Les représentantes de la Chine ont impressionné les juges par la qualité, la difficulté et l’exécution de leurs figures. Elles ont obtenu 313,5538 factors.
Seules au sommet parmi les 10 équipes en lice, les Chinoises devancent les Espagnoles (287,1475), leurs proches poursuivantes, par plus de 26 factors. Les Japonaises (284,9017) occupent le 3e rang.
Les Canadiennes sont 7es après le premier des trois programmes.Picture : Getty Pictures / Quinn Rooney
Les Canadiennes (262,4808) ont bien exécuté leur programme, inspiré de la télésérie à succès Sport of Thrones. Une collision et un manque de synchronisme leur ont toutefois coûté quelques précieux factors.
L’équipe canadienne ne compte qu’une athlète ayant goûté à ce grand rendez-vous. Il s’agit de Jacqueline Simoneau.
Simoneau est accompagnée dans la capitale française par Scarlett Finn, Audrey Lamothe, Jonnie Newman, Raphaëlle Plante, Kenzie Priddell, Claire Scheffel et Florence Tremblay.
À noter que la Montréalaise Raphaëlle Gauthier a performé avec la sélection australienne, qui ferme la marche au classement. Gauthier et son équipe sont 10es après avoir récolté 235,9071 factors.
Les programmes libre et acrobatique se dérouleront mardi et mercredi. La formation qui accumulera le plus de factors au terme des trois manches décrochera la médaille d’or.
Pour ne rien manquer des Jeux, téléchargez dès maintenant l’appli Radio-Canada JO Paris 2024, disponible dans l’App Retailer et sur Google Play.
“It was actually bizarre and awkward, not our favourite. None of us appreciated it,” Biles instructed reporters after ending fifth of eight on the beam regardless of having certified in second place.
Though it may appear counterintuitive, gymnasts typically choose noisy arenas, even on an equipment as precarious because the 10cm-wide beam, because it helps the athlete to focus extra on the duty at hand.
“Actually, we do higher in environments when there’s noise happening as a result of it feels most like follow,” Biles mentioned.
Whereas a number of gymnasts are seen competing concurrently on a number of equipment through the staff and throughout finals, the format of equipment finals means just one particular person competes at any given time.
It provides to the strain as every performer is keenly conscious that each set of eyes within the area is centered upon them.
“You could possibly really feel the stress within the room. I imply, the group shushing us for cheering like we had been, we did not like that as a result of it is simply so silent in there,” Lee, one in every of 4 finalists to undergo a fall off the beam, mentioned after inserting sixth.
Fears of a US recession have gripped international markets, triggering a share market rout that prompted buyers throughout Asia, Europe and North America to all unwind their positions – on the similar time.
The extreme plunge has raised questions over whether or not buyers are dealing with a historic share market crash – much like the worldwide monetary disaster or 1987’s Black Monday – or if it’s merely an overdue pull-back after a stellar interval of sturdy returns.
What precipitated the market meltdown?
The unstable situations erupted after the US Federal Reserve hinted after its 31 July assembly that rates of interest would quickly be lower, in what was initially seen as a stimulus for shares.
However the features shortly evaporated as buyers reinterpreted the approaching charge cuts as an indication the world’s greatest economic system was faltering.
A number of items of financial knowledge, together with manufacturing, sturdy items and – crucially – jobs and payroll knowledge, raised questions over the well being of the US economic system, with the well-regarded “Sahm Rule” signalling a recession. This indicator, which is triggered when there’s a speedy rise within the unemployment charge, has accurately recognized each recession for the reason that second world conflict.
AMP chief economist Shane Oliver stated “recession fears are actually again with a vengeance, significantly within the US”.
Nick Healy, a Sydney-based portfolio supervisor at Wilson Asset Administration, stated that the US knowledge proved to be softer than expectations, triggering a powerful market response.
“It’s honest to categorise it as an unwinding of positioning however my view is that it’s onerous to extrapolate too strongly into the long run from one month of financial knowledge,” stated Healy.
After a weekend break to digest the information, a rout took maintain in Asian markets on Monday and swept by way of European and American markets later within the day.
