PARIS — Simone Biles is spoiling everyone.

The reaction from coach Cecile Landi and Jess Graba, Suni Lee’s coach? You should have seen the ones she did in the training gym beforehand.

“I feel bad because it kind of feels normal now. It’s not right, because it’s not normal,” Graba said. “Someday you’ll back and go, ‘I stood there for that.’”

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This is Biles’ third Olympics, and she is better now than she’s ever been. That’s quite the statement, given she won four gold medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, is a 23-time world champion and hasn’t lost an all-around competition in more than a decade.

It’s not even a question, however, and if you are a gymnastics fan, or just a fan of superior athletic performances, appreciate this moment now.

There are a few singular athletes, men and women whose dominance in their prime was both amazing and mind-boggling. Michael Jordan was one. Serena Williams another. Michael Phelps, of course, and Tiger Woods. You have to include Biles in that category, too.

What she’s doing is so insanely difficult, yet Biles makes it look like child’s play for the ease with which she does it. It isn’t normal, as Graba said. But she has everyone so conditioned to her level of excellence that it takes something like that vault Thursday — or watching her do it while so many others around her were flailing and falling — to remind us what a privilege it is to watch her.

“She’s getting more and more comfortable with it,” Landi said, referring to the vault, also known as the Biles II. “But I don’t see it like that every day.”

Making it even more special is that all of this is a bonus.

After Biles got “the twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics, she wasn’t sure if she’d do gymnastics again. She took 18 months off and, even when she came back, refused to look beyond her next competition. Of course the Olympics were the ultimate goal, but the expectations and hype were part of what sent her sideways in Tokyo and she wasn’t going down that road again.

Though Biles is in a good place now — she is open about prioritizing both her weekly therapy sessions and her boundaries — there’s always the worry something could trigger a setback. The Olympics, and the team competition specifically, are potential landmines, given Biles had to withdraw one event into the team final in Tokyo.

But she’s having as much fun now as we all are watching her.

Rather than looking drawn and burdened, as she did three years ago, Biles was smiling and laughing with her teammates Thursday. She exchanged enthusiastic high-fives with Laurent Landi, Cecile Landi’s husband and coach, after both the Yurchenko double pike and her uneven bars routine.

“We’re all breathing a little bit better right now, I’m not going to lie,” Cecile Landi said.

Biles isn’t being made to feel as if she has to carry this team, either. With the exception of Hezly Rivera, who is only 16, every member of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is a gold medalist at either the world championships or Olympics. Yes, Biles’ scores give the Americans a heck of a cushion. But Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey can hold their own, too, taking a massive burden off Biles’ shoulders.

“It’s just peace of mind that they all have done this before,” Landi said.

No matter how many times Biles does this, it never gets old for the people who are watching. Or it shouldn’t. You’re seeing greatness in real time. Appreciate it.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

The San Diego Padres have been nearly unbeatable since the All-Star break. Thursday, Dylan Cease was simply unhittable.

The Padres ace pitched just the second no-hitter in franchise history, dominating the Washington Nationals in a 3-0 victory at Nationals Park. Cease, acquired in March to galvanize the Padres rotation, pitched like the ace San Diego sought: He struck out nine and needed just one defensive gem to stave off the Nationals.

Cease, 28, walked three and induced one double play. He leads the major leagues with 168 strikeouts in 131 innings, and perhaps we should have seen this no-hitter coming. Thursday’s gem was the fourth time in six starts Cease gave up one or fewer hits, a stretch in which he’s lowered his ERA from 4.14 to 3.50.

The Padres were the last team in Major League Baseball without a no-hitter until Cease’s teammate, Joe Musgrove, no-hit the Texas Rangers on April 10, 2021. Cease needed just a little intervention – from nature and his center fielder – to pitch the second.

The game was delayed 76 minutes during the top of the first inning due to a passing storm. Cease had completed his pregame warmup but had not thrown a pitch; the Padres were fortunate he hadn’t yet taken the mound and that the rain passed relatively quickly.

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Then, in the top of the fifth, Juan Yepez led off with a bloop fly ball that second baseman Xander Bogaerts pursued with a poor route, getting turned around. He lunged to catch the ball but it popped out of his glove.

Mercifully, rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill was right there to snatch the ball out of midair, keeping the no-hitter intact.

With Cease at 94 pitches through seven innings, manager Mike Shildt shook Cease’s hand and had a conversation before he went out for the eighth.

“He said, ‘Nice job,’’ Cease told the Padres’ TV broadcast, ‘and I looked up and it was like 94 pitches and I just said, ‘I feel great, and if we get through the next one in like 105…’ I’ve thrown 113 this year so thankfully, they let me talk them into it.

