‘Olympic mom’ Hoda Kotb gets surprised by Simone Biles on anchor’s final Today show

This was lovely.

It’s been quite an emotional day on the Today show with Hoda Kotb on her last day

And one of the surprise guests celebrating the longtime co-anchor was … Simone Biles!

MORE HODA: Why she’s said she’s leaving the Today show

The Olympics legend had some lovely things to say, like this: “She’s like our Olympic mom. I’ve been coming to the Today show for years and sharing vulnerable stories, which Hoda has given us such a great platform [for], to be open and raw and to just feel like [it’s] a safe space.”

At the end, Biles had this to say with her undecided if she’s competing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: “Hopefully, we’re in L.A. together … whatever that means!”

Hmmm!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=64315075]

Simone Biles revealed why she is torn about competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

“What’s really worth it?”

There’s a chance Simone Biles won’t compete in the 2028 Olympics, and as much as that sentence seems unreal, there’s a reason why she’s undecided about it.

When Biles arrived at the 2024 Paris Olympics last year, there were many questions about whether it would be a repeat of the 2021 Tokyo Games. Unfortunately, Biles had to withdraw from competing due to the twisties or life-threatening gymnastics vertigo that prevents athletes from knowing where they are while in the air. But Paris was different. Biles walked away with three gold medals and a silver, solidifying her status as the GOAT of women’s gymnastics.

Rightfully, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics questions started. At the time, Biles said, “You never say never,” with a smile. But she might be more torn about being there than previously thought. Per Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated, Biles revealed what competing in the next Olympics must be about for her to return. “Life and death,” she explained. Here’s more from Biles about the decision:

“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? I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.”

“If you go back, you’ll be greedy. Those are the consequences. But that’s also your decision to decide. 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?”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393228]

A year of the best pictures of Kentucky Wildcats sports

Kentucky Wildcats sports had a fun year in 2024. Here are some of the best pictures of the Wildcats this past year.

It was an interesting year for Kentucky Wildcats sports. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was definitely interesting. Kentucky basketball and Kentucky football were the headliners, both good and bad, but other sports certainly garnered their share of the news.

The Wildcats basketball team went through a coaching change, saying goodbye to John Calipari, and hello to a fan favorite former player. The women’s team also made a change, and both seem to have worked out so far.

Related: New Year’s resolutions for Kentucky basketball

It was Kentucky baseball that had the deepest postseason run, playing their way all the way to Omaha. Meanwhile, some former Wildcats had huge success at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Fall brought football, but things did not go as planned on the gridiron, and the new basketball season quickly stole the attention of fans.

Overall, it was a fun year, with both highs and lows. Here are the best photos of Kentucky sports from 2024:

Meet Gout Gout, the Australian teenager who ran a lightning-fast 100m dash

Time to get to know the name Gout Gout.

It’s time to get to know the name Gout Gout.

He’s the 16-year-old runner who ran a 10.04-second 100m in the All-School Athletics Championships in Queensland, which would be the fourth-fastest

Yes, it was wind-assisted. But when I tell you that the video is stunning to watch, that won’t matter to you. Dude takes off and when he hits top speed, it’s like he’s got afterburners on.

His family is from South Sudan, and he was born in Brisbane in 2007. As a teenager, he started breaking age records in sprints and other races, and now his name has gone very viral thanks to this:

WOW.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=11490]

Jonathan Owens celebrated a Bears fumble by miming Simone Biles’ landing pose

Jonathan Owens wholeheartedly loves Simone Biles.

With Jonathan Owens playing for the Chicago Bears this season, that means Simone Biles — his all-time Olympian wife — is usually in attendance to support her husband. And it’s pretty clear that any time Owens makes a significant play, he’s going to pay proper tribute to her.

On Sunday, with the NFC North rival Minnesota Vikings threatening to punch the ball into the end zone on a promising opening drive, Owens forced a fumble on Vikings running back Aaron Jones.

To celebrate the turnover, Owens gathered his Bears teammates in the end zone and mimed Biles’ signature landing pose.

