Nadia Comaneci"s perfect 10 | Countdown to Rio 2016 Credit: Getty Images Credit: David Ramos/Getty Images
However, Olympic icon and three-time gold medalist Nadia Comaneci says these changes have only served to benefit gymnastics.
I used to do some tough competitions on the wooden beam, the floor was a lot harder without springs, the uneven beams were awkward, Nadia tells Wetpaint of her time representing Romania in both the 1976 and 1980 games.
Now 54 years old, the former gymnast is working with Tide PODS in Brazil currently, helping to celebrate the"Evolution of Power" video, showing the evolution of the sport over the last 40 years since she made history as the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.
Speaking of the perfect 10, the Olympian admits one of the changes shedoesntlike is how the committee took away the 10 with the introduction of open scoring, where gymnasts can get up to 15 and more (though you can still get a 10 in execution).
NEWS:The 5 Real MVPs of the 2016 Olympics: Michael Phelpss Death Stare & More
I think they should bring that back, she states. In a way that people are [still] able to see what score the gymnasts got in execution.
Regardless, Nadia is enjoying watching the new generation of gymnasts at these games especially close friend and fellow Romanian Catalina Ponor and USAs own Simone Biles.
Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images
She explains, At the end of the day, I just want to see good gymnastics! Ive also been watching Simone for so long and Im excited shes finally here and ready to compete.
If a Romanian rooting for U.S. gymnasts sounds strange, dont forgether own former coaches, Bla and Mrtha Karolyi, have served as the head coaches and now national team coordinators for USA Gymnastics for the last 20-plus years.
Credit: Bob Levey/Getty Images for Hilton
I always considered them my second parents, she gushes. I was often with them more often than my own parents! They were great, I considered them my second family and learned a tremendous amount from them.
PHOTOS:11 Olympics Photos Proving the Human Body Is Awesome
And it sounds like the Fab Five gals may have a similar relationship with the Karolyis these days, considering Nadia says their style of coaching is almost exactly the same as it was when she was working with them as a teen.
Credit: Tony Duffy/ALLSPORT
She reveals with a laugh, Even the warmup I used to do 40 years ago, theyre still doing today!
We all know the U.S. women"s basketball team is amazing, but it seems no one loves them more than the men"s squad. I mean, they are sharing a cruise boat in Rio, after all.
Jimmy Butler and DeAndre Jordan filmed a video professing their admiration for the team, and Jordan tried to determine exactly which player he most plays like. From Sue Bird to Breanna Stewart to Brittney Griner, the two weigh in on his game and how it stacks up.
Spoiler alert: Butler wants to be like Sue! JOIN THE CLUB, JIMMY.
While Butler and Jordan took a funny route, Cavs star Kyrie Irving weighed in on the women"s team as well, and took a more serious approach. Praising their "unique style," Irving is apparently trying to learn as much as he can from his female peers and pick their brains during their time together.
Real recognizes real. And that, world, is why USA Basketball is the best in the sport in both the men"s and women"s game.
See something entertaining on social media that you think deserves to be shared? Let me know on Twitter, @darcymaine_espn.
Michael Phelps takes in his 20th ceremony atop the podium
Ryan Lochte of the United States qualified fastest on Wednesday for the semi-finals of the Olympic 200 metres individual medley, two places ahead of his career-long team mate and rival Michael Phelps.
Lochte clocked one minute 57.38 seconds in the afternoon heats, with Philip Heintz of Germany second in 1:57.59 and Phelps third in 1:58.41.
SEE MORE: Everything you need to know about the Summer Olympics
In the same event at London in 2012, Phelps took the gold medal and Lochte won silver.
Phelps was swimming the morning after winning the 20th and 21st gold medals of his career in the 200m butterfly and the 4x200m freestyle relay, in which Lochte won his sixth gold.
"Definitely fatigued a little bit," said Phelps, who told reporters he had got about five hours sleep. "My body hurt a little bit but with some good rest this afternoon I think I"ll be fine."
The 31-year-old added: "I"ve been able to put my body through things like this over the years and hopefully I can keep it rolling one last time.
"Leaving everything in the pool one last time is what I"m going to do, and if that"s good enough to win, we"ll see."
Lochte, 32, said: "This week, we"re just getting started. USA, we always show up when the time"s right. Especially last night and the night before, just seeing USA just rocking and we"re going to keep that really for the rest of the week."
