taking part in in opposition to Novak with out creating injury to him, and with out having the legs of 20 years in the past, is sort of unimaginable,” stated Nadal, whose proper thigh has been taped up for all of his matches in Paris.

Djokovic was requested whether or not this would possibly mark the top of head-to-head competitors between the pair.

“In fact it may be, however we don’t know that. It actually relies on many various components,” the Serbian stated. “I simply hope for the sake of our rivalry, and the game, generally, that we’ll get to face one another as soon as, perhaps a number of instances, on totally different surfaces, in numerous elements of the world, as a result of I really feel like it may possibly solely profit the game. However I don’t understand how he feels in his physique, what his plans are.”

Djokovic owns 24 Grand Slam titles, and Nadal 22, the 2 highest males’s totals within the century-plus historical past of the game. Each have been ranked No. 1, and no pair of males has performed one another extra typically within the skilled period. They’re two-thirds of the so-called Large Three of males’s tennis, together with Roger Federer, who retired with 20 Slam titles, a cohort that loved unprecedented success and prompted countless debates about which is the “GOAT” — “Biggest of All Time.”

However Nadal, a gold medalist in singles and doubles at previous Olympics, and Djokovic, who says including a gold to his in any other case glittering resume is a precedence, are accustomed to assembly — and followers are accustomed to watching them — within the latter levels of occasions. It occurred a lot earlier this time as a result of whereas Djokovic is the highest seed on the Olympics, Nadal’s rating is exterior the highest 150 on account of a scarcity of matches.

The place was packed, from the press seats the place there was jostling for area, to the very best spots within the higher deck, for what felt like a historic event. Rapper Snoop Dogg sat beside tennis icon Billie Jean King; Vogue editor Anna Wintour was with movie director Baz Luhrmann.

“You can really feel the stress coming into the match, but additionally unimaginable hype, unimaginable ambiance,” Djokovic stated. “There was plenty of curiosity for this match. Individuals wished to see it stay. Individuals wished to see it on the TV, as properly. I used to be simply very proud to be a part of this match.”

After a ho-hum stretch, the indefatigable Nadal lastly received going, remodeling it into one thing aggressive, which certainly nobody — least of all Djokovic — discovered too stunning.

“For those who give him time, he can harm you. We all know that. I’ve skilled that previously,” Djokovic stated. “I began to hesitate a bit on my shot. He stepped in. The gang received concerned.”

Nadal captured 4 consecutive video games within the second set, together with a forehand winner to interrupt to make it 4-all. He raised his left fist, drawing roars from the stands.

That, although, is when Djokovic regained management. He broke proper again, then pointed to his left ear whereas strolling to the sideline as if to taunt Nadal’s supporters, and served out the victory.

A part of Nadal’s troubles Monday had been brought on by not being in tip-top form. And a part of the issue, to make certain, was that Djokovic was principally the most effective model of himself, hanging the ball crisply, placing it proper the place he wished and infrequently utilizing drop photographs to arrange winners and pressure Nadal to run so much.

Djokovic wore a grey sleeve on his proper knee, simply as he did whereas making it to the ultimate at Wimbledon three weeks in the past. He tore his meniscus through the French Open in early June and had surgical procedure in Paris.

None of that mattered on this heat afternoon underneath a cloudless sky, with the temperature within the 80s Fahrenheit. People within the stands waved followers in an try to remain cool; each gamers wore chilly white towels round their necks throughout changeovers.

“He performed significantly better than me,” Nadal stated, “(from) the start to the top.”

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Who is Ilona Maher, the U.S. Olympic women’s rugby star?

Jul 30, 2024, 02:01 PM ET

U.S. girls’s rugby star Ilona Maher has taken the 2024 Paris Olympics by storm along with her dynamic performances on and off the sector. A TikTok favourite, she’s made her mark on social media with behind-the-scenes movies on the Summer season Video games.

Her common Paris movies have coated:

Maher beforehand garnered consideration on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, along with her movies on:

Other than her social media fanfare, Maher has an achieved athletic pedigree and profession:

  • Father performed rugby at Saint Michael’s Faculty

  • Started enjoying rugby at 17

  • Performed rugby at Quinnipiac Faculty for 3 years

  • Awarded the MA Sorensen Award for Nationwide Participant of the Yr in 2017

  • Olympics: 2024 Paris Olympics – Bronze medal; 2020 Tokyo Olympics – sixth (Crew – Ladies)

  • World Championships: 2022 – 4th (Crew – Ladies); 2018 – 4th (Crew – Ladies)

For extra Olympics protection, try the ESPN hub web page for breaking information, athlete profiles, options, and extra.

