Olympics

Oscar Pistorius pronto será un hombre libre. Esto, después de que consiguiera la libertad condicional dos años antes de lo esperado por el asesinato de su novia, Reeva Steenkamp, en 2013.

El ex velocista olímpico y asesino convicto fue condenado a 13 años y cinco meses en 2016 por disparar y asesinar a la joven de 29 años, pero después de ganar su audiencia el viernes, el Departamento de Servicios Correccionales de Sudáfrica le concedió la libertad condicional, la que será efectiva a partir del 5 de enero de 2024.

Los términos de su libertad condicional establecen que permanecerá y vivirá en la zona de Pretoria y que requiere permiso de las autoridades para salir.

También tendrá que unirse a un programa de manejo de la ira ordenada por la corte y hacer servicio comunitario. Todas estas condiciones asociadas a su libertad condicional se mantendrán durante cinco años.

La desolada madre de Reeva, June Steenkamp, no asistió a la audiencia. Dijo que no pudo "reunir la energía para enfrentarse a él de nuevo en esta etapa". Sí estuvo presente para la primera vez que solicitó su libertad anticipada en marzo, la que terminó siendo denegada.

Según Sky News, la madre de Steenkamp le dijo a los periodistas en ese entonces que creía que él no estaba arrepentido y que debía estar tras las rejas.

Por su parte, Pistorius, quien posee dos amputaciones y es apodado "Blade Runner", ha dicho en repetidas ocasiones que nunca tuvo la intención de dispararle a su pareja, diciendo que pensaba que era un intruso.

Oscar Pistorius will soon be a free man ... after being granted parole 2 years earlier than expected for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in 2013.

The ex-Olympic sprinter and convicted killer was sentenced to 13 years and five months in 2016 for shooting and murdering the 29-year-old -- but after winning his parole board hearing Friday, the Department of Correctional Services in South Africa has granted him parole, effective January 5, 2024.

The terms of his parole state he'll stay and live in the area of Pretoria ... requiring permission from authorities to leave.

He'll also have to join a court-ordered anger management program and do community service -- and the parole conditions will remain in place for 5 years.

Reeva's devasted mother, June Steenkamp, didn't attend the hearing ... saying she "cannot muster the energy to face him again at this stage" .. though she was present at his first request for early release in March, which was denied.

According to Sky News, Steenkamp's mom told reporters outside of the venue at the time she believed he wasn't remorseful and belonged behind bars.

On his end, Pistorius, a double-amputee nicknamed "Blade Runner," has repeatedly claimed he never meant to shoot his partner ... saying he thought she was an intruder.

Suni Lee -- the Olympics star who won gold in Tokyo in 2020 -- just revealed her kidney issues this year caused her to gain 45 pounds.

The 5-foot gymnast made the revelation in an interview with USA Today this week ... just a few months after she left Auburn to get a handle on the ailment.

"I couldn't fit into any of my clothes," Lee told the outlet. "My eyes were swollen shut. It was just so scary."

Thankfully, Lee says she's doing better now ... and, according to USA Today, she looks "very much like the gymnast" who competed in the Games nearly three years ago.

"I haven't had a really bad day in a while," Lee said. "But in the beginning it was like I was waking up swollen. My fingers were so swollen they wouldn’t fit into my grips and I couldn't hold on to the bar."

She added, "My whole body was swollen because I was retaining water, so I couldn’t do a flip. … So it was really different and I had to learn how to work through it."

Lee said she's made some changes to her diet -- eliminating a lot of her sodium intake -- which has allowed her to reignite her pursuit of more medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

"We're still working on trying to figure out how to balance all of it because I do have good days and bad days," Lee said. "But with the good days I just take advantage of what I'm able to do, and on the bad days I just do basics and try and stay as safe as possible."

Suni Lee, la estrella olímpica que ganó el oro en Tokio 2020, acaba de revelar que los problemas renales que ha sufrido este año la hicieron engordar 20 kilos (45 libras).

La gimnasta de 1,70 metros hizo la revelación en una entrevista con USA Today esta semana, apenas unos meses después de que dejara Auburn para controlar la dolencia.

"No me cabía la ropa", le dijo Lee al medio. "Tenía los ojos hinchados. Estaba muy asustada".

Afortunadamente, Lee dijo que está mejor ahora y, según USA Today, se parece "mucho a la gimnasta" que compitió en los Juegos Olímpicos hace casi tres años.

"Hacía tiempo que no tenía un día realmente malo", dijo Lee. "Pero al principio era como si me despertara hinchada. Tenía los dedos tan hinchados que no me cabían en las empuñaduras y no podía agarrarme a la barra".

