Softball Star Jayda Coleman Shares Swimsuit Photo as “These Are the Best Days”

OU softball star Jayda Coleman is taking some time off from her intense training schedule to have fun with friends. Coleman, 21, shared pictures of herself and a group of a friends in bathing suits, enjoying a gigantic pool in Edmond, Oklahoma. “These are the best days :) Thank you to Luke and Becky Corbett for opening up their pool for us! WE LOVED IT :),” she captioned the post. Coleman has clearly earned her down time. “The person that’s really impressed me power-wise is Jayda Coleman,” says OU coach Patty Gasso. “You see her as like that soft slapper, she’s swinging it. She’s swinging it a la Tiare Jennings. Just big, hard, long shots.” Here’s how the college athlete stays on top of her game.

1. Strength Training

Coleman relied on strength training and protein to get stronger and faster. “I’m just staying in the weight room. Getting stronger,” she says. “But not just lifting weights but eating the right food. A lot of protein, that kind of thing. I changed my swing just a little bit. But just trying to be the fastest I can be with my swing and the most comfortable I can be and hopefully it works out.”

2. Running and Ab Workouts

Coleman continued training and working out even when schools were closed during the pandemic. “I get up every weekday and do my running, ab workouts, stretching, sprints, throwing, etc,” she says. “This part doesn’t seem that weird to me, it’s like what I would do in the summer to prepare for the summer softball season. I take the weekend off, which is unusual, because I would normally be playing every weekend.”

3. Leadership Skills

Coleman loves being a leader and role model for younger players. “I was in that situation freshman year where I was playing infield literally my whole life,” she says. “So I know their frustration sometimes is trying to get in rhythm of playing outfield. I feel like my leadership is when people come from the infield to the outfield, trying to help them and that transition.”

4. Playing Chess

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Coleman thinks differently to other athletes, and this played a huge role in her success. “She was on all the time and she was always stealing and playing games with the catcher, so much that parents were yelling at her, ‘You’re cheating. Play the game the right way,’” coach Gasso says. “And she would delay steal, she would take off and stand right in the middle of the basepath and wait for them to do something and she’d always break and be safe the other way. She was just playing games. As we kind of talk in our team, one team’s playing checkers, we’re playing chess. Jayda was playing chess. Her mind thinks differently, works differently.”

5. Super Competitive

Coleman’s competitive nature sets her apart, according to coach Gasso. “It’s everything and more that I thought it would be. She has such a good eye for the ball, such a good hitter, good sense,” Gasso says. “She likes to ask questions. She likes to give answers when we’re here looking at video. She walks up with a different kind of confidence. Every time she comes to the plate, the attitude I can see is, ‘There’s no way you’re beating me.’ And when she has that mindset, you don’t beat her. She is the most competitive athlete that I think I’ve ever seen.”

Brylie St. Clair spends a lot of time at the beach. And she made sure to get some photos for social media on her recent trip. St. Clair shared a new set of photos to Instagram. In them, she lay on the sand. St. Clair captioned the post, “beach > sand.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Brylie St. Clair stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Horseback Rides

St. Clair spends a lot of time outside. One thing she likes to do is horseback ride. She shared this set of photos and videos on Instagram of herself riding in the grass. St. Clair captioned the post, “All kinds of happy.” She also posted this set of photos of herself with a horse, captioning them, “Everyone meet boots.”

2. She Plays With Her Dog

St. Clair owns a dog, and she spends a lot of time with him. She shared these photos on Instagram of herself and her dog outside. St. Clair captioned the post, “Mama’s boy.” According to Harvard Health, having a dog has a lot of health benefits. “Dog owners have lower blood pressure and healthier cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart disease, than non-owners. There are also many psychological benefits to having a pooch around. Dog owners are less prone to bouts of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Simply petting your dog can make you feel less stressed. One of the greatest benefits of owning a dog is that it encourages you to practice mindfulness — being in the present moment and fully appreciating life. Mindfulness can help you relieve stress and also improves your overall health.”

3. She Plays Softball

The main way St. Clair stays in shape, obviously, is by playing softball. According to Rocky Mountain Health Plans, baseball and softball have a lot of benefits. “The fact that baseball improves physical strength probably isn’t surprising, but you might be surprised to see how strong you get after playing for a few months. Holding and swinging a baseball bat and throwing and catching the ball requires use of the entire upper body. Certain motions, like swinging, can also build joint flexibility. Your legs will also get a great workout. Moving in different directions helps develop strength and mobility in all of your muscles. Squatting down engages the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calf muscles. All of that running will add even more muscle to your legs.”

