Sports
Paralympic equestrian rider reflects on finally winning gold in fifth Games in Paris
When Becca Hart was a child, she didn’t have the same experience as everyone else her age or almost anyone else growing up.
While other kids were playing sports and taking dance lessons, Hart was often on the outside looking in, as she had been born with familial spastic paraplegia, a hereditary condition that weakens her legs.
“You’re going to be like everyone else. But the world quickly pounds into you that that’s not the case. And I was really mad about that,” Hart told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
But one day, she got on a horse. And nearly 25 years later, she’s a Paralympic gold medal winner.
Becca Hart poses with her three gold medals from Paris. (Mercury LLC)
Hart says she “struggled with my disability as a kid” as the “magic” of enjoying childhood was essentially gone. That is, however, until she rode a horse for the first time.
“But I was a horse-crazy little kid, and something clicked in my brain. This horse doesn’t care if my legs don’t work, they will do everything I need them to do. It was this light-bulb moment, and all of a sudden, I was able to take all the anger I felt and push it into a passion for horses and sport, and that was the catalyst for my obsession with horses and competing that has spanned over 25 years.”
Hart first participated in the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, and it finally took until this past summer to earn gold; she is the captain of the USA’s equestrian dressage team.
But while she is not competing, Hart has worked at Starbucks since the year she made her Paralympic debut. But the company has become so much more than her place of employment.
“Starbucks has been wildly a part of my journey since before I was on the international scene. I was a working student trying to make my break into international performance. I needed a job, and Starbucks was there.
Becca Hart competes in Paris. (Mercury LLC)
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“My manager knew I was doing ‘professional sports’ on the side, and he said, ‘Why don’t you look at this elite athlete program? It might be something useful for you.’ I looked into it, and they’ve been one of my main corporate sponsors for the last 16 years. Having the flexibility to travel the world, keep my job and have the financial backing to support that has been kind of paramount to getting triple gold this year.”
Hart jokes that the alarm clock going off at 3 a.m. to head to work shortly after winning gold was a tough kick back into real life, but on her return to work, she got a champion’s welcome.
“They decked the store out in gold, everything, streamers, sparklers, balloons. And the entire community came in at the end of my shift, the entire fire department, sheriff’s department, the mayor, my friends, customers, they all came in, and we just had a blast,” she said.
Hart admitted there were times she had to keep herself from getting distracted while competing.
“When I glance to my right, there’s the [Château Versailles], the gardens, the waterfront, and I’m like, ‘Focus. Focus.’ I had to remind myself to really hone in,” Hart said. “I enjoy the pressure. Pressure is a privilege, but it’s tight. I needed a good performance, but I also needed a personal best, which is asking a lot in the Olympics, but we were able to pull it off.”
Gold medalist Rebecca Hart of Team United States poses for a photo during the Paris Summer Paralympic Games at Château de Versailles on Sept. 3, 2024, in France. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
And while her goal is finally accomplished, the best part about her sport is that there is longevity. Now, she wants USA equestrian to become a dynasty, and she will be in Los Angeles in 2028.
“We worked too hard and too long. We’re just getting good, we’ve just brought the U.S. into the spotlight, and I want to stay there, especially on home turf in four years.”
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Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
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There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Taylor Crabb is no stranger to South California beaches. The Long Beach State alum returns home this weekend to compete in AVP League matches.
It marks the first time AVP will compete in Long Beach since 2020 and allows players to compete at the 2028 Olympics beach volleyball venue.
Crabb, 34, made his AVP debut in 2013 with his brother, Trevor, and advanced from the qualifier in Manhattan Beach before finishing 25th in his first tournament.
After years of competing with various different partners, Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh have delivered the top performances this AVP season.
The following interview with Crabb has been edited for clarity and length.
Are you excited to compete in this weekend’s event at Long Beach?
Crabb: Very excited. A lot of my college teammates and part of the school have reached out, saying that they’re gonna come. So I’m excited to get a chance to play in front of them again.
When was the last time you were in Long Beach?
Crabb: I always try to go down there for alumni events or any big games they have. I went to UCLA against Long Beach last year, when it was No. 1 versus No. 2, so I always try to get down there and support them.
You missed out on the chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics because of COVID-19 restrictions and chose not to pursue a spot at the 2024 Olympics. Are you fired up to try to compete in the 2028 Olympics, knowing that Long Beach will host the competition?
Crabb: Yeah, it’s definitely an exciting time having the Olympics in Long Beach, and we kind of get to break it in this weekend. As you said, Tokyo didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m going full force now. I have a great partner in Andy Benesh, who obviously went to the Paris Olympics, and if it weren’t for the Olympics being in Long Beach, and me getting a partner like Andy, I’m not even sure I’d be going for it, but because of those two things, I want to make the most of it.
You mentioned that if it wasn’t for a partner like Andy, you wouldn’t be going for it. What do you mean by that?
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
You’ve had different partners throughout your time. What other motivation does Andy give you?
Crabb: He’s been, in my mind, the top blocker for the U.S. the last four or five years. Seeing the professionalism he brings every day to practice, on and off the court, while traveling and when showing up to tournaments, it rubs off on you and that’s really motivating to see. And I just want to make him proud.
Why do you love volleyball?
Crabb: A lot of reasons, but it’s just a feeling I have when I’m out there on the court. It feels natural. It feels like home. I was born into a volleyball family. I had a volleyball in my hands my entire life, so I’ve always just enjoyed it.
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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger that was ready to step to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to the “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes he’d be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars he’d think might come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back around and get his rematch if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” came out uncalled and marched his way down to the ring.
“I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes looks on during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, just “say when.” It was a quick retort from Punk, who said, “when.” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.
Gunther didn’t take too kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back out to break up the calamity. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off air but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk definitely has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.
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