Wall Avenue’s gauge of worry, the CBOE Volatility Index, shot up above 65; ranges not recorded for the reason that pandemic, and harking back to the GFC, earlier than settling.
The S&P 500 misplaced 3% on Monday, whereas the tech-focused Nasdaq shed 3.43%. Whereas each figures have been exceptional, they have been extra modest than what the futures market initially pointed to, offering some aid to merchants and elevating hopes the unload wouldn’t flip right into a full blown meltdown.
Even after the losses, the benchmark S&P 500 index remains to be up greater than 9% since January, as is the Nasdaq.
What was hit hardest?
Shares, inventory markets and indices that had risen probably the most tended to fall the furthest.
Chip maker Nvidia, which has led a interval of sturdy returns for the tech sector, was down by as a lot as 15% at one level on Monday, earlier than halving its losses, whereas bitcoin additionally fell sharply.
Australia’s share market suffered its worst day for the reason that onset of the pandemic, erasing greater than $100bn in worth from native shares in a single buying and selling session.
However it was Japan’s Nikkei which got here below probably the most excessive strain, plunging by 12% on Monday earlier than rebounding strongly early on Tuesday.
Traders have been involved concerning the state of the Japanese economic system and the latest results of a strengthening yen, which has unravelled the so-called “carry commerce”, during which buyers borrow cheaply in yen and purchase higher-yielding property together with the US greenback.
Analysts had warned that the yen carry commerce was unwinding, triggering margin calls and compelled promoting.
On-line buying and selling agency IG stated that it suspected the frenzied market motion in Japan was the “remaining act of cleaning of lengthy positions within the Japan commerce”, referring to buyers who have been caught up within the yen-carry commerce.
Some protected haven property, similar to bonds, proved to be among the many few hiding spots from the turmoil, with the sharp strikes difficult all of the certain bets of latest months.
That upbeat sentiment had been underpinned by optimism about AI applied sciences and the broader tech sector, together with expectations inflation would cool, job markets stay strong and economies emerge from the inflationary interval intact.
What occurs subsequent?
Whereas it’s too early to inform whether or not the promoting strain will abate, on the very least the sharp falls are a warning shot.
The worldwide recession considerations of latest years have been tied to a worry that cost-of-living pressures will finally depress spending to such an extent that economies will shift into reverse.
One “canary within the coalmine” buyers look to is American on-line furnishings and residential items firm Wayfair, which warned on Thursday that clients have been very cautious after recording a close to 25% fall from peak spending ranges recorded three years in the past
“This mirrors the magnitude of the peak-to-trough correction the house furnishing area skilled in the course of the nice monetary disaster,” Wayfair chief government Niraj Shah stated on the earnings name.
Whereas these discretionary spending figures assist a case for an ensuing bear market, buyers even have a watch on the upcoming US election and related spending initiatives, which might act as one other stimulus for shares.
“There’s a state of affairs the place each candidates and each events are very comfortable to spend cash which ought to hold fiscal {dollars} going into the economic system,” stated Healy.
No medal for Simone Biles on the steadiness beam this time after a devastating fall took her out of medal rivalry.
The American gymnastics star slipped and fell off the equipment on the finish of her acrobatic sequence in the course of the Paris Olympics’ ladies’s steadiness beam finals, denying her a possibility so as to add to the bronzes she received on the occasion on the 2016 and 2020 Video games.
Sporting a blue-and-white leotard that includes over 5,000 crystals, Biles was greater than midway by means of her set when she could not fairly maintain her steadiness. The 27-year-old hopped off the beam and onto the mat whereas 1000’s inside a packed Bercy Enviornment — together with NFL nice Tom Brady — set free an audible “ohhh.”
Biles obtained a rating of 13.100, tied with U.S. teammate Suni Lee for fourth.
There was an prolonged look ahead to her rating to submit. At one level, Biles rolled her eyes in seeming annoyance realizing she wasn’t going to complete on the medal stand.
Alice D’Amato of Italy took the gold with a rating of 14.366. Zhou Yaqin of China earned silver with a 14.100, simply forward of bronze medalist Manila Esposito of Italy. Italy, which received silver behind the U.S. within the crew competitors, had by no means medaled on beam earlier than.
