Simone Biles

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young holds the Heisman Trophy at an award ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021, in New York. (Todd Van Emst/Heisman Trust via AP, Pool)

Ode to Sports: A year when games and fans came off the bench

By Fred Lief Dec. 23, 2021 12:24 PM EST

FILE - Simone Biles watches gymnasts perform at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka were not the first elite athletes to struggle with their own mental health, but their public admissions this year spotlighted a crisis not often addressed in the sporting world. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Mental health among athletes spotlighted in tumultuous 2021

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 22, 2021 09:56 AM EST

FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, finishes on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Biles’ 2021 experiences, and how she talked about them, helped drive a robust conversation about athletes’ emotional health. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

2021 Notebook: For athletes, mental health took center stage

By The Associated Press Dec. 14, 2021 05:27 PM EST

Shaun White, of United States, makes a qualifying run on the halfpipe Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, at the U.S. Grand Prix snowboarding event at Copper Mountain, Colo. (AP Photo/Hugh Carey)

On road to 5th Olympics, White finds the risk is worth it

By Eddie Pells Dec. 13, 2021 02:20 AM EST

Forster, leader of U.S. women's gymnastics team, resigning

By Will Graves Dec. 08, 2021 10:05 PM EST
U.S. women's gymnastics high-performance director Tom Forster is stepping down at the end of the year. USA Gymnastics announced Wednesday night that...

FILE - Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. Simone Biles believes the post-Olympic tour she headlined proved cathartic. It also served as a touchstone for a movement within her sport and within herself. The 24-year-old gymnastics star thinks the tour -- which will be made available to stream in December -- expanded her horizons about what's next. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, file)

Regroup, reset: Biles to rest after trailblazing tour

By Will Graves Nov. 08, 2021 07:01 AM EST

Angelina Melnikova, center, of Russia, with her gold medal, Leanne Wong, left, of the U.S., with her silver medal, and Kayla DiCello, of the U.S., with her bronze medal, pose for a photo during the victory ceremony after the women's all-around finals in the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Kitakyushu, western Japan, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

Melnikova wins all-around final at gymnastics worlds

Oct. 21, 2021 07:55 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2021, file photo, Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The 50th artistic gymnastics world championships started Monday, Oct. 18, 2021 and will continue through Sunday in Kitakyushu, featuring more than 300 gymnasts representing 59 countries. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

Uchimura, 5 new Olympic champs headline gymnastics worlds

By Jim Armstrong Oct. 18, 2021 12:02 AM EDT

United States Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney testifies during a Senate Judiciary hearing about the Inspector General's report on the FBI's handling of the Larry Nassar investigation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Washington. Nassar was charged in 2016 with federal child pornography offenses and sexual abuse charges in Michigan. He is now serving decades in prison after hundreds of girls and women said he sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment when he worked for Michigan State and Indiana-based USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians. (Saul Loeb/Pool via AP)

Biles: FBI turned 'blind eye' to reports of gymnasts' abuse

By Mary Clare Jalonick, Will Graves And Michael Balsamo Sep. 15, 2021 12:48 PM EDT

FILE - Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, in this Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, file photo. Biles is at peace with her decision to opt out of several competitions at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health. The seven-time Olympic medalist is happy to spread the importance of putting the person ahead of the athlete, one of the themes of her fall exhibition tour that will feature four other members of the 2021 Olympic gymnastics team. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Biles: Mental health advocacy part of post-Olympic tour

By Will Graves Aug. 19, 2021 09:00 AM EDT

Kevin Kisner celebrates after making a birdie putt on the second playoff hole on the 18th green to win the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Other players, background, in the playoff look on. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Matthew Wolff making progress on his happiness and outlook

By Doug Ferguson Aug. 17, 2021 07:29 PM EDT

AP Sportlight

By The Associated Press Aug. 10, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Aug. 11 1943 — Volo Song, driven by Ben White, wins the Hambletonian Stakes in the third heat. 1948 — Demon Hanover,...

The Russian Olympic Committee athletes pose for a photo during the closing ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Mixed bag: Erratic Pandemic Olympics come to a nuanced end

By Ted Anthony Aug. 08, 2021 02:18 AM EDT

Cameramen film events during the athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Tokyo. The willingness of athletes, led by Simone Biles, to talk about the pressures they face as elite athletes on the Olympics stage, has forced a look at how NBC presents the Games to the public. Some athletes thrive in an intense, winner-take-all atmosphere, but others don't. Experts say they hope NBC concentrates on more than just a medals count, but also the experience of athletes in a pandemic-delayed, isolated environment. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

NBC presses on after rough start in transitional Olympics

By David Bauder Aug. 07, 2021 03:43 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2021, file photo, Paul Chelimo, of United States, lies on the track after the final of the men's 5,000-meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

The Perseverance Games: Surreal Olympics approach their end

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 07, 2021 09:13 AM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Aug. 05, 2021 11:35 AM EDT
Aug. 10 1900 — The first Davis Cup is held with the United States beating Britain, 3-0. 1949 — Ezzard Charles knocks...