There was plenty for Brazilian fans to celebrate, with Henrique Rodrigues qualifying fourth and Thiago Pereira fifth.
Pereira, swimming in the lane next to Phelps in their heat, excited the crowd by leading him over the butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke legs before the American pulled away with his long easy stroke in the freestyle.
Kosuke Hagino of Japan, who won the 400m individual medley on Saturday, was sixth out of 16 to make it through to the semis.
Swimmer Ryan Lochte poses for a portrait at the U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California March 7, 2016. "One of my favorite songs is "Sky"s the Limit" by Lil Wayne," said Lochte. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.
Swimmer Ryan Lochte poses for a portrait at the U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California March 7, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.
DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 03: Ryan Lochte of USA competes in the Men"s 200m Freestyle Final on day one of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) at the Hamad Aquatic Centre on December 3, 2014 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 08: Ryan Lochte (L) and Nathan Adrian of the United States celebrate winning the gold medal in a new world record time of 3:23.05 in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final on day fifteen of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 8, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Swimmer Ryan Lochte poses for a portrait at the U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California March 7, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.
AUSTIN, TX - JANUARY 16: Ryan Lochte swims in the Men"s 400 meter individual medley during the Arena Pro Swim Series at Austin on January 16, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
US Ryan Lochte competes in the final of the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay swimming event at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan on August 8, 2015. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 06: Ryan Lochte of the United States competes his way to the gold medal in the Men"s 200m Individual Medley Final on day thirteen of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 6, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
KAZAN, RUSSIA - AUGUST 05: Ryan Lochte of the United States competes in the Men"s 200m Individual Medley Semi-Finals on day twelve of the 16th FINA World Championships at the Kazan Arena on August 5, 2015 in Kazan, Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Swimmer Ryan Lochte poses for a portrait at the U.S. Olympic Committee Media Summit in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California March 7, 2016. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson SEARCH "THE WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.
Jul 1, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Ryan Lochte reacts after the mens 200 meter individual medley final in the U.S. Olympic swimming team trials at CenturyLink Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JULY 16: Ryan Lochte talks with the media during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Training Camp Media Day on July 16, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JULY 01: Ryan Lochte of the United States prepares to compete in a final heat for the Men"s 200 Meter Individual Medley during Day Six of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on July 1, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 30: Ryan Lochte of the United States reacts after competing in a semi-final heat for the Men"s 200 Meter Individual Medley during Day Five of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 30, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: Ryan Lochte of the United States looks on after the final heat for the Men"s 400 Meter Individual Medley during Day One of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 26, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: Ryan Lochte of the United States looks on after competing in a heat for the Men"s 200 Meter Freestyle during Day Two of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 27, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 29: Ryan Lochte of the United States prepares to compete in a preliminary heat of the Men"s 100 meter freestyle during Day 4 of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center on June 29, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 15: Ryan Lochte swims the breaststroke leg of a preliminary heat of the men"s 200m IM during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Charlotte swim meet at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on May 15, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
MESA, AZ - APRIL 14: Ryan Lochte starts the Men 200 LC Meter Freestyle final at Skyline Aquatic Center on April 14, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 12: Ryan Lochte and his coach David Marsh speak to the media at a press conference prior to the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series Charlotte swim meet at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center on May 12, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
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More from AOL.com: Michael Phelps wins 21st gold in freestyle relay Michael Phelps and the US Olympic swim team singing carpool karaoke will be the highlight of your day Michael Phelps ready to reclaim that lost butterfly gold
USA"s guard Kyrie Irving runs with the ball during a Men"s round Group A basketball match between China and USA at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro on August 6, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images (MARK RALSTON)
New Jersey native and NBA champion Kyrie Irving hopes to add an Olympic gold medal to his trophy case this summer as Team USA"s point guard after leading LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA championship in June.
Irving"s run is off to a nice start.
The West Orange native began the Rio games with a 12-point, 5-assist performance, coming off the bench with Kyle Lowry running the point in Team USA"s blowout 119-62 victory over China Saturday in the preliminary round.
Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski plans on alternating starts for Lowry and Irving at point guard throughout the tournament.
With the likes of Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, guard Jimmy Butler and newest Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant, Irving is teeming with confidence heading into this tournament.
