The year is 2008 and 16-year-old Shawn Johnson has just won the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials, stamping her ticket to the Beijing Olympics. "How does it feel to be Shawn Johnson right now?" a reporter asks her.
"It's amazing," Johnson says, beaming. "I feel like the happiest girl in the world."
Hundreds of miles away, in a fictional universe, two 8-year-old gymnasts start to dream.
The Happiest Girl in the World (out April 20) is fiction, but you know what it's based on, even if you only watch gymnastics every four years: the sexual abuse case of Larry Nassar, a doctor who abused hundreds of girls (the vast majority of them gymnasts) under the guise of treatment. The case also implicated leaders at his longtime employer, USA Gymnastics (Usag), including national team coaches Marta and Bela Karolyi and Usag president Steve Penny. The case prompted a stunning lawsuit in which over 150 survivors gave wrenching victim impact statements,...
"It's amazing," Johnson says, beaming. "I feel like the happiest girl in the world."
Hundreds of miles away, in a fictional universe, two 8-year-old gymnasts start to dream.
The Happiest Girl in the World (out April 20) is fiction, but you know what it's based on, even if you only watch gymnastics every four years: the sexual abuse case of Larry Nassar, a doctor who abused hundreds of girls (the vast majority of them gymnasts) under the guise of treatment. The case also implicated leaders at his longtime employer, USA Gymnastics (Usag), including national team coaches Marta and Bela Karolyi and Usag president Steve Penny. The case prompted a stunning lawsuit in which over 150 survivors gave wrenching victim impact statements,...
- 4/20/2021
- by Maggie Ryan
- Popsugar.com
Please welcome our guest blogger Rasheeda Frost!
Known to many of her fans as simply “Rasheeda,” the rapper, fashion designer, businesswoman and actress has starred on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta since its inception in 2012.
Through husband Kirk Frost‘s company D-Lo Entertainment, she has released six albums, including Boss Chick Music. She was nominated for best female hip-hop artist Bet Awards in 2010 and 2013.
Aside from her impressive music and television careers, Rasheeda, 36, is CEO of PressedATL.com apparel and accessories and Poiz Cosmetics. She married Frost in 1999, and the couple are parents to two sons: 3½-year old Karter and 16-year-old Ky.
Known to many of her fans as simply “Rasheeda,” the rapper, fashion designer, businesswoman and actress has starred on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta since its inception in 2012.
Through husband Kirk Frost‘s company D-Lo Entertainment, she has released six albums, including Boss Chick Music. She was nominated for best female hip-hop artist Bet Awards in 2010 and 2013.
Aside from her impressive music and television careers, Rasheeda, 36, is CEO of PressedATL.com apparel and accessories and Poiz Cosmetics. She married Frost in 1999, and the couple are parents to two sons: 3½-year old Karter and 16-year-old Ky.
- 4/19/2017
- by Rasheeda Frost
- PEOPLE.com
For more than 35 years, the names Bela and Martha Karolyi have been synonymous with elite American gymnastics. The duo — who defected from Romania in 1981 — have coached legends from Mary Lou Retton to Kerri Strug, and Martha oversaw both the 2012 and 2016 gold-medal winning teams.
Young gymnasts dreaming of Olympic gold knew there was only one place to go if they wanted to earn their place on the Olympic team: Karolyis Camp.
The secluded ranch in the Sam Houston National Forest is now under scrutiny as several former gymnasts have come forward to allege that former team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused them on the property.
Young gymnasts dreaming of Olympic gold knew there was only one place to go if they wanted to earn their place on the Olympic team: Karolyis Camp.
The secluded ranch in the Sam Houston National Forest is now under scrutiny as several former gymnasts have come forward to allege that former team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused them on the property.