Añadió: "Todo mi cuerpo estaba hinchado porque estaba reteniendo agua, así que no podía hacer una voltereta. ... Fue realmente diferente y tuve que aprender a trabajar con ello".

Lee dijo que ha hecho algunos cambios en su dieta, eliminando gran parte de su ingesta de sodio, lo que le ha permitido reavivar su búsqueda de más medallas en los Juegos Olímpicos de París 2024.

"Todavía estamos trabajando para averiguar cómo equilibrar todo porque tengo días buenos y días malos", dijo Lee. "Pero con los días buenos solo aprovecho lo que soy capaz de hacer, y en los días malos solo hago lo básico y trato de mantenerme lo más segura posible".

No hay nada mejor que un poco de competencia para que los miembros de su equipo de hospitalidad y cuidado se comparen con otros profesionales del sector, y si no que se lo pregunten a los atletas de las Olimpiadas de Limpieza de este año.

Un nuevo lote de aspirantes llegó a Las Vegas el fin de semana para la 33ª edición anual de la IEHA Housekeeping Olimpiadas, que regresó por primera vez en cuatro años debido a la pandemia.

Como era de esperar, no fue una competencia fácil para los participantes, que vinieron de todas partes de América del Norte para demostrar sus habilidades domésticas en el Mandalay Bay Michelob Ultra Arena, el que se convirtió en un campo de batalla de escobas, camas, aspiradoras y cubetas para trapear.

Los competidores deslumbraron en tareas como carreras de aspiradoras, tendido de camas y relevos de trapo, por nombrar solo algunas.

El Director Ejecutivo de la IEHA, Michael Patterson, cree que el evento saca a la luz las mejores prácticas, técnicas e innovaciones en este campo, al mismo tiempo que realza el objetivo de mostrar el impacto global de la excelencia dentro de la industria de la limpieza.

Nothing better than a little competition to make sure your hospitality and care team members stack up to other professionals in the biz ... just ask this year's athletes at the Housekeeping Olympics.

A fresh batch of hopefuls hit Vegas over the weekend for the 33rd annual IEHA Housekeeping Olympics ... which returned for the first time in four years due to the pandemic.

As expected, it was no clean sweep for participants, who came from all over North America to flex their domestic skills at Mandalay Bay's Michelob Ultra Arena ... which became a battlefield of brooms, beds, vacuums and buckets.

Competitors dazzled in tasks such as vacuum racing, bed-making and mop relay ... just to name a few.

IEHA Executive Director Michael Patterson believes the event brings to light the best practices, techniques, and innovations in the field while also buffing up the goal of showing the global impact of excellence within the cleaning industry.

Israel Barona, a surfing star in Ecuador and Olympic hopeful, passed away following a medical emergency in his hotel room in Central America this week.

He was only 34.

The National Civil Police (PNC) reported the death of Barona on Tuesday, announcing the young surfer suffered seizures in his hotel in El Zonte, La Libertad.

"He was taken to a hospital, however he was already deceased," PNC said on X.

"Homicide is ruled out" ... indicating there was no foul play.

The Ecuadorian Olympic Committee confirmed the sad news, saying the surf champ was in El Salvador for a competition when he died.

"The Olympic Movement extends its heartfelt condolences to the Barona Matute family, following the death of the great athlete of Team Ecuador Surf, Israel Barona Matute," the committee said on Tuesday.

"Rest in peace, champion."

Barona's surfing career started when he was 10 years old ... and he won several national championships. He repped Ecuador at the World Surfing and Bolivarian Games.

Israel also coached the sport with his sister Dominic Barona who is one of the best female surfers in Latin America.

Fans and fellow surfers paid tribute to Barona on social media, including Rafael Romero who called him "a great friend and mentor of the ocean ❤️."

Israel Barona, estrella del surf en Ecuador y aspirante olímpico, falleció tras una emergencia médica en su habitación de hotel en Centroamérica esta semana.

Solo tenía 34 años.

La Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) informó de la muerte de Barona el martes, anunciando que el joven surfista sufrió convulsiones en su hotel en El Zonte, El Salvador.

"Fue trasladado a un hospital; sin embargo, ya había fallecido", dijo la policía en X.

"Se descarta homicidio", indicando que no hubo juego sucio.

El Comité Olímpico Ecuatoriano confirmó la triste noticia, diciendo que el campeón de surf estaba en El Salvador para una competencia cuando murió.

"El Movimiento Olímpico extiende sus más sentidas condolencias a la familia Barona Matute, tras el fallecimiento del gran deportista del Team Ecuador Surf, Israel Barona Matute", dijo el comité el martes.