Monday night, Irving showed off his ability to create his own shot amid tight defense on a sick crossover dribble and jump shot off the backboard against Venezuela.
You can check out video of Irving"s crossover and bank shot from Monday night"s game in Rio below:
Matt Lombardo may be reached atMDLombardo@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter@MattLombardo975.FindNJ.com Eagles on Facebook.
Gabby Douglas nearly flawless on uneven bar routine
Gabby Douglas didn"t put her hand over her heart during the national anthem and people freaked out.
Douglas quietly stood at attention during the U.S. women"s gymnastics team"s gold medal ceremony on Tuesday, but because she didn"t put her hand over her heart, people on Twitter accused her of being disrespectful and making an anti-American political statement. However, the unwarranted backlash could be fora terrible reason: assumptions about black Americans.
Gabby Douglas just standing there and not placing her hand over her heart while our anthem played was UN-olympic. #respect #rio2016
Dawn Wisdom (@Favreforever) August 9, 2016
Would love to know why Gabby Douglas didn"t have her hand over her heart during the national anthem, she got to compete for her country #USA
Kayla Shults (@kayla_shults) August 9, 2016Douglas apologized but she shouldn"t have to explain herself.
Douglas responded to the backlash with an apology on Twitter and clarified that she didn"t intentionally keep her hand from her heart. It wasn"t a political statement.
"In response to the tweets I saw tonight, I always stand at attention out of respect for our country whenever the national anthem is played," she wrote. "I never meant any disrespect and I apologize if I offended anyone."
The U.S. Flag code does encourage people to place their hand on their heart during the the "Star Spangled Banner," but it"s not a law and many people don"t even know that the flag code exists. Many Americans were taught to put their hand on their heart for the Pledge of Allegiance but not necessarily the national anthem.
Folks want to troll Gabby Douglas for not putting her hand over her chest during the National Anthem. It is NOT the pledge of allegiance!!
Karlos L. Marshall (@Klass_InCession) August 10, 2016
When i was in school i was taught hand-on-heart for the pledge, and hands at side for the anthem. Why are ppl bashing #GabbyDouglas for it?
Daniel Gray (@filmadept) August 10, 2016
Also the same day that Gabby Douglas and the U.S. women"s gymnastics team stood on the podium, Michael Phelps started outright laughing during the national anthem(for a very Baltimore reason) at his 20th gold medal ceremony.
However, with Phelps, people didn"t question his patriotism.
So why were people so quick to jump all over Gabby Douglas and assume she"s unpatriotic?
A pervasive characteristic in modern American racism is the belief that black people "violate cherished U.S. values," according to a 2010 paper from New York University sociology professor P.J. Henry.
He also wrote that modern racism includes the belief that black Americans "should put forth their own efforts to overcome their situation in society without special assistance, and that African Americans are too demanding and have gotten more than they deserve."
People on Twitter also quickly came to Douglas" defense.
If you"re upset about Gabby Douglas during the national anthem, you"re an idiot.
Pat Williams (@PCWliberty) August 10, 2016
Some are p****d that Gabby Douglas had her hands by her side during national anthem. Breaking news: "People Get Offended Over Stupid s**t".
a good SAMaritan (@the_SAMbulance) August 10, 2016
Omg ppl angry over gabby Douglas not putting her hand on her heart for the national anthem are ridiculous
Sophia Olszewski (@phiapiaa) August 10, 2016
Hold uppp, were people really bashing Gabby Douglas because she didn"t put her hand over her heart during the national anthem? Please stop.
Don Cianna (@TrapGod_Don) August 10, 2016
Many of us stand at attention for the national anthem. Gabby Douglas should not be criticized for not putting her hand over her heart.
Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) August 10, 2016
At the 2012 London games, Gabby Douglas became the first black American in Olympic gymnastics history to win a gold medal in the individual all-around event.
RELATED: This Olympian"s Heartbreaking Story Reveals a Huge Inequality in Her Sport
Tim Tebow Holding Workout For All 30 Major League Baseball Teams
By announcing his desire to play professional baseball, Tim Tebow showed once again how much smarter he is than all of his haters.
As you might expect when Tebow, the former Florida Gators Heisman Trophy winner and perpetual cultural icon, announced his intention to pursue a baseball career, his critics came out of their dark, dank spider holes.
