Olympics brings religions together

Update – Several commenters have noted that Aliya’s father is of Tatar descent, where many are Muslim. But that Aliya has not declared her personal religious beliefs. The team in the past has visited the Russian Orthodox church before competitions.

Awe-inspiring performances in a close match-up between American gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, and Russian Aliya Mustafina, are a cross-section of faith, race and nationality …

Olympic women’s all-around champions: A Christian, a Jew and a Muslim

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Marta on retirement, coaching and getting athletes ready

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

(via Official Miss Val)

Sui Lu interview

Sui Lu, our London Olympics silver medalist on Beam reflects on that 2012 final. And her life since. 🙂

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Simones win Olympic gold

Simone Manuel and Simone Biles.

http://papaliukin.tumblr.com/post/148819303274/freifraufischer-golden-simone-squared

Swimmer Simone Manuel has become the first African-American woman to win a gold medal in an individual Olympic swimming event. …

Following the race, she was overcome with pride and emotion.

Aliya always finds a way to the podium

Respect.

https://www.tumblr.com/irishdaniel/148810878498/dolly-z-aliya-glued-to-an-aa-podium

(via papaliukin)

Simone Biles Olympic Champion

All hail. I argue she’s the greatest gymnast of all time.

🇺🇸 Biles 62.198
🇺🇸 Raisman 60.098
🇷🇺 Mustafina 58.665

4. Shang Chunsong CHN – 58.549
5. Ellie Black CAN – 58.298
6. Wang Yan CHN – 58.032
7. Jessica Lopez VNE – 57.966
8. Teramoto Asuka JPN – 57.965
9. Thorsdottir Eythora NED – 57.632
10 Steingruber Giulia SUI – 57.565

full results

Ellie Black 58.298

Her best AA score in international competition. Talk about peaking for the Olympics. 🙂

5th all-around. Canada’s best ever AA Olympic finish. I’m celebrating tonight. 🇨🇦 🍺

cheering Bela and Ellie in the AA

Ellie Black and Isabela Onyshko will compete the all-around in Rio. Good luck! 🙂

Brittany Rogers:

“Obviously the results of these Games weren’t what we all wanted,” Rogers said about Canada’s near miss on the team finals. “It definitely lit a fire in me to continue on with elite gymnastics.”

In the near future, Rogers will return to Athens at the end of August and finish up her degree. …

Looking further away, Rogers has a plan for wrapping her gymnastics career.

“I’m not sure what competitions I will be assigned to from the Canadian team as those will be discussed after the Games are over,” Rogers said. “I plan to continue training and help out with the team in Georgia any way I can and be ready for whatever competitions I get assigned to by Gymnastics Canada. My goal is to be able to compete in the World Championships in Montreal in 2017 and perhaps retire on home soil.”

Georgia Dogs