- 2/23/2017
- by Kathy Ehrich Dowd
- PEOPLE.com
These days the most dominant U.S. gymnasts like Simone Biles and Aly Raisman have strong, muscular bodies that enable them to pack their routines with more flips and tricks than ever. But that shift to a more powerful frame is a big change from "Magnificent Seven" gymnast Dominique Moceanu's days when she says her coaches routinely body shamed and threatened her to lose weight. In 1996 Dominique Moceanu, then 14, and her teammates captured the United States' first team gold at the Atlanta Olympics. But Moceanu says it took overcoming extreme "psychological and emotional abuse" from her coaches, Martha and Béla Károlyi,...
- 8/16/2016
- by Julie Mazziotta, @julietmazz
- PEOPLE.com
The U.S. women's gymnastics program has flourished under the guidance of Romanian couple Martha and Béla Károlyi who have coached America's top gymnasts to Olympic gold since defecting to the U.S. in 1981. Martha, who was handed the coveted position of U.S. national team coordinator in 2001, will follow her husband into retirement after Rio with an impressive number of successes under her belt, including, most recently, the 2016 women's squad who won gold in the team all-around competition on Tuesday. Team members Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez are even calling themselves the "Final...
- 8/11/2016
- by Rose Minutaglio, @RoseMinutaglio
- PEOPLE.com
When the Rio Olympics cauldron is extinguished on Aug. 21, it will officially mark the end of one Romanian couple's 40-year dominance over the sport of gymnastics, making America's so-called Final Five their last gold medal champions. Martha and Béla Károlyi have coached top American gymnasts since defecting to the country in 1981. From the confines of their ranch in Huntsville, Texas, the husband and wife team eventually overhauled the U.S. approach to the sport, successfully taking over command of the national team nearly 16 years ago. As the national team coordinator, Martha has led the U.S. women's gymnastics team to four Olympic medals.
- 8/10/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
When the Rio Olympics cauldron is extinguished on Aug. 21, it will officially mark the end of one Romanian couple's 40-year dominance over the sport of gymnastics, making America's so-called Final Five their last gold medal champions. Martha and Béla Károlyi have coached top American gymnasts since defecting to the country in 1981. From the confines of their ranch in Huntsville, Texas, the husband and wife team eventually overhauled the U.S. approach to the sport, successfully taking over command of the national team nearly 16 years ago. As the national team coordinator, Martha has led the U.S. women's gymnastics team to four Olympic medals.
- 8/10/2016
- by Lindsay Kimble, @lekimble
- PEOPLE.com
Gold medal-winning gymnast Nastia Liukin will make her debut as an Olympic gymnastics commentator at the 2016 Games in Rio this summer. "This is a huge deal! I'm so excited to be back," Liukin, 26, tells People. "I've been keeping track of all the gymnasts in the competitions leading up. I've gotten to know the gymnasts, their start values and their routines." She adds, "it's a little challenging, though, because when I'm commentating I have to remain neutral and I'm still friends with these girls, so that's hard for me!" The five-time Olympic medalist and two-time all-around national champion will join former Olympian Tim Daggett,...
- 6/1/2016
- by Rose Minutaglio, @RoseMinutaglio
- PEOPLE.com
When Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas won the American Cup on Saturday, it proved the gymnast is serious about the Olympics this summer. According to USA Today, Douglas, now 20, received the high score on every exercise except the floor exercise, and hopes that her outstanding performance removes any doubts about her ability to compete in Rio this summer. While Douglas has her eyes set on gold a second time around, doubt is understandable, as only six American women have competed in a second Olympics and no female has repeated a gold medal win since 1968, when Vera Caslavska won. However, former...
- 3/8/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
When Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas won the American Cup on Saturday, it proved the gymnast is serious about the Olympics this summer. According to USA Today, Douglas, now 20, received the high score on every exercise except the floor exercise, and hopes that her outstanding performance removes any doubts about her ability to compete in Rio this summer. While Douglas has her eyes set on gold a second time around, doubt is understandable, as only six American women have competed in a second Olympics and no female has repeated a gold medal win since 1968, when Vera Caslavska won. However, former...