4. She Fishes

St. Clair loves to spend time by the water. One thing she likes to do is fish. St. Clair shares a bunch of posts on Instagram of herself fishing. She shared these photos of herself catfish fishing with friends, captioning them, “Go bravos.” She also shared these photos of herself with a huge fish, captioning it, “Always a good time.’

5. She Goes To The Beach

St. Clair spends a lot of time at the beach. She shared these photos of herself lying in the sand in Miami Beach on Instagram. St. Clair captioned it, “Me again.” A study in the Journal of Coastal Zone Managementstates that going to the beach can benefit your mental health. “The findings of this study showed that (1) a high degree of enthusiasm for beach-going had a greater significant effect on mood and mental health than did moderate and low degrees of enthusiasm for beach-going. There were vast differences in scores on the subscales assessing depressive mood, anxious mood, and refreshed mood, and the GHQ-12 scores, among the three groups, and (2) for males, the differences in the mood inventory and GHQ-12 scores among the high, moderate, and low enthusiasm groups were more pronounced and significant than they were for females. Although the females did not differ much in terms of the quality of their mood and mental health status, there was a slight difference among the three groups.”

Denver Broncos cheerleader Berkleigh Wright isn’t ready to say goodbye to summer (or her swimsuits) just yet. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit finalist took some time off from her busy schedule as an account manager and professional NFL cheerleader to get some R&R at the Clayton Members Club & Hotel in Denver. Wright shared pictures of herself posing in a white one-piece swimsuit, with a white shirt and straw hat. “Summer’s not over until Clayton says it’s over ☀️,” she captioned the post. Here’s how she works hard, plays hard, and cheers hard.

1. Look Good, Feel Good

Wright starts the day with a cup of matcha green tea to wake up and hit the ground running. “I’m all about the look good, feel good, work good vibes,” she says. “I always like to wake up and do my full skincare [routine], put on a fresh face and make sure that I’m setting myself up for success and a productive day.”

2. Sports Illustrated Beckons

Wright was a finalist in the Sports Illustrated Swim Search competition (no surprise there!). “I took this leap of faith because I feel that Sports Illustrated [Swimsuit] is a world-class organization that embodies everything I strive to be as a woman,” she says. “It extends beyond beauty: they stand for being a strong individual with depth, brains, kindness and integrity. A brand that celebrates everyone’s differences, exhibiting that our imperfections are what makes us beautiful. SI Swim helped me embrace those ideals in myself, and now I strive to imprint that mindset in others.”

3. Skiing Trips

Like a true Colorado girl, Wright is at home on the slopes. “It’s well documented that skiing and snowboarding benefits cardiovascular health, overall fitness, strength, coordination, balance and more,” says the Canadian Ski Council. “Regardless of your health and fitness goals, strapping on a pair of skis or a snowboard is sure to fulfill some of them. Due to the versatility of skiing and snowboarding, it can encompass the benefits of a cardio workout, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session, and strength training session, all in one fun activity.”

4. Advice To Younger Self

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Wright’s advice she would give her younger self is all about self-love and confidence. “Listen to your heart. If something is on it, it is there for a reason. Some things are only meant to be in your life for a reason or a season. Letting them go with grace will make room for what is meant to stay. Find your people and hold them close. Kindness is cool. Your authentic, genuine, weird and quirky self is the MOST beautiful thing you can be.”

5. Role Model

Wright wants to use her platform with the Denver Broncos and Sports Illustrated to be a role model for younger women. “Winning SI Swim Search to me means being a part of something bigger than myself,” she says. “Being a member of the Sports Illustrated family and having this powerful platform would help me further myself as a mentor and reach a wider audience of our youth. A mentor that demonstrates to our younger generation that you are not limited by your external factors, but rather unlimited by the person you can become from the inside out.”

Gymnast Olivia "Livvy" Dunne is channeling that back-to-school feeling in her swimsuit. The LSU and social media superstar just shared a fantastic new image of herself in a black swimsuit prostrated on the back of a boat, with stunning blue waters behind her. “There’s 104 days of summer vacation til school comes along just to end it…” she captioned the picture, quoting “Today Is Gonna Be a Great Day” by the band Bowling for Soup, aka the theme song from the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb. How does the 20-year-old phenomenon stay in shape? Here’s how.

1. She Dedicated Her Childhood to Training

Despite the photo of Dunne looking like she’s enjoying the dog days of August in some exptiing location, taking in the sun, she has worked incredibly hard her entire life. “I pretty much sacrificed my summers, those pool days, those beach days with their friends. I was in the gym training,” Dunne told the Today Show.