‘And here we are.’

Cease threw just eight pitches in the eighth before working a perfect ninth, finishing with a career-high 114 pitches as he induced CJ Abrams to fly to right fielder Bryce Johnson for the final out.

The Padres’ victory was their fifth in a row after losing the second-half opener at Cleveland, and they’ve moved into the lead, by percentage points over St. Louis, for the NL’s third wild card spot.

Cease says he has matured as a pitcher under  the tutelage of San Diego pitching coach Ruben Nieblas and in his fifth full season and first in the NL might be turning into the best version of himself.

“Anytime you gain another half-year of experience, that’s valuable,” he told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “Ruben has taught me some different pitches, shown me different pitch grips. Consistently pitching against new teams, in new environments. Anytime you’re forced to do new things, it’s going to ultimately end up making you grow.”

That growth continued Thursday.

Team USA is poised to have a huge medal haul at the 2024 Paris Olympics, their 592 athletes competing in 31 of the 32 sports on the program. And with those medal opportunities, Americans and their teams can etch their name into history books, including star swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Simone Biles. 

So, here’s a look at some of the Olympic medal milestones Americans can reach during these Summer Games, citing data compiled by OlyMadMen.com.

Team USA Olympic medal milestones to watch

With five gold medal wins, the U.S. women’s track and field team would have 50 Olympic gold medals all time.
With seven gold medal wins, the U.S. men’s track and field team would have 250 Olympic gold medals all time.
With one gold medal win, the U.S. women’s swimming team would have 100 Olympic gold medals all time.
The U.S. women’s basketball team has won every Olympic gold medal since 1996. A 2024 Paris Olympic win would mark its eighth straight gold medal and 10th all time. The Americans have lost just one (1) Olympic game since 1992, when they fell in the semifinals to the Soviet Union.
A gold medal win for the USWNT would snap an Olympics gold drought. The Americans’ last gold medal win on an Olympic pitch was at the 2012 Olympics.
If the American women win the team all-around in gymnastics, it will be their first gold in the event since 2016 and third win in the event this century.
If the U.S. men’s basketball team wins gold, it will be its fifth straight, seventh since 1992 and 17th overall.

Olympic swimming medal milestones to watch for

With one gold medal win, Katie Ledecky (7) would tie swimmer Jenny Thompson (8) with the most gold medals by an American woman at the Summer Olympics. 
With two gold medal wins, Katie Ledecky (7) would have the most gold medals by an American woman, regardless of sport, at the Summer Olympics, surpassing Jenny Thompson (8), who won all of her golds in relays.
With three medal wins, Katie Ledecky (10) would become the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history, surpassing Jenny Thompson, Natalie Coughlin and Dana Torres, who each have 12. 
With one medal win, Katie Ledecky (10) would tie Allyson Felix (11) to become the second-most decorated U.S. female athlete at the Summer Olympics.
With three medal wins, Katie Ledecky would surpass Jenny Thompson, Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin and Dana Torres, who have 12 medals each, to become the second-most decorated American Summer Olympian of all-time, behind only Michael Phelps and his untouchable record of 28 total medals.
With three gold medal wins, Katie Ledecky would hold the second-most U.S. Olympic gold medals, behind Michael Phelps’ ridiculous record of 23 golds.
With three gold medal wins, Caeleb Dressel (7) would move to second on the list of most Olympic gold medals by a men’s American swimmer, surpassing Matt Biondi (8) and Mark Spitz (9).
With four medal wins, Caeleb Dressel (7) would tie Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi for third-most Olympic swimming medals by American men.

Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from

Olympic gymnastics medal milestones to watch for

If Suni Lee wins the gymnastics all-around, she would be the first back-to-back Olympic champion since Věra Čáslavská won gold in the event in 1964 and 1968.
If an American woman wins the gymnastics all-around, it would be the U.S.’s sixth consecutive gold in the event.
Simone Biles enters the Paris Olympics with seven medals: four gold medals, one silver and two bronze. 
With one medal win, Simone Biles (7) would break a tie with Shannon Miller (7) to become the most decorated American gymnast of all time at the Olympics.
With four medal wins, Simone Biles (7) would join Věra Čáslavská as the second-most decorated Olympic gymnasts of all time, behind only Larisa Latynina’s 18 medals.
With three gold medal wins, Simone Biles (4) would join Věra Čáslavská (7) with the second-most Olympic gymnastics golds all time, behind Larisa Latynina’s nine.
With four gold medal wins, Simone Biles (4) would surpass Věra Čáslavská (7) with the second-most Olympic gymnastics golds all time.
With five gold medal wins, and there are only six total up for grabs, Simone Biles (4) would tie Larisa Latynina (9) for most Olympic gymnastics gold medals all time.
If an American woman wins gold on floor, it would be the fourth straight win for the U.S. in the event, extending the streak built by Jade Carey (2020), Simone Biles (2016), Aly Raisman (2012).
If an American woman wins gold on vault, it would be just the second win for the U.S. in the event this century; Simone Biles took home the gold on vault in 2016.
If an American woman wins gold on bars, it would be a first for the U.S. in Olympic history.
If an American woman wins gold on beam, it would be the first win for the U.S. in the event since Shawn Johnson took home gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Olympic track and field medal milestones to watch for

