Sports

With Simone Biles Out, ROC Wins Women’s Team Gymnastics

Published

5 years ago

July 27, 2021

Simone Biles, of the United States, embraces teammate Jordan Chiles after she exited the team final with apparent injury, at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. The 24-year-old reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Biles huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles came to Tokyo as the star of the U.S. Olympic movement and perhaps the Games themselves. It all came to a stunning halt in the women’s gymnastics final on Tuesday night with an uncertain vault.

In a flash, the rest of the American star’s Games came into question. And the United States’ long run at the top of the sport came to an end.

The team representing the Russia Olympic Committee surged past the shorthanded U.S. to the top of the podium, posting a score of 169.258 to win the country’s first Olympic team gold in nearly 30 years.

The Americans, with Biles serving as head cheerleader while clad in a white sweatsuit and dealing with what USA Gymnastics called a “medical issue,” hung on for silver.

Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles drew the U.S. within eight-tenths of a point through three rotations. ROC, however, never wavered on floor. And they erupted when 21-year-old Angelina Melnikova’s score assured them of the top spot on the podium.

The victory came a day after ROC men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final.

Great Britain edged Italy for bronze.

The U.S. entered the finals hoping to bounce back from a shaky performance in qualifying, when the Americans came in second to the ROC. It marked the first time in 11 years the U.S. found itself looking up at the scoreboard at someone else.

The team declined to talk to the media afterward, though the 24-year-old did post on social media that she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and that the Olympics were “no joke.”

Yet, something happened during the first rotation. She attempted an Amanar vault during warmups only to roll out of it upon landing. The code for that vault posted when she saluted the judges, but in midair things went awry.

The vault requires a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. Biles instead did just 1 1/2 twists with a big leap forward after landing. She sat down and talked to U.S. team doctor Marcia Faustin, then headed to the back while her teammates moved on to uneven bars without her.

When Biles returned several minutes later, she hugged her teammates and took off her bar grips. And just like that, the greatest of all-time’s night was over.

USA Gymnastics did not specify the nature of Biles’ medical issue, saying in a statement she “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”

Biles is scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.

Whether she will get that opportunity remains to be seen.

Biles’ abrupt absence forced the Americans to scramble a bit. The finals are a three-up/three-count format, meaning each country puts three of their four athletes up on an apparatus, with all three scores counting.

Chiles stepped in to take Biles’ place on uneven bars and balance beam. The 20-year-old who made the team with her steady consistency pulled off a solid bars routine and drilled her balance beam set two days after falling twice on the event.

Thanks in part to a little help from ROC — which recorded a pair of falls on beam — the U.S. drew within striking distance heading to floor, the final rotation.

Yet the Americans — without Biles and her otherworldly tumbling — needed to be near perfect to close the gap. It didn’t happen. Chiles stumbled to the mat at the end of her second pass, and any chance the U.S. had of chasing down ROC went right along with it.

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Ryan Preece Captures Checkered Flag in Dramatic Coke Zero Sugar 400 Victory at Daytona

Published

18 hours ago

August 31, 2026

FNN SPORTS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Ryan Preece captured the checkered flag under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, surviving a chaotic overtime finish Saturday night to win the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 and race his way into the NASCAR Cup Series Chase.

The victory was the first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series win of Preece’s career, coming in his 249th start and in the final race of the regular season.

Driving the No. 60 Ford for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Preece overcame early damage, a 31-point deficit in the postseason standings and a tense fuel-mileage battle before emerging from the final-lap chaos at the “World Center of Racing.”

The race went six laps beyond its scheduled 160-lap distance, with Preece leading when NASCAR displayed the caution during a multi-car crash on the final lap. Post-race inspection later confirmed Preece as the winner.

2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Arthur Dell Morgan / Florida National News

Preece Survives Wild Overtime Finish

Daytona delivered another dramatic finish as the field charged through overtime with the final Chase position hanging in the balance.