- 3/8/2016
- by Naja Rayne, @najarayne
- PEOPLE.com
There's a celebrity gymnastics reality show in the works, with Mary Lou Retton attached as the lead judge, and Shannon Miller and Paul Hamm onboard as well. Dreams do come true! According to Deadline, Core Media is developing Celebrity Champions, which will, a la Dancing With the Stars, teach celebrities how to do gymnastics — though there will be an emphasis on safety and training, in the hopes of avoiding a Splash-like run of injuries. Please, show, make sure Béla Károlyi is there to offer the contestants shouty, emotionally fraught guidance.
- 10/10/2013
- by Margaret Lyons
- Vulture
Like a hobbled yet determined Kerri Strug, season six just stuck the landing. And we the viewers are like Béla Károlyi, just scooping True Blood up in our arms and prancing around the arena waggling our mustaches, because Victory. Who on Earth could've predicted that this show would rebound so dramatically after season five's various crimes against our attention spans? "Radioactive" represented not only a victory lap after last week's gratifying climax, it was also just a tremendously entertaining hour of television: big twists, big deaths, character reversals, full-frontal nudity, scenes both as joyful as the last day of school and as devastating as an unkissed crush. And that's to say nothing of its truly compelling setup for season seven. Guys, this episode was just plum terrific. Those two gentle thumping noises you heard during the end credits were Alan Ball throwing both of his shoes at his TV. "Radioactive...
- 8/19/2013
- by Price Peterson
- Vulture
Cigars… vapes… cookies…
I really wouldn’t mind a sequel to the 1989 Shelley Long vehicle Troop Beverly Hills. The most cherished movie of my childhood is no cinematic masterpiece, so this would hardly be sacrilege. I figure if this is really gonna be the film most often running through my head like a skunk on a misdirected trail (oh, the shame!), the story may as well continue. So sack up, hobos, and pour some wine into that stew: It’s cookie time. Again.
We can’t go full-on original cast here — there’s a fresh crop of Disney/ABC Family...
I really wouldn’t mind a sequel to the 1989 Shelley Long vehicle Troop Beverly Hills. The most cherished movie of my childhood is no cinematic masterpiece, so this would hardly be sacrilege. I figure if this is really gonna be the film most often running through my head like a skunk on a misdirected trail (oh, the shame!), the story may as well continue. So sack up, hobos, and pour some wine into that stew: It’s cookie time. Again.
We can’t go full-on original cast here — there’s a fresh crop of Disney/ABC Family...
- 7/11/2013
- by Annie Barrett
- EW.com - PopWatch
Where’s the art? I’m stumped.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this “living fairy tale” exhibit (see video below) at the National Art Museum of Ukraine, at which any male suitor above the age of 18 may kiss a young painted lady who’s pretending to be asleep. If she opens her eyes, they must get married. This is real! Look at her ear doilies! It’s all so bizarre and disease-y — but after settling in for some Monday night cable, I had to ask: Is it worse than Gallery Girls on Bravo?
This is a question I...
I’ve been thinking a lot about this “living fairy tale” exhibit (see video below) at the National Art Museum of Ukraine, at which any male suitor above the age of 18 may kiss a young painted lady who’s pretending to be asleep. If she opens her eyes, they must get married. This is real! Look at her ear doilies! It’s all so bizarre and disease-y — but after settling in for some Monday night cable, I had to ask: Is it worse than Gallery Girls on Bravo?
This is a question I...
- 8/28/2012
- by Annie Barrett
- EW.com - PopWatch
Vaulting specialist McKayla Maroney — the Posh Spice of the Fierce (née Fab) Five — coolly took the reins of a group interview clearly destined for doom on last night’s Late Show with David Letterman. Someone had to do it! Team USA’s host didn’t really know what was going on (though that’s his charm) and the other four gymnasts (Aly Raisman, pictured, Jordyn Wieber, Kyla Ross, and even Gabby Douglas) never make a peep unless prompted. We love them, of course, our hearts swell for them — but teenagers media-trained into oblivion do not make for good late-night TV.