The Tebow baseball story overshadowed even the Olympics on Tuesday with the blaring headline above a column written by ESPN.com baseball writer Jayson Stark: "Stark: Tebow in Majors? Not a chance."
I won"t bore you with the barrage of criticism Tebow received except to reprint a comment made by ESPN loudmouth Screamin" A. Smith, who went on a typically obnoxious diatribe against Tebow Tuesday with comments like this: "Look I"ve said this on many occasionsI"m trying to be nice!I truly am trying to be nice, but the arrogance! If I am a baseball player do you know how insulted I am that Tim Tebow"s about to have a workout and everybody and their grandmother"s planning on showing up to see Tim Tebow!?"
And that"s exactly the point. Everybody"s going to show up to see Tebow"s tryout. And everybody"s going to talk about it. And everybody"s going to read about it. And Buster Olney and Jason Stark are going to write about it. And Pedro Gomez will be following him around during spring training. And some wayward team is going to sign him because he can sell tickets and jerseys. And Tim Tebow will once again become the biggest story in sports despite the fact that he is not an NFL- or MLB-quality player.
This is the utter brilliance of Tebow, his agents and his handlers. As popular and polarizing as he is, Tebow"s standing in the national sporting consciousness was beginning to wane simply because he is years removed from playing meaningful minutes in the NFL.
And, so, what better way to resurrect his relevance then to announce he is pursuing a baseball career? Suddenly, everybody is interested in Tebow once again.
Then there is this: If you"re Tebow and the world is yours for the taking, why wouldn"t you try to play baseball? Don"t ever forget playing sports is fun and any of us who had a chance to continue the pursuit of making a living while playing a kid"s game would certainly do it. Because of Tebow"s name and his fame, he is afforded that opportunity.
Good for him.
Colin Cowherd, the eloquent radio host on Fox Sports Radio, put it best on Tuesday. He pointed out that Tebow wasn"t giving up on his football dream and that, in fact, he had accomplished his dream. After all, despite Tebow"s limited passing ability, he won a Heisman, he became a first-round draft pick, he started in the NFL and even won a playoff game. Dream accomplished.
Now he has the opportunity to pursue another dream -- a seemingly impossible dream.
Or is it?
Even if he somehow, someway gets one Major League at-bat in a spring training game, wouldn"t we all consider that the memory of lifetime?
You go for it, Timmy.
Email me at mbianchi@tribune.com. Follow me onFacebook here andTwitter @BianchiWrites. And listen to my Open Mike radio show every Monday-Friday from 6-9 a.m. on FM 96.9 and AM 740.
Lilly King tops rival Efimova for gold, Meili takes bronze
Americas Lilly King beat Russias Yulia Efimova to win gold in the 100-meter breaststroke Monday at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in one of the most anticipated contests of the Games.
King finished in 1 minute4.93 seconds, more than a half-second ahead of Efimova.
Efimova, twice banned for doping, was once again loudly booed before the race. Shes become a symbol at the Games of frustration over Russias state-sponsored doping scandal.
Katie Meili, another U.S. swimmer, finished third.
The posturing between King and Efimova became one of the early stories of the Games. During Sundays semifinals, Efimova shook her finger in the No. 1 sign. King later said that Im not a fan of the Russian and voiced her disapproval with the International Olympic Committees decision to allow her to participate.
After Mondays race, Efimova left the pool deck alone. King strode past her without acknowledgement.
"Tonight has been so crazy," King said after the race. "My life is changing right now. I"m a gold medallist and it"s what I"ve always wanted to be and it"s an incredible feeling.
"It just proves that you can compete clean and still come out on top with all the work you put in."
The International Swimming Federation announced last month that Efimova and six other Russian swimmers were banned from the Olympics for either previously failing doping tests or were named in the World Anti-Doping Agency"sinvestigation into state-sponsored doping in the country.
Efimova and at least five of the swimmers were quietly cleared last week to compete in the Games.
"A week ago, I didn"t even know if I could race because I"m Russian. I"m just happy to be here," Efimova said after the race.
Neither the International Swimming Federation or the IOC has explained the reversal or responded to requests for comment on the matter.
King, a 19-year-old from Indiana, held the worlds top time in the event this year entering the Olympics.