Preece battled near the front with Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick as the race approached its conclusion. After getting a strong run, Preece moved ahead before contact involving Smith and Reddick helped trigger a multi-car crash behind him.

NASCAR displayed the caution with Preece leading, securing the biggest victory of his Cup Series career.

Daniel Suárez escaped the late chaos to finish second, followed by Reddick, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Austin Cindric finished sixth, with Austin Dillon seventh, Alex Bowman eighth, Josh Berry ninth and Cole Custer completing the top 10.

2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Arthur Dell Morgan / Florida National News

First Career Cup Series Victory

The Daytona triumph marked a breakthrough for the 35-year-old Preece.

He had gone 248 Cup Series starts without a points-paying victory before delivering when his season depended on it.

Preece led three times for five laps Saturday night, but the most important were the final ones.

The victory was also a major moment for RFK Racing, with Preece overcoming adversity early in the race before putting the No. 60 Ford in Victory Lane.

“I’m just speechless right now,” Preece said after the victory.

He credited his team for continuing to fight despite the pressure surrounding the regular-season finale.

Early Crash Fails to Stop Preece

Preece’s path to Victory Lane nearly ended during the opening stage.

A three-car incident involving Preece, Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher sent Preece sliding through the infield grass and damaged the left-front portion of his Ford.

His team made repairs, and Preece remained in contention.

Preece then charged back through the field and finished second in Stage 2 behind Ryan Blaney, putting himself back into position to challenge for the final Chase berth.

Fuel Strategy Sets Up Daytona Showdown

Fuel mileage became critical during the final 65-lap stage.

Preece and his team elected to stretch their fuel rather than make another late stop, keeping the No. 60 Ford near the front as other contenders faced difficult strategy decisions.

A late crash involving Carson Hocevar on Lap 155 forced the race into overtime and intensified concerns over whether the remaining fuel would last.

Preece made it last — and then took advantage of the opportunity when the race restarted.

2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Arthur Dell Morgan / Florida National News

Daytona Victory Sends Preece Into The Chase

The win did more than deliver Preece his first Cup Series trophy.

It secured the 16th and final position in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase, completing a dramatic turnaround in the regular-season finale.

Preece entered Daytona 31 points behind Shane van Gisbergen for the final postseason position.

Van Gisbergen won Stage 1 and initially strengthened his advantage, but the battle changed dramatically as the race progressed.

Preece ultimately earned 67 points at Daytona compared with 19 for van Gisbergen, allowing Preece to claim the final Chase berth by 17 points.

Van Gisbergen finished 28th after being caught in the final-lap chaos.

Coke Zero Sugar 400 Top 10

Ryan Preece
Daniel Suárez
Tyler Reddick
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Austin Cindric
Austin Dillon
Alex Bowman
Josh Berry
Cole Custer

Redemption at Daytona

The victory carried additional meaning for Preece because of his difficult history at Daytona.

Three years earlier, Preece endured a violent rollover crash during the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400. He also experienced trouble in subsequent Daytona races.

Saturday night produced a much different ending: a trip to Victory Lane and a place in NASCAR’s championship chase.

“This is redemption,” Preece said.

For Preece and the No. 60 RFK Racing team, the regular-season finale became a career-defining night — first Cup Series victory, a Daytona trophy and the final ticket into The Chase.

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins Sept. 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Sports

Jaguars Shut Out Buccaneers 19-0 in Preseason Finale

Published

20 hours ago

August 30, 2026

FNN SPORTS

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Jacksonville Jaguars backup quarterback Carter Bradley led a second-half scoring surge, and Michael Wortham returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown as the Jaguars shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-0 in their preseason finale at EverBank Stadium.

Bradley, battling for a potential practice squad role, helped break open a scoreless game after entering in the second quarter in relief of starter Nick Mullens.

Bradley Sparks Jaguars Offense

Bradley led Jacksonville on a 69-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, finishing the possession with a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back DeeJay Dallas.

Bradley then rushed for the 2-point conversion, extending Jacksonville’s lead to 11-0.

