Red, White & Trending: July 1-7

What are Team USA athletes — Olympians, Paralympians, hopefuls and more — up to when they're not competing? They're training. They're practicing. They're traveling to competitions and meets and games and tournaments. They're relaxing. They're getting engaged and married. They're taking hard-earned vacations. They're coping with the raw emotions that come from losing and winning. And they're sharing. Through the reach of social media, we're able to follow along on their often extraordinary journeys. We'll catch you up each week on what's "Red, White & Trending."

Happy Fourth

Land of the free. Home of the brave. While so many of us were doing the same, Team USA was celebrating the 240th birthday of the United States of America. For athletes who so often are toiling, trying and training for their countries, it’s no wonder social media feeds became its own fireworks display of red, white and blue. There were barbecues, there were workouts, there were work days, and there were more than a few Monday fun days.

From Miracle on Ice Olympic goalkeeper Jim Craig ... this will forever stand as one of the most iconic of patriotic Team USA moments:

For sheer flair, gold-medal-winning gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson earn high marks.

Gold medalist figure skater Scott Hamilton made the holiday a work day, but this smile suggests he didn't mind at all.

We found another Team USA figure skater hard at work on the Fourth, too.

Yet another Olympic figure skater, Tanith White had more than a few reasons to celebrate.

U.S. men's soccer team player Charlie Davies, who made his Team USA debut back in 2007, has a few reasons to celebrate himself: Rhys and Dakota.

U.S. Paracycling posted an image of a super patriotic Joe Berenyi, who will be competing in Rio, racing over the weekend.

Olympic Nordic skier Jessie Diggins rolled with it, too.

Two-time Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer found a place to make use of the real thing when it came to snow planks.

Mazdzer wasn't alone, either. Olympic alpine skier Steven Nyman also managed to carve a few turns, these in Oregon.

Slalom star Mikaela Shiffrin, on the other hand, made sure she worked out.

How good do you think five- (working on six-) time Olympic Kim Rhode's aim is with a water balloon?

USA Rugby captain Madison Hughes added a born-on date.

Sweet ride, April Holmes. The Paralympic track star knows how to decorate for the occasion.

Nothing to see here. Just an eagle along for the ride with bobsledder Nick Cunningham at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York.

On the left coast, BMX Olympian Alise Post checked in with a post from Chula Vista's Olympic Training Center.

A national champion and multi-medal favorite in Rio, Simone Biles is now in San Jose, California, with her fellow 2016 Games hopefuls. But she spent the Fourth at home in Houston, where she put a twist on throwing out a ceremonial first pitch.

Paralympic Stars Shine

One of the most dominant athletes in the world, 11-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, is among the headliners who were named this past week to the team that will take on Rio later this summer. The fruits of her labors, which include an incredible stretch of wheelchair marathon wins and will see her competing in seven events in Rio, have her gaining a place in the sporting conscience. Even from high above the clouds.

McFadden has arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, where she hints at a secret project with a lofty dream.

Meanwhile, her swimming, biking and fellow track athletes took to social media after learning that they, too, were headed to Rio. Keep an eye out for Michelle Konkoly, Brad Snyder, Jessica Long, Cortney Jordan, Reilly Boyt, Alyssa Gialamas, Tharon Drake, Roy Perkins, Jeremy Campbell and Mallory Weggemann ...

Swim, Win, Swim, Win, Work, Work, Work

What did Katie Ledecky do at U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming in Omaha, Nebraska? Well, there was the nearly 10-second win in the 800-meter freestyle and the assurance that she will swim the 200 and 400 free, too ... while leaving the giving experts and fans the general impression not whether she would win medals in Rio but whether there would be multiple gold medals. There are conversations about her being, at the mere age of 19, the most dominant athlete in sports. And what did she do after trials? She went back to work.

Top Gear

There can't be many better feelings than, after learning you were ticketed for Rio, being invited to team processing. Soon-to-be first-time Olympians Kathleen Baker and Kelsi Worrell enjoyed the honor over this past weekend.

Take a look at the #teampic, full squad below.

Road To Rio Right On Track

Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, has been playing host to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field for the better part of a week, over which dozens of spots have been filled for Team USA heading to Rio. Thankfully, we have social media to help shine a light on the emotions athletes feel when they finally have a moment to collect themselves after the good, or bad (more on that below), news comes down.

For qualifying for Rio in the shot put, you go right ahead and dance, "B1GHomie" (aka Darrell Hill).

Vashti Cunningham, who became Team USA's youngest track and field Olympian in decades, had her father, Pro-Bowl quarterback Randall Cunningham, give a sign of approval.

Compliments Of Dan

A compliment from Olympic decathlon champion Dan O'Brien is always welcome.

While we're on the subject of Olympic decathletes, let's check in with 2008 Olympic gold-medal-winning decathlete Bryan Clay, who checks in with a cheat day menu:

DeeDee's Final Lap

Over the past few months, three-time Olympic 400-meter star DeeDee Trotter has been among the stars referring to their final lap. That final competition lap took place in Eugene this past weekend, and the hashtag is now ... #Retired. Unsurprisingly, Trotter went out with grace and gratitude.

... And with a few priceless thoughts.

The early days of retirement seem to be treating Trotter well.

Dreams Come To An End

Social media offers so much to the fan. In addition to sharing in the successes of athletes, we are also able to tap in to an athlete's most vulnerable moments and honest thoughts in defeat. So often, athletes shine just as bright when they are no longer on top. To wit:

Heartbreak

For Olympic 800-meter specialist Alysia Montaño, who at the 2014 national championships competed at nearly eight months pregnant and returned a year later with her 10-month-old to win her sixth title in the 800, the 2016 Olympic Trials came to an end in excruciating fashion. Rounding the final turn and in fourth place, what was later deemed incidental contact caught Montaño, who tumbled to the ground.

For her part, Montaño offered sincere congratulations after the race.

Afterward, words of support poured in through social media, and Montaño allowed social media to help heal some of her disappointment.

Final Word

Gold medalist swimmer Shannon Vreeland's competitive Olympic career came to an end, too, but she added a nice bit of levity on her way out of that spotlight.