Biles completed in a tie for fifth with Lee, whose hopes for a gold on beam she’s lengthy coveted ended in the course of her routine when she fell in the course of the finish of her acro sequence, similar to Biles did a couple of minutes later.
The 21-year-old Lee will nonetheless go away Paris with three medals simply months after she was bedridden whereas attempting to navigate a pair of persistent kidney-related ailments.
Whereas Lee’s Olympics are over, Biles can also be within the ground ultimate later Monday, an occasion the place she’s by no means misplaced a serious worldwide competitors, together with a gold in Rio do Janeiro eight years in the past.
“We had been each simply form of irritated simply because we all know what we’re able to,” Lee stated. “We weren’t capable of get it executed right this moment, however she nonetheless has ground and he or she’s the G.O.A.T., so she’ll be wonderful.”
There’s loads of historical past on the road for Biles in what may very well be the final competitors of her profession. Biles has 10 medals in her Olympic profession, together with seven golds. A medal within the ground ultimate would tie her with Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska for the second-most medals by a feminine gymnast in Olympic historical past, trailing solely former Soviet Union nice Larisa Latynina’s 18.
What number of medals does Simone Biles have?
Simone Biles has a complete of 10 Olympic medals: 7 gold, 1 silver and a couple of bronze.
On the Paris Olympics, Biles has picked up three gold medals within the vault, all-around and crew occasions.
On the Tokyo Olympics, Simone received a silver within the crew occasion and a bronze on the steadiness beam.
On the Rio Olympics, Biles received 5 gold: crew, all-around, vault, steadiness beam and ground.
This is a listing of Simone Biles’ medals
2024 Paris Olympics – Gold – Vault
2024 Paris Olympics – Gold – All-around
2024 Paris Olympics – Gold – Staff
2020 Tokyo Olympics – Silver – Staff
2020 Tokyo Olympics – Bronze – Steadiness beam
2016 Rio Olympics – Gold – Flooring
2016 Rio Olympics – Gold – Steadiness beam
2016 Rio Olympics – Gold – Vault
2016 Rio Olympics – Gold – All-around
2016 Rio Olympics – Gold – Staff
What number of medals does Simone Biles have?
Simone Biles has a complete of 10 Olympic medals: 7 gold, 1 silver and a couple of bronze.
On the Paris Olympics, Biles has picked up three gold medals within the vault, all-around and crew occasions.
On the Tokyo Olympics, Simone received a silver within the crew occasion and a bronze on the steadiness beam.
On the Rio Olympics, Biles received 5 gold: crew, all-around, vault, steadiness beam and ground.
International shares plunged over the weekend amid fears that the US economic system is faltering, and Monday, all three main US inventory indexes had been down considerably.
The Dow Jones Industrial Common fell greater than 1,000 factors, whereas the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq had been each down greater than 3 p.c — marking the S&P 550’s largest one-day drop since September 2022. The slides got here after Japan’s Nikkei index had its worst day since its “Black Monday” crash of 1987, dropping 12.4 p.c, and as European markets struggled as nicely.
The heavy losses sign that traders are rattled following stories final week displaying that the US had solely added 114,000 jobs in July, under expectations of about 150,000, and that unemployment had risen to 4.3 p.c — larger than any month since October 2021. These numbers should not in and of themselves a disaster: The unemployment price remains to be comparatively low, and the underperformance in hiring isn’t catastrophic, however each have been taken as indicators that the US economic system could be displaying some cracks.
Regardless that many economists projected that the US would keep away from a recession after the pandemic-induced financial stoop, and even supposing it has completed so, the stories reignited issues {that a} US recession may nonetheless occur, wreaking disastrous potential impacts throughout the worldwide economic system. On Monday, Goldman Sachs raised its odds of a recession occurring within the subsequent 12 months from 15 p.c to 25 p.c.
It’s not possible to say now how practical these recession fears are. However it might be too early for panic. The US economic system wasn’t simply speculated to be good — it really is in fairly fine condition.