He had already helped put the Jaguars on the scoreboard before halftime, leading a short drive that ended with Cam Little drilling a 61-yard field goal for a 3-0 advantage.

Wortham Delivers 63-Yard Punt Return

With about six minutes remaining, Wortham delivered the game’s biggest special-teams play, returning a Tampa Bay punt 63 yards for a touchdown.

The score helped seal Jacksonville’s 19-0 shutout victory.

Aguilar Gets His Opportunity

Quarterback Joey Aguilar, also competing for a potential practice squad role, directed a 45-yard drive later in the game.

The possession ended with Little converting a 28-yard field goal, extending Jacksonville’s lead to 14-0 before Wortham’s punt-return touchdown put the game away.

Scoreless Opening Quarter

Mullens and Buccaneers backup quarterback Jalon Daniels traded possessions during a scoreless first quarter.

Mullens connected with tight end Hunter Long for a 34-yard gain near midfield, but Jacksonville’s opening drive eventually stalled.

Bradley entered in relief of Mullens during the second quarter.

Jaguars starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence did not play in the preseason finale.

Sports

Coke Zero Sugar 400 Race Weekend: NASCAR’s Chase Battle Heads to Daytona

Published

5 days ago

August 26, 2026

FNN SPORTS

Tyler Reddick eyes Daytona sweep as playoff bubble drivers fight for position on the high banks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, with championship implications, a potential Daytona season sweep and new superspeedway rules adding to the stakes on race weekend.

Reigning Daytona 500 champion Tyler Reddick enters the summer race with an opportunity to accomplish something that has not been done in more than a decade.

Reddick will attempt to become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2013 to win both NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona in the same season.

13 Drivers Have Clinched Chase Spots

Thirteen drivers have already secured spots in The Chase: Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Carson Hocevar, William Byron and Daniel Suarez.

That leaves the spotlight on drivers fighting around the cutoff line as Daytona’s unpredictable pack racing creates one of the season’s biggest opportunities for the championship picture to change.

Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski enter the weekend on the outside of the cutoff looking in.

Shane van Gisbergen sits 16th in the standings and will battle to remain above the cutoff line. Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric currently occupy the other two positions inside the top 16.

Blaney Chasing Back-to-Back Daytona Victories

Ryan Blaney has already secured his place in The Chase, but another milestone remains within reach.

Blaney will attempt to win consecutive Coke Zero Sugar 400 races and capture his third victory in Daytona’s summer Cup Series event.

With his postseason position already secured, Blaney can focus on adding another Daytona trophy rather than racing primarily for points.

Hocevar Eyes Superspeedway Sweep

Carson Hocevar also arrives at Daytona with history on the line.

After winning the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this season, Hocevar can become the first driver since Denny Hamlin in 2020 to win Cup races at both Daytona and Talladega in the same season.

Hocevar enters Daytona 11th in the standings.

New Rules Coming to Daytona

Drivers will also face a different aerodynamic and horsepower package for the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

The rear spoiler will be reduced from 7 inches to 4 inches, matching the height used at intermediate tracks. The change is intended to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Horsepower will also be reduced from 510 to 465 to compensate for the reduction in downforce.

NASCAR officials anticipate the changes will make single-car runs approximately 3 mph faster than under the previous package. Speeds in the draft, however, are expected to remain roughly comparable.

The changes could introduce another variable as drivers and teams determine how the new package affects handling, passing, drafting and strategy in Daytona’s tightly packed racing.

Daytona Could Reshape The Chase

Few tracks offer the unpredictability of Daytona.

With Preece and Keselowski trying to race their way above the cutoff and van Gisbergen fighting to remain inside the top 16, one crash, strategic gamble or late-race move could dramatically alter the championship picture.

Meanwhile, Reddick, Blaney and Hocevar arrive chasing their own pieces of Daytona history.

That combination puts the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at the center of the NASCAR championship conversation as the field returns to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.