Sports
Simone Biles Wins Sixth Olympic Gold in All-Around Gymnastics Title
Simone Biles clinched the all-around gymnastics title at the Paris Olympics, securing her second Olympic gold in the event and sixth overall, reinforcing her status as the greatest gymnast of all time. Her victory in Paris marks a remarkable comeback to the top of her sport, following her withdrawal from the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Biles, the 2016 Rio Olympic champion, made history by becoming the oldest gymnast to win the all-around title in 72 years, delighting a celebrity-filled audience at the Bercy Arena. Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade earned the silver medal, while defending champion Sunisa Lee took home the bronze.
Celebrating her victory, Biles donned a sparkly goat necklace, a nod to her recognition as the GOAT (greatest of all time). At 27, she is the first gymnast to win non-consecutive all-around Olympic titles, showcasing her enduring prowess in a sport often dominated by teenagers. In fact, the past 12 Olympic all-around women’s champions were teenagers, and the last non-teenage champion before Biles was 20-year-old Ludmilla Tourischeva in 1972.
Biles’s determination was evident from the start of the competition on Thursday. She began with her signature ‘Biles II’ vault, the most difficult in women’s gymnastics, which provided her with a crucial points buffer despite a rare mistake on the uneven bars. After two rotations, she trailed Andrade but regained the lead with a high-difficulty beam routine, scoring 14.566 and receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Heading into the final floor routine with a lead of 0.166 points, Biles delivered an impeccable performance, finishing with a total score of 59.131, comfortably ahead of Andrade by 1.199 points. Andrade and the audience applauded Biles’s remarkable display, celebrating her achievement.
Great Britain’s Alice Kinsella finished 12th, showing significant improvement from her qualifying performance, while fellow Briton Georgia-Mae Fenton placed 18th. Biles, who is focused on her love for the sport rather than her statistics, has now amassed 39 world and Olympic medals, with opportunities to add more in the floor, beam, and vault finals in the coming days.
With her team gold earlier in the week, Biles surpassed Shannon Miller as the most decorated American Olympic gymnast, achieving a total of nine Olympic medals. She also had the chance to set another record by performing a new skill on bars, which, if successful, would make her the only active gymnast to have skills named after her on all four apparatus.
Lyon head coach Paulo Fonseca is set to navigate new challenges as he faces a nine-month touchline suspension following an incident during his team’s 2-1 victory over Brest in early March. Despite the setback, Fonseca remains committed to guiding Lyon from behind the scenes as they continue their strong push in Ligue 1 and European competition.
The decision, announced by the Ligue 1 disciplinary committee, restricts Fonseca from the touchline, dressing rooms, and official match-related activities until November 30, 2025. While the suspension poses hurdles, it presents an opportunity for the Lyon boss to refine his strategic influence and empower his coaching staff to take on greater responsibilities.
Fonseca, who took over at Lyon in January, has already demonstrated resilience throughout his managerial career. His leadership will be crucial as Lyon, currently sixth in Ligue 1, pushes forward in both domestic and international competitions, including their upcoming Europa League clash against FCSB.
With a talented squad and a clear vision, Lyon remains focused on its goals, and Fonseca’s expertise will continue to shape the club’s progress, even from a different vantage point.
Since Paolo Maldini retired in 2009, AC Milan has seen a troubling pattern emerge; captains who inherit the armband often experience a decline in form, struggle with injuries, or face unceremonious departures. This recurring misfortune has led fans to speculate that there may be a “curse” on the Milan captaincy. Below, we examine each captain’s fate since Maldini’s departure.
1. Massimo Ambrosini (2009–2013) – Injuries and Unceremonious Exit
A loyal servant of Milan, Ambrosini took over the captaincy following Maldini’s retirement. However, his tenure was marred by frequent injuries and a gradual decline in influence. By 2013, Milan opted not to renew his contract, effectively pushing him out of the club. He played one final season with Fiorentina before retiring.