“There’s actually some slowing happening,” stated Matt Colyar, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. “However the foundational issues that made us comparatively inspired concerning the US economic system — these issues haven’t modified.”
The rise in unemployment “spooked lots of people,” Colyar stated, as a result of it triggered what known as the “Sahm Rule,” apparently indicating {that a} recession could also be close to. The rule is activated if the three-month common unemployment price will increase by a minimum of half a share level from its low over the prior 12 months. It has efficiently predicted each US recession since 1970.
Nonetheless, the economist after which the rule is known as, Claudia Sahm, isn’t satisfied that the Sahm Rule will probably be a dependable predictor this time. The post-pandemic economic system has to this point defied different historic recession indicators: For instance, most bond strategists polled by Reuters earlier this 12 months stated that the patterns they examine have been so uncommon that they now not thought-about bond yield curves to be predictive.
“If the Sahm Rule had been to set off, it will be part of the ever-growing group of indicators, guidelines of thumb, that weren’t as much as the duty,” Sahm instructed the AP earlier than the roles report got here out final week.
One motive the Sahm rule won’t be as helpful this time round is that the rise in unemployment isn’t being pushed by layoffs however somewhat extra persons are getting into the labor drive. Robust development within the labor provide isn’t essentially a sign of a recession, Colyar stated.
“[Unemployment] may continue to grow,” he stated. “However as of proper now, the labor market isn’t flashing pink as a lot because it’s simply slowing down.”
However a nasty jobs report wasn’t the one factor driving the worldwide market selloff; so-called carry trades might have additionally performed a giant position. These trades contain traders borrowing cash in currencies which have low rates of interest — such because the Japanese yen or Swiss franc — and utilizing it to purchase higher-yielding investments, similar to US Treasury bonds.
As a result of the yen has elevated in worth by 11 p.c towards the US greenback in a month, these trades are now not as advantageous to traders. Although it’s tough to say for sure in real-time, Colyar stated that traders could also be “unwinding these bets to reduce their losses” and as an alternative placing that cash in safe-haven securities similar to US bonds, contributing to the Nikkei index’s crash.
Goldman Sachs has additionally cautioned about studying an excessive amount of into latest market volatility. In its Monday evaluation, the financial institution stated that it sees recession danger as “restricted,” that it doesn’t “see main monetary imbalances,” and that although it might have elevated its projection on the chance of recession, there’s loads of room for the Federal Reserve to step in to guard the economic system.
The Fed is anticipated to chop rates of interest as early as its September assembly — or unusually, even perhaps earlier than then — and that would supply reduction to debtors and companies. Now that inflation has come down to close the Fed’s 2 p.c goal price, Moody’s Analytics is projecting two price cuts earlier than the top of the 12 months in September and December, involving a gradual stress-free of excessive rates of interest. That would go a great distance in calming the inventory market.
“Households stay in fine condition, and companies have continued to rent solidly. And companies and households have dealt with their debt comparatively nicely,” Colyar stated. “So we predict that [the Fed] can unwind coverage comparatively slowly. … There’s some proof that there’s extra resilience there than beforehand assumed.”
Pedestrians stroll by an indication posted outdoors of a Charles Schwab workplace in San Francisco on April 17, 2023.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Pictures
Brokerage corporations together with Charles Schwab reported short-term technical points on Monday in the course of a steep sell-off for world equities.
“Because of a technical situation, some shoppers might have issue logging in to Schwab platforms,” the agency mentioned in a publish on its X social media account. “Please settle for our apologies as our groups work to resolve the difficulty as rapidly as doable. Maintain instances could also be longer than common.”
Some customers have been reporting on social media about points stepping into their accounts. The agency mentioned in a publish at 12:38 p.m. ET that the difficulty had been resolved.
The Dow Jones Industrial Common was closed down 1,034 factors, or 2.6%, after being down greater than 1,200 factors at its low of the session. Shares of Schwab fell 1.7% on the day, lower than the broader market.
Schwab was not the one brokerage agency with social media complaints on Monday. The X account for Constancy Investments responded to a few of these complaints, saying that points logging in to its platform have been resolved.