Any medal for Sha’carri Richardson would be her first Olympic medal.
If Sha’carri Richardson (or any American) wins the 100m gold, she would be the first American woman to win the event since Gail Devers at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
If Sha’carri Richardson (or any American) wins the 200m gold, she would be the first American woman to win the event since Allyson Felix at the 2012 London Olympics.
If Noah Lyles (or any American) wins the 100m gold, he would be the first American man to win the event since Justin Gatlin in 2004.
If Noah Lyles (or any American) wins the 200m gold, he would be the first American man to win the event since Shawn Crawford at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

PARIS — Almost 2 1/2 years after the team figure skating competition was held at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a medal ceremony for the gold-medal-winning U.S. skaters at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics is becoming closer to reality.

On Thursday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed three Russian appeals of CAS’s January 29, 2024 decision to suspend Russian star Kamila Valieva for four years and disqualify her Olympic results.

The appeals were from the Russian Olympic Committee, the Russian figure skating federation and the six skaters who comprised the Russian team that originally won the gold medal, with the United States taking silver and Japan bronze. 

When CAS suspended and disqualified Valieva, who was 15 at the time of the 2022 Olympics, the results changed with the U.S. moving up to gold and Japan to silver. There is still a dispute in front of CAS over which nation will win the bronze, Canada or Russia. Deliberations are continuing in that matter. 

But for the United States and Japan, this is the news athletes and officials have been waiting for — for months. Officials within the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. Figure Skating are now in discussions to confirm if the planned August 7 medal ceremony will indeed take place. 

Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from

The USOPC and USFS have been working on possible travel plans for the nine U.S. team members and their families even before the final CAS decision was announced. Hotel rooms in Paris are on hold and special medal ceremony outfits for the team were being made. 

Valieva led Russia to the gold medal in the Olympic team skating competition in Beijing on Feb. 7, 2022. The next day, the medal ceremony for the event was canceled and the results were thrown into disarray after Valieva was found to have tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) six weeks earlier at the Russian championships. CAS ruled that Valieva’s four-year suspension started on the date she took that test, Dec. 25, 2021.

Thus began the arduous and ridiculously delayed international investigative and appeals process, leading to Thursday’s CAS decision.

“We are thrilled to finally honor these incredible athletes,’ USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland told USA TODAY Sports. ‘As we finalize the details of the award ceremony in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and U.S. Figure Skating, we will share updates as soon as they are confirmed. We are especially excited that the beautiful city of Paris will join us in this celebration.’

The Belgium national women’s basketball team will be without one of its star players for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Guard Julie Allemand will miss all of the Olympics due to injury, the Belgian national team announced Thursday. The details of the injury were not released. She posted a broken heart emoji on social media after the announcement.

Allemand is one of two current WNBA players on the Belgium roster, alongside Julie Vanloo. She was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in the offseason from the Chicago Sky but opted out of the 2024 season and was placed on a full season suspension due to injury. She currently is not listed on the Los Angeles roster.

She recently played for Lyon in France and averaged 10.3 points, 6.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. In two WNBA seasons with the Indiana Fever in 2020 and Sky in 2022, Allemand has averaged 5.8 points, 4.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds. She will be replaced on the national team by Nastja Claessens, who was selected in the third round of the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics.

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It’s a devastating injury for Belgium as Allemand was the leader of a team that was expected to give the overwhelming favorite Team USA a challenge for gold. The U.S. is a clear betting favorite to win gold at -1400, according to BetMGM, but Belgium had the fourth-best odds at +2500 alongside Japan.

In February, Belgium played Team USA in the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and nearly pulled off a stunning upset against the stacked American team. Breanna Stewart got a put back layup with three seconds left to win 81-79. Allemand did not play in the contest.