- 8/15/2012
- by Annie Barrett
- EW.com - PopWatch
You know it was a packed day at the Olympics on Tuesday if NBC didn’t even try to squeeze a Mary Carillo anthropological adventure into primetime. Let’s break the broadcast down. (Click on links for videos.)
Women’S Gymnastics Perhaps now that the event finals are over, we’ll see Gabby Douglas smile again. We got a small grin at the end of her beam routine — which drew gasps when she fell off on a leap – because the stress was finally over. For her. Aly Raisman, on the other hand, found herself in the middle of a U.
Women’S Gymnastics Perhaps now that the event finals are over, we’ll see Gabby Douglas smile again. We got a small grin at the end of her beam routine — which drew gasps when she fell off on a leap – because the stress was finally over. For her. Aly Raisman, on the other hand, found herself in the middle of a U.
- 8/8/2012
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW.com - PopWatch
Ready for a lovely dose of London dish?! Melanie Bromley and Bruce Jenner are talking all things Olympics across the pond—from Michael Phelps to the royal fam to the U.S. women's gymnastics team! Hear their thoughts on the hottest London trends, plus royal expert Camilla Tominey stops by to share some exclusive scoop on Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton! And it's a gold for the U.S. women's gymnastics team and the Live From E! set is buzzing with excitement! Find out how coaching legend Béla Károlyi celebrated the big win with the five fabulous teammates! All this plus celeb reactions to the gold medal win on today's Live From E! London edition! Be sure to check it out...
- 8/1/2012
- E! Online
The New Directions won the coveted national championship title last season, but Harry Shum Jr. has set his sights on even higher horizons—Olympic glory. The Glee star and other recognizable faces in the dance community got in the Team USA spirit on Saturday at 2012 Dizzy Feet Foundation Celebration of Dance Gala.
Known for its A-list roster of guest stars, Harry told ETonline, "It would be fun to do a musical number with a whole bunch of gymnasts and swimmers… I'm sure the girls wouldn’t mind Michael Phelps coming in as a guest star." Something that might make a splash on the hit show is a viral rendition of Call Me Maybe.
Video: Pro Swimmers Get into Olympic Spirit with 'Nemo'
Torn between Team USA's top two in the pool, Phelps and Ryan Lochte, Harry is rooting for old favorite Phelps, but "I love a good underdog story" when it comes to Lochte's chances at topping...
Known for its A-list roster of guest stars, Harry told ETonline, "It would be fun to do a musical number with a whole bunch of gymnasts and swimmers… I'm sure the girls wouldn’t mind Michael Phelps coming in as a guest star." Something that might make a splash on the hit show is a viral rendition of Call Me Maybe.
Video: Pro Swimmers Get into Olympic Spirit with 'Nemo'
Torn between Team USA's top two in the pool, Phelps and Ryan Lochte, Harry is rooting for old favorite Phelps, but "I love a good underdog story" when it comes to Lochte's chances at topping...
- 7/30/2012
- Entertainment Tonight
Rewind time for day 2 of the Olympics as NBC fired over the 2012 London Olympics . Day 2 Highlighted quotes. NBC Primetime Show for Sunday, July 29, 2012Women.s Gymnastics . Team Qualifying Men.s Swimming - 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay Women.s Swimming - 100 Butterfly Final Women.s - 400 Freestyle Women.s Diving - Women.s 3-Meter Bob Costas Interview with Bela Karolyi: .As you mentioned a minute ago, this is the .All-Around Final., the final, best gymnasts in the world should be lined up over there. Now, how can you explain to me that the 3rd or 4th ranked gymnast on that order is eliminated because she is accidently from the same country? This is absolutely unacceptable. It is an...
- 7/30/2012
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
The second day of the London 2012 Olympics was filled with more teeth-clenching and heart-wrenching moments than last night’s episode of True Blood. At this pace, we’re going to be a ball of nerves by day 17. As anticipated, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team ruled the day, but their world was rocked when world champion Jordyn Wieber failed to advance to the individual all-around finals. In other upsets, France nabbed the gold in the men’s 100-meter freestyle relay, lowering Ryan Lochte’s pedestal while redeeming Michael Phelps. Now for the highs: Dana Vollmer set the women’s...