Elsewhere, Steve Sanders, EVP of promoting and product improvement at Interactive Brokers, mentioned in an announcement that the agency knew of no extensive outages on its platform. Vanguard mentioned in an announcement that it had short-term points for some shoppers on Monday morning which have since been resolved.
The web site Downdetector.com confirmed reported points at different brokerage corporations as properly on Monday morning, although the complaints appeared to have largely gone away by early afternoon. CNBC reached out to different corporations to see in the event that they have been having points.
There shall be some evaluation of the injury on Tuesday morning from a storm that introduced intense hail and rainfall via Calgary and different components of the province on Monday night.
One of many storms that developed northwest of Calgary grew to become very intense in a short time, stated Heather Pimiskern, a meterologist with Setting Canada.
“A few of them moved in from B.C., and what that meant was, because it entered into Alberta, the atmospheric situations had been primed for storms to turn out to be extreme in nature,” she stated.
An Alberta Emergency Alert was initially issued at 7:57 p.m. on Monday, warning of torrential rain and baseball-sized hail for components of southern Alberta.
The company suggested individuals to search shelter at any time when there’s harmful climate.
Pimiskern stated Monday night time that the biggest hail dimension report the company obtained from Calgary was roughly 4.5 centimetres in diameter, which is concerning the dimension of a golf ball.
In an e mail assertion to CBC Information despatched Monday night time, a spokesperson for the Calgary Airport Authority confirmed that the YYC Calgary Worldwide Airport home terminal constructing had been broken by hail and heavy rainfall.
“We’re prioritizing the security of all friends and workers and clearing the impacted space. We’re at present assessing the injury and its affect to operations,” reads the assertion, including that no accidents have been reported presently.
The spokesperson stated that the airport is anticipating delays to inbound and outbound flights because of the injury, and travellers are suggested to succeed in out to their airline to substantiate the standing of their flights.
In a social media submit round 1 a.m. Tuesday, the airport authority stated components of the home terminal constructing will stay closed till additional discover, including that work to wash up the water and assess the injury from the storm had began.
‘Mom Nature comes calling’
Throughout the storm, traveller Jodie Russett says she watched a part of the airport’s ceiling fall off.
Russett, who was passing via Calgary from Toronto and heading to Kelowna, B.C., advised CBC Information she’d should resolve whether or not to remain in a single day on the airport — ready for her delayed flight to depart — or go keep at a lodge in Calgary till morning.
“What can we do? It is no person’s fault, proper?”
Russett wasn’t alone. Traveller Emmanuel Ebere was additionally caught on the Calgary airport on Monday night.
“We haven’t any a lot info relating to when we’ll be taking off, or if we’re ever going to be taking off tonight,” stated Ebere.
“It is no person’s fault. Mom Nature comes calling and I assume we simply should adapt to the state of affairs the place we’re simply going to remain calm … I assume we’ll simply circulate with the tide.”
Warren Buffett continued to trim Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in Apple within the second quarter.
Warren Buffett is taken into account one of many biggest buyers in American historical past resulting from his observe report with Berkshire Hathaway(BRK.A 2.12%)(BRK.B 2.04%). Particularly, Berkshire inventory has compounded at roughly 19.8% yearly since Buffett took management of the corporate in 1965, practically doubling the efficiency of the S&P 500.
In recent times, one of the crucial broadly mentioned points of his enterprise has been its sizable stake in Apple(AAPL -0.97%). Berkshire started shopping for shares in 2016. Whether or not the unique buy was made by Buffett or his understudies is unknown, however Buffett probably managed the place because it grew in measurement over time, and he’s probably liable for trimming the place in current quarters.
This fall 2023: Apple accounted for 49% of Berkshire Hathaway’s inventory portfolio.
Q1 2024: Apple accounted for 40% of Berkshire Hathaway’s inventory portfolio.
Q2 2024: Apple accounted for 30% of Berkshire Hathaway’s inventory portfolio.
In Could 2023, Buffett mentioned, “Apple is totally different than the opposite companies we personal. It simply occurs to be a greater enterprise.” That assertion is seemingly at odds with the current promoting spree. CNBC estimates that Berkshire’s stake in Apple declined to 400 million shares in June 2024, a 55% discount from 905 million shares in December 2023.