Belgium is in Group C of the Olympics and will begin group play on Monday against Germany.

NICE, France — The Emma Hayes era for the United States women’s national soccer team officially began with the Americans handling business in their group-play opener Thursday with a 3-0 win over Zambia. 

Even more importantly, they found the back of the net – something that was a challenge at last year’s World Cup and as the team prepared for the 2024 Summer Olympics with a new-look roster selected by Hayes that is much younger. 

Mallory Swanson scored two goals 70 seconds apart to put the match in total U.S. control by the 25th minute. Trinity Rodman opened the scoring with a nifty move by receiving a pass between two Zambia defenders and putting a touch on the ball so that it wound up behind her – and only needing to beat the keeper. 

The U.S. absolutely dominated the shots category, 26-7. But the Americans managed to get just eight of those attempts on goal. 

Swanson nearly had a hat trick by the 60th minute, but an open shot after more creation sailed over the crossbar. And the final score easily could have had a higher margin given the amount of chances the Americans had. Zambia played a player down for most of the game because of a red card given to defender Pauline Zulu. 

Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from

It wasn’t all good news for the U.S. 

Forward Sophia Smith exited in the first half with an apparent lower-leg injury. And midfielder Rose Lavelle was subbed out at halftime; she had missed last week’s friendly against Costa Rica due to groin tightness she experienced during warmups prior to that match.  

The U.S. will next play Germany, a 3-0 winner over Australia in its opener, Sunday in Marseille.

See below the photo gallery for a recap and all the highlights of the match.

USWNT coach empties the bench in second half

Emma Hayes emptied her bench by sitting Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan and Mallory Swanson – effectively the U.S. firepower Thursday – for the match’s final 25 minutes. Emily Sonnett, Jenna Nighswonger and Casey Krueger entered to finish out the game.

Olympic play allows for five subs per match, which helps coaches maximize the 18-player roster

Albert in for Lavelle to start second half

After halftime, manager Emma Hayes made her second sub by inserting midfielder Korbin Albert for Rose Lavelle. Albert started in Lavelle’s place during last week’s final friendly tune-up against Costa Rica; Lavelle experienced groin tightness during warmups prior to that match. It appears Hayes is still not willing to risk anything, and a three-goal leads helps to make that call.

HALFTIME: USA 3, Zambia 0 

If the first half was a Mallory Swanson show, then the run time would have been 70 seconds total. 

That was the span in which she scored her first and second goals to up the USA’s lead to 3-0, 25 minutes into the match. Trinity Rodman opened the scoring with a classy move to create space and a powerful finish. 

Zambia is playing down a player following a red card for defender Pauline Zulu. And the U.S. suffered a loss when forward Sophia Smith left with an apparent ankle injury

Sophia Smith exits in first half

One of the United States’ key attackers, Sophia Smith, left with an apparent ankle injury in the 40th minute. 

Lynn Williams replaced her after a couple minutes of 10-on-10 play. 

Smith set up Mallory Swanson’s second goal and had a few nice chances prior to her exit. 

Zambia loses player to red card

Already in a 3-0 hole, Zambia is down a player for the rest of the game. 

A VAR review resulted in a red card for defender Pauline Zulu following a tackle from behind near the 18-yard box. 

USA takes early 3-0 lead over Zambia 

Somebody on Zambia might want to guard Mallory Swanson. 

The U.S. forward scored twice in the span of just over a minute to up the USA’s lead to 3-0 in the 25th minute. 

For the second time in the game, an aggressive push with the ball and a timely feed from Lindsey Horan resulted in a USA goal. This time it was Mallory Swanson who was on the receiving end of Horan’s through ball. Swanson displayed patience to create an angle and drive the ball past the keeper. 

Then Swanson streaked up the middle again, hardly a minute later, and Sophia Smith sent her into the box with another great opportunity, which she once again converted. Officially, the goals came 70 seconds apart.

Crazy sequence, but zero goals  … then USWNT breaks through 

Trinity Rodman was the answer to the USA’s scoring woes. 

Rodman took a feed in space from Lindsey Horan and had a sweet touch behind her back between two defenders to create a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie. Rodman buried the shot and it was 1-0 USA. 

That came after a wild sequence in which the U.S. created at least three opportunities. Crystal Dunn’s quick turn resulted in an open cross and Mallory Swanson nearly headed it home. Zambia keeper Ngambo Musole made the save, and Horan would have converted her volley attempt had it not been headed away by a Zambia defender. A strike from Roman was saved out of bounds for a corner attempt that resulted in another chance but Rodman ultimately found the back of the net. 