"Descansa en paz, campeón".

La carrera de Barona en el surf empezó cuando tenía 10 años y ganó varios campeonatos nacionales. Representó a Ecuador en el Mundial de Surf y en los Juegos Bolivarianos.

Israel también fue entrenador de este deporte junto a su hermana Dominic Barona, quien es una de las mejores surfistas femeninas de Latinoamérica.

Fanáticos y compañeros surfistas rindieron homenaje al deportista en las redes sociales, entre ellos Rafael Romero, quien lo llamó "un gran amigo y mentor del océano ❤️."

Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her battle with pneumonia for the first time since she contracted the illness earlier this month ... and she says while she is recovering, she's not totally out of the woods yet.

In a statement posted to her Instagram page on Monday afternoon, the Olympic legend thanked her followers for all of their support ... but added that her recovery from the ailment is moving at a snail's pace.

"I'm beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement," the 55-year-old said. "I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all!"

"I'm with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process," she added. "I appreciate everyone's respect of my privacy at this time."

Retton was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia at the beginning of October ... and ended up in the ICU over it all.

During her multiple-day stay at the hospital, her family revealed she suffered a "scary setback" ... and at times, things seemed dire. Thankfully, however, Retton was able to fight through it all ... and returned home to recover last week.

In her statement Monday, she promised to reveal more about her fight at a later time.

"I love you all," she wrote.

Mary Lou Retton has just taken a huge step in her fight to beat pneumonia ... she's been released from the ICU -- and is now at home recovering.

One of the Olympic legend's daughters, McKenna, shared the good news on her Instagram page on Monday ... thanking doctors, nurses and fans for everything they've done to get her to this point.

"We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us," McKenna wrote, "but baby steps."

Retton was first admitted into the ICU earlier this month after contracting a rare form of pneumonia ... and while initially her family was pleased with her progress, they said she suffered a "pretty scary setback" last week.

Seems, though, Retton has battled past that ... something her family is obviously overjoyed about.

"We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone," McKenna said. "Grateful doesn't scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts."

Mary Lou Retton acaba de dar un gran paso en su lucha por vencer a la neumonía. Fue dada de alta de la UCI y ahora se está recuperando en casa.

Una de las hijas de la leyenda olímpica, McKenna, compartió la buena noticia en su página de Instagram el lunes, agradeciendo a los médicos, enfermeras y a los fans por todo lo que han hecho para llegar a este punto.

"Todavía tenemos un largo camino de recuperación por delante", escribió McKenna, "pero estamos dando pequeños pasos".

Retton fue admitida por primera vez en la UCI a principios de este mes después de contraer una rara forma de neumonía, y aunque inicialmente su familia estaba contenta con su progreso, confirmaron que sufrió un "aterrador revés" la semana pasada.

Parece, sin embargo, que lo peor ha pasado, algo por lo que su familia está obviamente, muy contenta

"Estamos abrumados con el amor y el apoyo de todos", dijo McKenna. "Decir agradecidos no raspa ni la superficie de la postura de nuestros corazones".

Mary Lou Retton has suffered a "scary setback" this week in her battle with a rare form of pneumonia ... and she now remains in the ICU fighting for her life.

The Olympic legend's daughter, Shayla, provided the concerning update in a video on her social media page Wednesday evening ... saying Retton had been showing signs of improvement prior to the turn.

"Basically, at the beginning of this week," Shayla said, "we were going on the up-and-up. We were so excited. Seeing so much progress. And then yesterday, we had a pretty scary setback. She is still in ICU."

Thankfully, there is at least a bit of positive news ... Shayla said Retton had a much better day Wednesday, though the 55-year-old former gymnast is clearly nowhere near out of the woods yet.

"We're just working through some things as far as her setback goes," Shayla said.

Retton has been in the ICU since earlier this month ... though plenty have sent prayers her way in the hopes she improves. So far, over 8,000 donors have given more than $450,000 to a SpotFund created on her behalf ... something Shayla said she's super grateful for.

Mary Lou Retton ha sufrido un "aterrador revés" esta semana en su batalla contra una rara forma de neumonía, y ahora permanece luchando por su vida en la UCI.

La hija de la leyenda olímpica, Shayla, entregó la preocupante actualización en un video publicado en sus redes sociales el miércoles por la noche, en donde dice que Retton había estado mostrando signos de mejoría antes de este revés.

"Básicamente, a principios de esta semana", dijo Shayla, "íbamos mejorando y mejorando. Estábamos muy emocionados. Veíamos muchos progresos. Y entonces, ayer, tuvimos un retroceso bastante aterrador. Todavía está en la UCI".