Nonetheless, Buffett’s conviction in one other megacap firm has not wavered. He has repurchased shares of Berkshire Hathaway inventory in every of the final three quarters, spending a collective $5 billion on buybacks. The message is obvious: Buffett believes Berkshire is undervalued.
1. Apple
Apple has cultivated immense pricing energy by pairing fashionable {hardware} with proprietary software program and providers, making a closed ecosystem that different producers can’t replicate. Certainly, the common iPhone sells for 3 times greater than the common Android smartphone. Apple has a powerful presence in smartphones, private computer systems, tablets, and smartwatches, and the corporate additionally operates the main cell app retailer and it has one of many fastest-growing promoting companies within the U.S.
Apple reported lackluster monetary leads to the June quarter, regardless of beating expectations on the highest and backside traces. Income elevated 4.8% to $85.8 billion and GAAP internet revenue rose 7.6% to $21.4 billion. There have been a couple of highlights. The corporate continued to repurchase inventory, so earnings per share elevated 11%. Apple additionally reported 14% gross sales development in providers, which include a lot larger margins than its {hardware} merchandise.
Nonetheless, gross sales in China fell 6% and working revenue slipped 10% throughout the quarter, as promotions failed to beat waning demand for iPhones. Certainly, IDC estimates that quarterly iPhone shipments in China declined 3%, regardless of an acceleration within the broader market. Because of this, Apple misplaced its spot amongst high 5 smartphone firms within the area, whereas native opponents like Huawei and Xiaomi gained share. That pattern is problematic as a result of China accounted for 19% of complete income in fiscal 2023 (ended September 2023).
Going ahead, Wall Avenue expects Apple to develop earnings per share at 10% yearly by way of fiscal 2025. That makes its present valuation of 33.5 instances earnings look outrageously costly. I say that as a result of it provides Apple a PEG ratio of three.4, properly above the three-year common of two.5. Which will clarify why Buffett has aggressively offered Apple in current quarters, and it additionally leaves room for continued promoting in future quarters.
2. Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway owns subsidiaries in a various vary of industries, together with insurance coverage, railroads, vitality, utilities, manufacturing, and retail. The core insurance coverage enterprise generates investable money with which Warren Buffett has earned nice returns. As proof, Berkshire’s e book worth per share — a great measure for adjustments in intrinsic worth — compounded at 12% yearly over the past 5 years, practically conserving tempo with the 13.1% acquire within the S&P 500.
Berkshire has one other essential high quality in its resilience. Its subsidiaries haven’t solely been hand chosen by Buffett, a consummate investor with a knack for figuring out competitively advantaged companies, but additionally the varied nature of these subsidiaries means Berkshire will not be overly reliant on a single sector or trade. That has helped Berkshire outperform the S&P 500 throughout tough market environments, as proven within the chart beneath.
Bear Market Begin Date
S&P 500 Most Decline
Berkshire Hathaway Most Decline
March 2000
(49%)
(24%)
October 2007
(57%)
(54%)
February 2020
(34%)
(30%)
January 2022
(25%)
(27%)
Common
(41%)
(34%)
Information supply: Yardeni Analysis, Ycharts.
Berkshire reported moderately good monetary leads to the June quarter. Income rose 1.2% to $93.7 billion and working earnings elevated 16% to $11.6 billion. The shining star was the insurance coverage phase, the place working earnings from underwriting and fixed-income investments climbed 56%. In the meantime, earnings typically declined throughout different segments.
As a caveat, GAAP internet revenue dropped 16% to $30.3 billion throughout the quarter. Nonetheless, Buffett has cautioned buyers to disregard that determine as a result of it contains positive aspects and losses (each realized and unrealized) on shares. Within the June quarter, Berkshire recorded $28 billion in unrealized losses versus $24 billion in unrealized positive aspects in the identical quarter final yr. That discrepancy explains the decline in GAAP earnings.