USWNT applying pressure early vs. Zambia

NICE, France – The U.S. scored almost one minute in game following a nifty run with the ball into the box from defender Emily Fox. Her cross to Lindsey Horan drew Zambia keeper Ngambo Musole off her line, but Horan’s attempt missed the wide-open net to the right.  

On another similar setup, a cross came into Sophia Smith, whose attempt went right at Musole for the easy save. 

The third close call came when Trinity Rodman tried to flick a pass over the keeper’s head, but the attempt hit the crossbar. 

Finishing has been a concern for the Americans, particularly in the wake of the two tune-up friendlies they played against Mexico and France before the Olympics; they netted one goal, from Smith against Mexico, over 180 minutes.

USWNT starting lineup vs. Zambia

Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Emily Fox
Naomi Girma
Tierna Davidson
Lindsey Horan
Rose Lavelle
Sam Coffey
Sophia Smith
Trinity Rodman
Crystal Dunn
Mallory Swanson

Sparse crowd for USWNT vs. Zambia in Nice

NICE, France – Ten minutes before kickoff, the Allianz Riviera (aka Stade de Nice), was scarcely filled. 

It will be quite a difference from the environment in which the U.S. men’s national team played Wednesday against France, which had the advantage of a passionate home crowd behind it. 

Zambia players to watch vs. USWNT

NICE, France – Zambia boasts a pair of players who have signed for big money in the National Women’s Soccer League, and the Americans know they will not be a walkover in large part thanks to their presence in the squad. 

Forward Barbra Banda, Zambia’s captain, is tied for the league lead in goals (12) this regular season – in 12 games played. Midfielder Racheal Kundananji signed with Bay Area FC for $860,000 this past January and has two goals with one assist through 12 matches.

USWNT Olympic roster

Here is the full United States women’s national team roster for the Paris Olympics.

Forward: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Smith, Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn.
Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher.
Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett.
Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams. 

How many gold medals has USWNT won?

The U.S has won four Olympic gold medals: 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Olympic women’s soccer: Canada beats New Zealand

Canada, which won the gold medal at the Tokyo Games, began its hunt for a repeat with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand on Thursday.

Evelyne Viens broke a 1-1 tie in the 79th minute wit a goal off an assist from Jessie Fleming.

Canada, which is in Group A, will play again Sunday against France at 3 p.m. ET.

USWNT Olympic wins 

The USWNT is 27-7-4 all-time at the Olympics, including four gold medals, won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

USWNT group at Olympics

The U.S. is in Group B, along with Germany, Zambia and Australia.

When does USWNT play next?

The USWNT plays again Sunday, July 28, at 3 p.m. ET.

Is Alex Morgan at the 2024 Paris Olympics?

No. Alex Morgan, the longtime USWNT forward, did not make the roster for these Summer Games. Head coach Emma Hayes explained why when the roster was announced.. 

Did Megan Rapinoe retire from soccer? 

Yes. The Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner from the 2019 World Cup suited up for the U.S. for the 2023 World Cup, which was her last.

‘For me and for this team, it’s always been the vibe of leaving everything better than where you found it,’ Rapinoe told USA TODAY Sports last summer. ‘Undeniably we’ve changed the game and been a part of these multi movements that are all kind of happening at the same time and have left the world in a better place.’

What time does USWNT play Zambia?

The U.S. and Zambia kick off at 3 p.m. ET.

Where to watch USWNT vs. Zambia

USA Network is airing the match, and Peacock is live streaming it.

What better venue for a Sweet 16 than Paris?

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games officially get underway on Friday, and as is usually the case for the Olympics, some of the world’s best athletes are the ones who aren’t allowed to legally drink or vote just yet.

That much is true for track and field athlete Quincy Wilson and gymnast Hezly Rivera, who head to Paris to try and secure some hardware for the Stars and Stripes. Not only are the two athletes immensely talented, but they’re both just 16 years old.

On Thursday, they struck a pose for cameras ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, an image that could potentially be a lasting one for years to come.

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Meet Team USA: See which athletes made the U.S. Olympic team and where they are from

Wilson is already in the history books ahead of the games: At 16, he becomes the youngest American male track and field athlete in history, as he was added to the men’s 4×400 relay pool. In June, he also set the U18 record in the outdoor 400-meter dash, posting a 44.20.

Rivera, a New Jersey native, turned 16 on June 4 and joins the women’s gymnastics squad which features Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey. Team USA gymnastics is looking for their first gold medal since 2016, a team which also featured Biles.

This is all to say, the future is bright for Team USA Olympians – beginning on Friday, it also might be golden.