Afortunadamente, hay al menos algunas noticias positivas. Shayla dijo que Retton tuvo un día mucho mejor el miércoles, aunque la ex gimnasta de 55 años aún está lejos de estar fuera de peligro.

"Estamos trabajando en algunas cosas en lo que respecta a su revés", dijo Shayla.

Retton está en la UCI desde principios de este mes, aunque muchos han enviado sus oraciones con la esperanza de que se mejore. Hasta ahora, más de 8.000 personas han donado más de $450.000 a un SpotFund creado en su nombre, algo por lo que Shayla dijo sentirse muy agradecida.

Rob Gronkowski podría estar de vuelta en 2028 y le dice a TMZ Sports que se retiraría del fútbol si eso significaba que podía jugar la versión de la bandera de la misma para el equipo de EE.UU. en los Juegos Olímpicos.

La leyenda de los New England Patriots no se anduvo con rodeos a la hora de hablar de este deporte y su posible inclusión en los Juegos del 28, diciendo: "¡Cuenten conmigo ya!".

"Ojalá no haya pruebas y simplemente me acepten", dijo el ex tight end, que se alejó definitivamente de la NFL en 2022. "Pero estoy dentro. Voy a por ello si hay espacio para el football de banderas en los Juegos Olímpicos de 2028. Estados Unidos va a por todas".

Gronk tendría 39 años cuando los Juegos Olímpicos comiencen oficialmente en Los Ángeles, pero dice que ha estado cuidando de su cuerpo durante este tiempo y que ahora está de vuelta al 100 por ciento y parece anticipar que las cosas seguirán así.

De hecho, dice que si la NFL creara un espacio para las Olimpiadas, él estaría ahí.

"Te puedo decir esto", dijo, "Si hubiera una liga de fútbol bandera de la NFL, yo estaría jugando en estos momentos".

Por supuesto, este deporte aún no se ha añadido oficialmente a los Juegos. Se espera que el Comité Olímpico Internacional vote sobre él y algunos otros en los próximos días.

Aunque si se añade oficialmente, Gronk podría tener a un gran compañero corriendo junto a él en cuatro años más. Tyreek Hill dijo a principios de esta semana que también estaría feliz de participar.

Mientras tanto, cuando Gronk no está ocupado en mantenerse en forma, está tratando con su multitud de empresas de negocios, incluyendo su última idea, Voomerang.

Rob Gronkowski could be back on a gridiron as soon as 2028 ... telling TMZ Sports he'd unretire from football if it meant he could play the flag version of it for Team USA in the Olympics.

The New England Patriots legend didn't mince words when talking about the sport and its potential inclusion in the '28 Games ... saying point-blank Thursday, "Count me in already!"

"Hopefully there's no tryouts and they just accept me," said the former tight end, who walked away from the NFL for good in 2022. "But I'm in. I'm going for that if there is flag football in the Olympics in 2028. USA going all the way!"

Gronk would be 39 years old when the Olympics officially kick off in Los Angeles ... but he says he's been taking care of his body so well in retirement, he's now back to 100 percent -- and he seems to anticipate things staying that way if and when it comes time to put the flags on.

In fact, he says if the NFL created a league of its own prior to any sort of Olympic action, he'd be down to lace up his cleats ASAP for it.

"I can tell you this." he said, "If there was a flag football league -- an NFL flag football league -- I would be playing in that currently as we speak."

Of course, the sport has not yet officially been added to the Games -- the International Olympic Committee is expected to vote on it and a few others in the coming days.

Although if it does get officially added, Gronk could have some serious firepower running alongside him in four years ... as Tyreek Hill said earlier this week he'd be all-in for it as well.

In the meantime, when Gronk isn't busy staying in shape ... he's dealing with his multitude of business ventures -- including his latest one, Voomerang.

Donations towards Mary Lou Retton's medical expenses now top $360k and the Olympic star's daughter, Shayla, says she's blown away by the "unbelievable love" her mom is receiving from her fans.

"My sisters and I are overwhelmed," Shayla said via Instagram on Wednesday, "We didn't even realize that there's so many people out there that love her just as much as we do."

"It's been a really hard time for our family."

Since news broke that the Olympic gold medalist was battling a rare case of pneumonia, fans have flooded the SpotFund account launched by her other daughter, McKenna.

As of Thursday morning, the fund sits at $363k (after starting with a goal of just $50k!) with over 6,000 donors! And it's going up by the hour.

"Just seeing that people love her like that and showing her that support has just meant the world to us and to her," Shayla said.

"Thank you for your unbelievable love & support for our mom. Please continue to pray for her full recovery."