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Red, White & Trending: Nov. 18-24

By Jamie MacDonald | Nov. 25, 2016, 11:34 a.m. (ET)

What are Team USA athletes — Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls — 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."


Parade Day

One of the great honors of one of the great holidays in this country went to wheelchair marathon star Tatyana McFadden, who made it to Manhattan on Wednesday night and in time to star in a tradition as American as apple pie: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Made it in time for dinner 🍴 always faith and family first. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃🍁

A photo posted by TatyanaMcfadden (@tatyanamcfaddenusa) on

McFadden wasn’t alone among Team USA athletes at the iconic event, either.

Meanwhile, in Houston …


Thanksgiving Greetings, Treats And Turkey Trots

Among the myriad feelings at the ready for Olympic and Paralympic athletes who are so often supported by so many — families, strangers, friends, fans, communities — is to be thankful. Gratitude often comes with the territory for Team USA, and this Thanksgiving is no different as our elite athletes shared all sorts of perspectives on a day of relaxing, or golfing, or eating, or working out, or training abroad, or being stuck in the snow, or hanging out with Detroit sports mascots, or attending the Cowboys game, or making an inspiring practice walk down the aisle with your dad.


Travels And Tribulations

For two-time Paralympian and Purple Heart recipient Melissa Stockwell, getting to Thanksgiving was more than half the battle …


Key Players

Heading into this holiday weekend, two Rio Olympians had that much more to celebrate. Women’s golfer Gerina Piller and modern pentathlete Nathan Schrimsher, both born in Roswell, New Mexico, were awarded keys to the city in a ceremony on Tuesday night. In Rio, Piller tied for 11th while Schrimsher finished 11th in his competition.


Mirror, Mirror …

Congratulations are in order for Laurie Hernandez. Capping off a year that also included Olympic individual and team medals at the Rio Games, the women’s gymnast captured even more hearts en route to winning this season of "Dancing with the Stars."

We out here✌🏽 thank you, @iamvalc for making this an incredible experience. DWTS tour here I come❤️❤️

A photo posted by Laurie Hernandez (@lauriehernandez_) on

And, yes, Team USA was watching …


Golden Again

One of the biggest nights in swimming took place this past week, too, with television executive Dick Ebersol lauding USA Swimming as the “greatest single sports organization in the world.” Team USA came dressed to impress.

The fastest person in the room, though, doesn’t spend most of his time in the pool.


Comeback In Progress

To know the story of two-time Olympic skeleton athlete John Daly is to know the story of the hardest kind of defeat. After years of grueling training, Daly, taking off on his final run in Sochi and within striking distance of a medal, encountered a split-second nightmare when his skeleton sled skipped the track at the starting line and he wound up finishing 15th.

Not long afterward, he retired.

As of this week, however, he’s back. And he’d kept that pretty quiet, even shooting a video prior to making his return official.

For Daly, a new countdown is on: PyeongChang for the 2018 Games.


Dog Treat

The dynamic media duo that is @TaraandJohnny, also known as Olympic figure skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, spent the early part of their holiday weekend working. Well, sort of working …

Of course they give me the big dog....🐾🐾

A video posted by Tara Lipinski (@taralipinski) on


Not Done Yet

Another setback isn’t getting in the way of the extraordinarily driven Lindsey Vonn, who not long ago posted images of a gruesome injury. This week, though, with her left arm wrapped, she sneaked in a leg day.

You can always find a way 💪🏻 My season is NOT over! #nevergiveup

A photo posted by Lindsey Vonn (@lindseyvonn) on

Related Stories

Solve Your Shopping Woes With Team USA's Holiday Gift Guide

Go Behind The Scenes At Team USA’s Holiday Catalog Shoot

Rio Edition: An A To Z List Of Reasons We’re All Thankful For Team USA

John Daly Returns To Skeleton With One Goal In Mind: An Olympic Medal

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