- 7/30/2012
- by Maane Khatchatourian
- EW.com - PopWatch
Something witchy this way comes to American Horror Story.
Secret Circle alum Chris Zylka took to Twitter late Thursday to announce that he is “pleased, honored, humbled, and thrilled” to be joining Season 2 of the FX spookster.
No word yet on who he’ll be playing, but as our friends at Zap2it point out, Horror Story has been looking to cast a bright young actor with an “offbeat, could-be scary” side to him — and Zylka certainly fits the bill.
Related | Jessica Lange’s Horror Story Season 2 Character Is Also a [Spoiler]
Joining Zylka for Season 2 — which is set in a...
Secret Circle alum Chris Zylka took to Twitter late Thursday to announce that he is “pleased, honored, humbled, and thrilled” to be joining Season 2 of the FX spookster.
No word yet on who he’ll be playing, but as our friends at Zap2it point out, Horror Story has been looking to cast a bright young actor with an “offbeat, could-be scary” side to him — and Zylka certainly fits the bill.
Related | Jessica Lange’s Horror Story Season 2 Character Is Also a [Spoiler]
Joining Zylka for Season 2 — which is set in a...
- 6/29/2012
- by Megan Masters
- TVLine.com
In her new memoir 'Off Balance,' Dominique not only reveals insight into her rise to the top of the Olympic podium, but also details about her 'secret sister' Jennifer Bricker, a gymnast born with no legs. Read more about her 'Gma' interview below! Romanian-born Dominique Moceanu, 30, was only 14 years old when the U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team took the Gold in the 1996 Olympics. In her powerful new book, she discusses the challenges about growing up in a world of contestant competitions, her demanding coach Bela Karolyi, and filing for emancipation from her parents. But the biggest shock of all came when Dominique found out she had another sister! On June 11th on Good Morning America, Dominique discussed finding a sibling through a letter she received in 1997. In the letter, long-lost sister Jen included adoption files, their parents signatures and family photos. Jen explained that she idolized Dominique growing up,...
- 6/11/2012
- by HL Staff
- HollywoodLife
The programming across NBC, NBC Sports Network, MSNBC, CNBC, Bravo, Telemundo, NBCOlympics.com, two specialty channels, and a 3D platform will eclipse the company’s coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by almost 2000 hours. On NBC, 272.5 hours are planned, a record for a broadcast network owing to more daytime coverage from London. Overall, it’s the equivalent of 231 days of Olympics coverage, according to the network, which released its plans today. The London Olympics run July 27-August 12. Related: NBCUniversal’s Expanded Olympics Coverage: 280-Plus Hours Planned On the broadcast network, coverage will begin on most weekdays at 10 Am Et/Pt and as early as 5 Am Et/Pt on the weekends. The primetime program, hosted by Bob Costas will air 8-11:30 Pm or midnight Et/Pt on most nights. A one-hour late night show will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the primetime program; primetime will be replayed following the late-night show.
- 5/23/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
In 1970, one movie invented the modern disaster film. After grossing more than $100 million at the domestic box office (adjusted for inflation, it made more than any of the "Lord of the Rings"), it spawned three sequels that stretched through the entire decade. But this landmark series is now almost totally forgotten, long eclipsed by the film that so brilliantly spoofed the genre tropes it helped define. In honor of its 40th anniversary, we're looking back at the "Airport" franchise this week, one film at a time. Today, "The Concorde... Airport '79," the rare movie with an ellipsis in the title.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
The Concorde... Airport '79
Directed by David Lowell Rich
Nature of Air Emergency: A journalist (Susan Blakely) boards Federation World Airlines' new Concorde plane with documents implicating weapons manufacturer Kevin Harrison (Robert Wagner) in illegal arms deals with America's enemies. He tries to shoot down the Concorde and fails.
