Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.

Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.

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Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.
Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.
Should she have jumped again?
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Should she have jumped again?

Olympics, gymnastics, and a look back 25 years. Also: 7 other things worth your time.

Bill Murphy Jr.'s avatar
Bill Murphy Jr.
Jul 30, 2021
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Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.
Understandably by Bill Murphy Jr.
Should she have jumped again?
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We have a fairly long “7 other things today,” plus yesterday’s Understandably Live video. Also, it’s the weekend. So let me try to keep the intro a little shorter.

It’s about gymnastics, with the caveat that I know almost nothing about this sport. Like many Americans, I tune in every four years (five this time). But we start with sincere congratulations to Sunisa Lee for winning the all-around gymnastics gold at the Tokyo Olympics early yesterday, NYC time.

Just 18 years old, Lee has a story that’s so dramatic it feels as if it were made for the moment: overcoming injuries including a broken bone in her foot and an injured Achilles tendon, and the fact that her father was paralyzed from the chest down in an accident two years ago, and she lost both an aunt and uncle to Covid-19.

And of course, there’s the fact that Simone Biles withdrew from competition.

I’m with those who say Biles deserves praise for having the self-awareness to know when she needed to step out—but also (and I think th…

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