Going ahead, Wall Avenue expects Berkshire to develop working earnings at 12% yearly over the subsequent three years. That makes the present valuation of twenty-two instances working earnings look just a little costly, although Buffett clearly believes the inventory is undervalued. “With our current combine of companies, Berkshire ought to do a bit higher than the common American company and, extra essential, ought to additionally function with materially much less threat of everlasting lack of capital,” Buffett wrote in his most up-to-date shareholder letter.
Buyers seeking to strengthen their portfolio with a defensive inventory ought to contemplate shopping for a small place in Berkshire Hathaway at present.
Whereas lots of people suppose creative swimming is delightfully antiquated—a bunch of “bathing beauties” in floral swim caps and cherry-lipped smiles—that concept is a drained previous stereotype that Daniella Ramirez, a Workforce USA creative swimmer set to compete on the 2024 Olympic Video games, is sick of listening to. She’s amassed a TikTok following together with her post-performance, ASMR-esque “get unready with me” movies, and he or she’s hoping her content material finally brings extra consideration to, and respect for, a grueling (generally harmful) sport she’s spent her total life—fairly actually, her mother and grandmother have been athletes too—perfecting.
Ramirez lately spoke with SELF on what it takes to compete in creative swimming at an Olympic degree; why she’s bored with misogynistic, sexualized associations of the game; how scary being inverted underwater can really be; and different issues she needs extra folks knew.
SELF: In creative swimming, there’s a lot emphasis on artistry and wonder—in a predominantly feminine sport. Do you generally really feel like outsiders don’t take it as significantly as they need to due to this?
Daniella Ramirez: I really feel like my aim as a content material creator has all the time been to make our sport extra revered and put it within the limelight—to point out folks how onerous it really is. Folks are likely to affiliate creative swimming with Esther Williams, or ladies diving right into a pool sideways in a line. It’s all the time tremendous hypersexualized, or we’re within the again simply being fairly. It’s not like that. We’re not showgirls who contact the underside of the pool, put an arm and a leg up, and look good. I feel it’s very irritating for me to speak about as a result of it’s so ingrained into American Hollywood that synchronized swimming is background dancing for a pool celebration. There are a variety of misconceptions there.
In order that’s one frequent false impression about creative swimming—you could stand in your ft underwater throughout competitors?
Folks all the time suppose we contact the underside, however I’ve by no means, ever touched the underside of the pool in a routine, ever. What’s one other good false impression? The freaking flower caps. Can we finish it with the flower caps? Please put that in there. Please finish flower caps.
Except for previous sexist media associations, why do you suppose some folks have such a misunderstanding of the game?
Once you have a look at somebody like Simone Biles, I really feel prefer it’s simpler to understand simply how onerous her sport is as a result of it’s on land, and we all know how physics works. Lots of people are likely to suppose swimming itself is straightforward, however it’s tremendous onerous as it’s. Now as an alternative of swimming forwards and backwards, think about going up and down too, and treading water. That’s creative swimming.
In Paris, you and your teammates will likely be within the pool competing for roughly three to three-and-a-half minutes at a time (on three consecutive days). How lengthy does it take to arrange for these performances?
Main as much as the competitors, we’re coaching within the pool for about two hours a day, three days every week, for one efficiency. However that’s simply time within the water—we do a ton of different exercises, like CrossFit, however with our mouths taped to assist with breath management since we’re underwater a lot. We need to ensure that our lungs are actually, actually sturdy. We additionally do a variety of weight coaching with excessive reps and fairly low weights. Lengthy earlier than a contest, we’ll additionally do regular swimming—we’ll swim laps for 3 hours a day at some factors.
Talking of your respiration, you and your teammates spend a *lot* of time underwater—generally half of your efficiency! Has it gotten simpler through the years as you’ve grown in your sport?
US President Joe Biden met his senior nationwide safety staff on Monday as considerations of a attainable Iranian retaliatory assault on Israel grew.
Mr Biden mentioned he had been briefed on preparations to assist Israel ought to it’s attacked, whereas Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned officers have been working “across the clock” to forestall an escalation.
Tensions have risen during the last week following the assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh, for which Iran has blamed Israel and vowed “extreme” retaliation. Israel has not claimed accountability for the assassination.