- 11/11/2010
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
Make It or Break It finished off its second season last night with a finale that just had a little too much going on. I like the clash of earnestness and soapiness as much as the next ABC Family devotee, but: A girl being arrested during her major gymnastics meet and being taken into police custody while in just a leotard? A star athlete collapsing on the beam — due to her newly established anorexia — only to have her love interest race to the mat just in time to catch her? The bitchy girl having a breakdown just before her event,...
- 9/1/2010
- by Margaret Lyons
- EW.com - PopWatch
8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt, all major networks Presidential AddressBe a good American and tune in to hear President Obama address the nation about the end of combat operations in Iraq.
9 p.m., ABC Family Make It or Break ItKaylie (Josie Loren) deals with the effects of her eating disorder and Ellen (Michelle Clunie) sabotages the girls. opportunity to make the U.S. National team. Plus, famed gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi guest-stars as Sasha.s... More >>...
9 p.m., ABC Family Make It or Break ItKaylie (Josie Loren) deals with the effects of her eating disorder and Ellen (Michelle Clunie) sabotages the girls. opportunity to make the U.S. National team. Plus, famed gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi guest-stars as Sasha.s... More >>...
- 8/30/2010
- by Stefanie Lee
- TV.com
Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug has a jewel on her finger to compliment the bling around her neck. The gymnast famous for getting injured during her vault at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta exchanged vows with Robert Fischer, according to People. In a sunset ceremony in her hometown of Tuscon, Az, she wed her attorney husband on Sunday. Kerri shimmered down the aisle in a custom Pronovias gown, decorated with 5,000 Swarovski crystals. "Robert always wants to make me happy," Strug told People. "He's a little old-fashioned. He really courted me, and for a while. To this day, he still gives me flowers on a regular basis." The first man to literally sweep her off her feet, coach Bela Karolyi, was there to see his protégé become a wife. Bela carried the injured Kerri from the competition floor and to the podium to receive the gold medal with her teammates. Fellow "Magnificent...
- 4/26/2010
- by TheInsider
- TheInsider.com
This is one leap Kerri Strug landed with nothing but smiles. The gold medal-winning gymnast best known for her heroic vault in the 1996 Olympics, married attorney Robert Fischer at sunset in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz., Sunday. "Robert always wants to make me happy," Strug happily tells People of her husband, whom she met through mutual friends in Washington, D.C. "He's a little old-fashioned. He really courted me, and for a while. To this day, he still gives me flowers on a regular basis." The reception, held at the Skyline Country Club, featured hundreds of orchids, a fireworks display,...
- 4/26/2010
- by Rennie Dyball
- PEOPLE.com
They've got a lot of spunk, these Jonas Brothers. I hate spunk.
"Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience" is exactly what you'd think. So read your expectations, and you already know if this is the greatest cinematic event since the Lumiére brothers set up shop, or more like getting your soft bits subjected to a deep rubdown with steel wool.
The brothers are three young sprouts, brunette and rubbery. They do so many flips and somersaults across the stage that I thought their management team must be headed by Bela Karolyi. None wore an identifying badge through the performance,...
"Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience" is exactly what you'd think. So read your expectations, and you already know if this is the greatest cinematic event since the Lumiére brothers set up shop, or more like getting your soft bits subjected to a deep rubdown with steel wool.
The brothers are three young sprouts, brunette and rubbery. They do so many flips and somersaults across the stage that I thought their management team must be headed by Bela Karolyi. None wore an identifying badge through the performance,...
- 2/27/2009
- by By KYLE SMITH
- NYPost.com
Last night, like everyone else, I stayed up late to watch the All-Around Finals in Olympic Women's Gymnastics. The thrill of cheering for our good, wholesome, corn syrup-fed girls to take their massive muscled thighs and (metaphorically, of course) break the necks of foreign competitors who are apparently ten years under the minimum age can't be denied. But where even my beloved Bela Karolyi said from the start that Shawn Johnson was probably the American girl to beat, I had my money on Nastia Liukin. The ...
- 8/15/2008
- by Karina Longworth
- Spout
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