Who is Ilona Maher? Here’s what to know about the US women’s rugby sevens Olympian and TikTok star – NBC New York

Rugby sevens star Ilona Maher has been an enormous hit on social media because the U.S. girls’s crew has progressed to the semifinals on the Paris Olympics.

She’s been busy making humorous TikTok and Instagram reels and in addition empowering posts about girls and sports activities. She’s additionally producing some large hits on opponents at Stade de France as a daily starter for the U.S. girls’s rugby sevens crew.

Her video recruiting lately retired NFL heart Jason Kelce as an excellent fan for the No. 4-ranked U.S. crew after their first two video games on Monday magnified the eye.

The 27-year-old Maher is not new to this. Her hilarious takes on village life within the pandemic-era Tokyo Olympics three years in the past made her one of many breakout stars of these Video games.

Maher was a collegiate star at Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut. She was a nursing pupil there and spent three years taking part in rugby on the faculty after transferring there for sophomore 12 months, in line with the college.

How did Maher grow to be well-known on TikTok?

Spectators had been barred from Olympic venues in Tokyo, and there is all the time strict guidelines anyway about who’s allowed into the athletes’ village. These weren’t boundaries for Maher. With followers locked out beneath harsh social-distancing guidelines, her social media followers obtained a humorous inside have a look at the Video games — beginning with the bedding.

Maher and her rugby sevens teammates examined out the cardboard beds in a TikTok video that gained hundreds of thousands of views, displaying them performing CPR on the mattress, doing yoga and even throwing a mock tantrum.

What’s Maher doing through the Paris Olympics?

One other Olympic village, extra cardboard beds.

“Hey everybody, we’re again testing out the cardboard beds. My mattress goes to interrupt, sure, however I’ll do it anyway,” Maher says by means of introduction to the video that confirmed her and a few of her teammates wrestling on the beds, doing gymnastics strikes and Irish jigs, amongst different issues. Nothing to lose sleep over.

Her U.S. teammates, together with Nicole Heavirland, Naya Tapper and Sammy Sullivan, usually make it into Maher’s posts. Then there’s the individuals she runs throughout on the Olympics — like Snoop Dogg (“He is an insanely cool dude”) and U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff (the subject turned to pickleball). To the man who requested if she was an Olympian after which wrongly guessed which sport: “All 5’10” of me, 200 kilos — a gymnast. Unsuitable!”

What’s #beastbeautybrains?

Maher makes use of a #beastbeautybrains hashtag with the intention of spreading physique picture positivity and bringing extra consideration to rugby and girls’s sports activities normally.

From the U.S.-branded bikini, to the rugby uniform to the fashionable formal Ralph Lauren garments, Maher wears all of them with satisfaction and seemingly equal consolation in an unlimited vary of pictures and reels of her Olympic wardrobe.

She’s robust — her stiff-arm shoving away tried tackles in opposition to Japan and France had been a lot proof of that.

She’s quick — operating virtually the size of the sphere to attain in opposition to Japan confirmed that.

She’s good — in addition to gaining a nursing diploma, following within the footsteps of her mother, she labored to graduate from rugby fanatic to skilled athlete. Subsequent step is to make its pay higher.

She summed it up in a fast put up to her million-plus Instagram followers earlier than the opening ceremony on Friday.

“Because the Olympics formally begin, I would like you all to try all of the completely different physique varieties on show. All physique varieties matter. All physique varieties are worthy from the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball participant, from a rugby participant to a shot-putter and a sprinter. All our bodies are lovely and might do superb issues. So really see your self in these athletes and know you are able to do it, too.”

How is the US girls’s rugby sevens crew doing in Paris?

The U.S. superior to a semifinal match in opposition to defending champion New Zealand with a 17-7 quarterfinal win over Britain, avenging a loss to the British on the identical stage in Tokyo three years in the past.

Maher performed an instrumental position within the first strive, utilizing her large fend to brush off one tackler, attract a defender after which launch Tapper into the clear on the left wing to attain.

She made one other barging, long-range run simply earlier than halftime to make sure the U.S. saved momentum.

Sammy Sullivan and Kristi Kirshe scored second-half tries to seal the win.