Quite a few international locations, together with the US and UK, have additionally informed their residents to go away Lebanon, from the place it’s feared Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia and political motion, may play a task in any response.
Throughout Monday’s briefing, Mr Biden was informed the timing and nature of an Iranian assault remained unclear, based on US information website Axios. A day earlier, Mr Blinken reportedly informed his G7 counterparts that Iran and Hezbollah may assault Israel inside 24 to 48 hours.
In a press release launched after the briefing, Mr Biden mentioned: “We acquired updates on threats posed by Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, and preparations to assist Israel ought to it’s attacked once more.”
He added that steps have been being taken to answer assaults on US forces “in a fashion and place of our selecting”. On Monday, a number of US personnel have been injured in a suspected rocket assault on a US army base in Iraq.
Chatting with reporters earlier within the day, Mr Blinken mentioned officers have been “engaged in intense diplomacy just about across the clock with a quite simple message: All events should chorus from escalation”.
“Escalation shouldn’t be in anybody’s pursuits. It would solely result in extra battle, extra violence, extra insecurity,” he mentioned.
He added {that a} ceasefire would “unlock prospects for extra enduring calm not solely in Gaza itself, however in different areas the place the battle can unfold”.
“It’s pressing that every one events make the suitable decisions within the hours and days forward,” he mentioned.
Earlier within the day, Mr Biden spoke to King Abdullah II of Jordan about “efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, together with via a direct ceasefire and hostage launch deal”, a press release from the White Home mentioned.
A joint assertion from the G7 additionally expressed “deep concern on the heightened degree of stress within the Center East which threatens to ignite a broader battle within the area”.
“No nation or nation stands to realize from an additional escalation within the Center East,” it mentioned.
Talks that had introduced renewed hope of a ceasefire deal to finish the battle in Gaza have faltered following the occasions of latest weeks.
On 27 July, 12 youngsters and youngsters have been killed in a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel accused Hezbollah of finishing up the strike, although Hezbollah denied any involvement.
Days later, Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah army commander, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. 4 others, together with two youngsters, have been additionally killed.
Hours later, Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) mentioned Haniyeh was killed in a “sturdy blast” attributable to a “short-range projectile” fired from outdoors a home the place he was staying whereas visiting the capital, Tehran.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned in an interview with Russian state information company RIA Novosti that the killing would have a “damaging impression on the continued negotiations”.
Israel has not commented on the assassination, however Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned afterwards that Israel had delivered “crushing blows” to Iran’s proxy teams in latest days.
Following the killings in Lebanon and Iran, the IRGC mentioned Israel would obtain a “extreme punishment on the applicable time, place and method”, whereas Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah mentioned the battle had entered a “new section”.
It’s the closest the battle has come to escalation since April, when Iran fired some 300 drones and missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed plenty of senior army commanders.
Flights suspended
On Monday, Jordan requested all airways planning to land at its airports to hold an extra 45 minutes’ price of gasoline, a transfer considered a precaution in case Jordan has to shut its airspace within the occasion of a regional battle.
German flag service Lufthansa has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran, and Beirut till and together with 12 August.
US airline Delta has additionally paused flights to Tel Aviv till at the very least 31 August “as a consequence of ongoing battle within the area”.
The UK Overseas Workplace at present advises in opposition to all journey to Lebanon and has urged British residents within the nation to go away.
It additionally advises in opposition to all journey to the northern space of Israel that shares a border with Lebanon.
The battle in Gaza started following the 7 October assault on Israel by Hamas and different militant teams, which noticed round 1,200 folks killed and one other 251 taken again to Gaza as hostages.
For the reason that launch of Israel’s retaliatory floor invasion in Gaza, greater than 39,600 Palestinians have been killed, based on the Hamas-run well being ministry.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have additionally exchanged near-daily assaults because the battle started, with lots of of individuals killed and hundreds displaced on either side of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Hezbollah and Hamas are each backed by Iran and type a part of what Iran calls the “axis of resistance”, a unfastened alliance of militant and political teams throughout the area that oppose Israel and its key ally, the US.
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