2. She is a Hit on Social Media

Dunne posts photos of herself dancing and sunbathing, which have made her an Internet sensation, both as a talented athlete and as a pin-up queen. “As a woman, you're not responsible for how a man looks at you and object defies you. That's not a woman's responsibility,” Dunne told the Today Show. She did add: “There are some people occasionally that do reach out, and it is a bit concerning….They gave us some new rules for US athletes just to keep us safe, to not go into the stands after meets, and we have a new security person that travels with us.”

3. She Has a Great Support System

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“When it comes to what you have on your plate, you've got athletics, you've got class, oh by the way, you have NIL”—that means “name, image, and likeness,” which she can monetize. “How do you go about managing all that?” asked a reporter from On3. “I would say having a good support system is so important,” she answered. “My family, they stand behind me and my mom, she helps me, my sister, she helps put together videos and sends it to the brand while I'm at practice or competing. So she's definitely a huge component in my everyday life and helping me with these brand deals. But having a good support system and compartmentalizing your day so you don't get overwhelmed.”

4. She Swims

Swimming offers a plethora of health benefits for both body and mind. It's a low-impact exercise that enhances cardiovascular fitness, strengthens muscles, and improves flexibility. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints, making it suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Regular swimming can aid in weight management, promoting calorie burning and increased metabolism. Moreover, it's an effective full-body workout that engages various muscle groups, enhancing tone and endurance. Beyond physical advantages, swimming also boosts mental well-being through its meditative rhythm and soothing effects. Overall, swimming is a holistic activity that fosters vitality, strength, and a tranquil mind.

5. This is Her Plan to Be Successful After Graduation

“I have one more year of school at LSU and one more year of gymnastics, which is insane to me. So I'm hoping just to have a good last year at LSU. But after school, I would definitely like to have my own brand. Yes, I love working with brands, but I would like to have my own thing, my own product one day. And I'm not sure exactly what that is yet, but I definitely feel like I can do something entrepreneurial, so I would like to have my own product,” she told On3.

Good Morning America’s Lara Spencer is always go-go-go on the show. So it was nice to see her take a moment and appreciate “the good stuff.” “Today the sun officially sets on summer 2021 and fall officially begins,” she captioned some photos from a few days back, “and as I swap out my sundresses for sweaters, I thought I’d post some pictures to remember the good stuff—working from home, getting great family time with my mom, sisters, hubby and kids and just feeling pretty grateful. Ok, now back to work. #greatmemories #summer21” One photo included the star in a swimsuit. Read on to see 5 ways Lara Spencer stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bikini Photos!

1. She Had a Hip Replacement

“I love sports, I love being active, I love challenging myself,” Spencer told ABC. “I was a jock growing up from the time I could walk.” So she was shattered when told she needed a hip replacement. “It was so upsetting,” Spencer said. “I waited for a long time before I did anything about it or told anyone because it sounds like it’s an old person’s problem and I just couldn't believe it.” "It was embarrassing to share and then I realized there is nothing to be embarrassed about," she said. "I have a genetic predisposition for this but if you're athletic and you move, it's happening younger and younger." After the surgery, she said she’s “feeling great.”

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2. She Gravitates Toward Fresh, Clean Foods

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“​​I eat what I want, in moderation. I gravitate toward fresh veggies and clean foods, thankfully, but I am also a sucker for a cupcake every once in a while. I make sure to eat lots of kale, broccoli, blueberries, strawberries and spinach. We do enough stories on superfoods on GMA. I know what I should be eating, and I really try to stick with that,” she told Parade once.

3. She Swims and Plays Tennis

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“I enjoy swimming laps—it’s a great workout and also allows me to get into a meditative state so it’s very relaxing. I love the quiet and the rhythm of swimming. I do it quite a bit in the summer, but not very much in the winter,” she told Parade.

4. She’s a Fan of These Activities

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“I turn to yoga, preferably in a warm room, during the cold months. I do yoga year round but find myself craving it more in the fall and winter. I am really into paddle boarding at the moment, too. It’s an incredible workout for the arms and core, and a great way to get out on the water,” she told Parade.

5. She Loves Tennis

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“Last but certainly not least, I play tennis year round. I am on a USTA team and just got bumped up to a 4.0 rating so I am really excited. As a former athlete, I love the competition. I play both singles and doubles and would play every day if I could! I wish I had known about tennis as a kid. Unlike platform diving, it’s a sport I can play for the rest of my life,” she told Parade.