2. Riccardo Montolivo (2013–2017) – Plagued by Injuries
Montolivo was expected to lead Milan into a new era, but his captaincy was riddled with misfortune. A severe ACL injury in 2016 kept him sidelined for months, and he never regained his previous form. By the time his contract expired in 2019, he had been completely frozen out of the squad, and he retired soon after.
3. Leonardo Bonucci (2017–2018) – A Short-Lived and Controversial Spell
Bonucci’s arrival from Juventus in 2017 was meant to symbolize Milan’s resurgence, and he was given the armband immediately. However, his performances dipped, and he struggled to integrate into the team. After just one disappointing season, he pushed for a return to Juventus, leaving Milan in what felt like an embarrassing failed experiment.
4. Alessio Romagnoli (2018–2022) – Benched and Forgotten
A promising young defender, Romagnoli initially looked like a worthy captain. However, injuries and inconsistent performances saw him lose his place to the emerging duo of Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu. By 2022, he was no longer a regular starter, and Milan allowed him to leave on a free transfer to Lazio.
5. Davide Calabria (2022–January 2025) – Stripped of Captaincy
Calabria, a homegrown talent, wore the armband with pride, but his tenure was turbulent. He struggled to maintain consistent performances, and following internal conflicts, Milan decided to strip him of the captaincy in January 2025. Just a month later, he left the club, ending an 18-year association with Milan in a rather bitter manner.
6. Theo Hernández (Occasional Captain) – A Symbolic Leader with Inconsistencies
Hernández has occasionally worn the captain’s armband, and while he remains a fan favorite, his tenure has had its share of struggles. On his 27th birthday in October 2024, he endured a nightmare match; conceding a penalty, missing a penalty, and receiving a red card, all in one game. While he remains a crucial player, moments like these raise questions about the Milan captaincy’s influence.
7. Mike Maignan (January 2025–Present) – Struggling Under Pressure
Following Calabria’s exit, Maignan was appointed captain in January 2025. However, since taking on the role, his performances have taken a hit. Milan has conceded in nearly every match, including a devastating 2-1 loss to Torino and a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord that saw them eliminated from the Champions League. Once considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Maignan now faces growing scrutiny.
The Curse of the Milan Captaincy – Coincidence or Reality?
The pattern is undeniable; since Maldini, nearly every Milan captain has seen their career take a downturn. Injuries, loss of form, and abrupt exits have plagued those who wear the armband. Whether a genuine curse or just a run of bad luck, the question remains: will Maignan break the cycle, or will the curse claim yet another victim?
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been handed a two-game touchline ban following his red card during the dramatic 2-2 draw against Everton at Goodison Park on 12 February. Slot was dismissed for approaching referee Michael Oliver on the pitch after the match, in protest over James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute equaliser, which Liverpool believed should have been disallowed for a foul.
As a result, Slot will be absent from the touchline for Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League fixtures against Newcastle on 21 February and Southampton on 8 March. However, he will be allowed to manage from the sidelines during the Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Paris Saint-Germain on 5 March.
In addition to the ban, an independent Football Association commission fined Slot £70,000. Liverpool assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff, who was also sent off in the same incident, received a two-game suspension and a £7,000 fine. Meanwhile, both clubs were penalized for failing to control their players, with Liverpool fined £65,000 and Everton £50,000.
The heated Merseyside derby saw late chaos erupt when Tarkowski’s goal was awarded after a VAR check, prompting Everton fans to invade the pitch in celebration. Slot confronted one of the assistant referees before shaking hands with Oliver, who then immediately showed him a red card. Post-match, Slot criticized the officiating, particularly regarding the added stoppage time, stating, “Emotions got the better of me.”
Following the final whistle, Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones received second yellow cards, resulting in one-game bans for both.
Slot, who previously served a touchline ban in December for accumulating three yellow cards, will return to domestic duty in the dugout for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle on 16 March. Liverpool, currently 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League, will face Everton again at Anfield on 2 April.
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