Fantastic stuff.

Owens is a classic wife guy through and through. You gotta love it.

Who is Jake Paul’s girlfriend? Meet Jutta Leerdam, an Olympic athlete.

Meet the girlfriend of the boxer and YouTuber.

Jake Paul isn’t the only athlete in his relationship.

The YouTube star and boxer is dating Jutta Leerdam, a speed skater who won silver in the 1000m for the Netherlands in the 2022 Beijing Olympics. The pair made their relationship Instagram official back in 2023 on the social media site (see below) and we’ve seen her at his fights ever since, cheering him on from the crowd.

She’s also posted about how proud she is of him taking on boxing, as you’ll also see below: “You inspire me so much with your work ethic, the way you think big, and your crazy determination. You are special [Jake]. My champion.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqlK4NELk8G/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvnRSWjOTTx/?img_index=1

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=7716]

A tearful Jordan Chiles says she still has the Olympic bronze medal she’s fighting to keep

As she fought back tears, Jordan Chiles explained why she still has her bronze medal.

Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles still has the Olympic bronze medal that dominated headlines this summer. In a tearful interview with Today, Jordan spoke about her emotional journey after the Paris Olympics and why she’s still holding on to the medal.

Many may never know what Chiles has been experiencing behind the scenes as she continues to fight for the right to keep the bronze medal from her floor routine after it was stripped away. But, on Monday, she spoke with Hoda Kotb about her continued battle and why it means so much.

During a tearful interview, Chiles revealed what’s happened since Paris, the support she’s received and why her bronze medal means more to her than even the gold medal she won with Team USA. Here’s part of what she shared in a nearly ten-minute segment:

“It was like a cherry on top. My redemption tour going into Paris was — ‘Yes.’ Coming back with a gold, coming back with the understanding that I was able to go out there and be the best version of myself — With this floor medal it was like, ‘Wow, I never expected myself to make a floor final’…

“Plus it was an all Black podium. That was history being made. I was very glad to be a part of…”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393228]

Notre Dame guard talks Olympic experience with former Irish player

Great to hear a present Irish player laud a past one.

[autotag]Cassandre Prosper[/autotag] missed most of her first full season with Notre Dame with an injury. However, making Canada’s Olympic women’s basketball team was a nice consolation prize. Even better, she was teammates with [autotag]Natalie Achonwa[/autotag], another name familiar to anyone who’s followed the Irish over the past 15 years.

Prosper sat down with Crina Mustafa of Her Hoop Stats to talk about a variety of topics, but her Olympic experience with Achonwa was a real highlight of the interview. Prosper specifically talked about how much she was blown away by Achonwa not only as a leader and mentor to the younger players on the team but also as a mother.

After Canada went winless in three Olympic contests, Achonwa retired as a player and was hired at Michigan as its assistant coach for player development. Clearly, Achonwa was preparing for this next chapter in her life while in Paris.

You can view Prosper’s entire interview here starting at 16:39:

With the Olympics finished, all Irish fans will be anxious to see how Prosper contributes to a team with national championship aspirations. Only time will tell.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on X: @gfclark89

Noah Lyles posted a precious engagement video with fiancée Junelle Bromfield

Congratulations are in order for Noah Lyles and his girlfriend, Junelle.

Track and field Olympian Noah Lyles is an engaged man.

During Lyles’ whirlwind 2024 Paris Olympics, his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, was by his side as he ran his way to a gold medal and became the fastest man in the world. At the time, Lyles said, “I got pretty big plans for a celebration,” which might have meant spending the rest of their lives together.

Lyles and Bromfield shared videos on their social media Sunday of heir recent engagement, Bromfield’s gorgeous ring and huge smiles of joy. There were also a lot of flowers, candles, and even mini-fireworks to make the occasion. Congratulations to the happy couple!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBEr5NzPK7A/?igsh=ZmJkNGI0OGh0ZDl1

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBEx_AcRoMs/?igsh=Z204cnEwMnQ5em04

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=421393228]