Red, White & Trending: Jan. 13-19

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."

A Matter Of Perspective

The lives of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls are not always easy. From training sessions to travel, and from competitions to the emotional roller-coasters of winning and losing, the days and years can be long and stressful. Like so many other elite athletes, however, Paralympic track star Jarryd Wallace sees all of this not as a grind but a gift.

MLK Day Appreciation

So many Team USA athletes took to social media this past Monday to honor the work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and we collected some of Team USA's most poignant posts …

Road To Recovery

A week ago, Olympic alpine skiing champion Ted Ligety let us know he would be undergoing surgery, and, as of Thursday, things were progressing nicely.

Kid Stuff

The terrible twos? Olympic diving champion David Boudia thinks not. And who can blame him here?

Generation Next

Poor Jake. He’s in danger of slipping another notch on the totem pole in the Stockwell house. Who’s Jake? He’s the family lab, and the family is growing. Two-time Paralympian and paratriathlon world champion Melissa Stockwell, who also happens to be a Purple Heart and bronze star recipient, is having another baby. The countdown to August is on ...

Stockwell isn’t the only swim-bike-run champion expecting in August, either. Congratulations are in order for Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen, a noted foodie now running out of days as a party of two.

And why not look at the next "tri" date on the calendar …

Swiss Watch

As much as anything, Team USA is a travel company, and, every once in a while, its athletes have a moment to enjoy the view. Checking in from Switzerland …

Nailed It

When you’re looking to be inspired, feel free to play this video on a loop. Thank you, Trevon Jenifer, two-time Paralympic wheelchair basketball medalist.

Clean Slate

A brand new year and a brand new Aly Raisman. At least for the time being, the six-time Olympic gymnastics medalist is turning over a new leaf.

Later that evening …

Giving Back

As one of the fastest swimmers in the world, Nathan Adrian is no stranger to being in and out of the water in a splash, but the polar plunge, no matter how short, is not for him.

When Harry Met Harry

At long last, there is an answer. For years, Women’s National Soccer Team friends Tobin Heath and Allie Long had been nicknamed each other, “Harry.” And few knew why. In addition to a few fantastic variations of dabs, including at close range, along with some carpool karaoke, Heath and Long explain away the mystery. Sort of …

Getting to the bottom of the Harry story comes courtesy Team USA’s January Camp, which in many ways marks the road to the Women’s World Cup in 2019. And while that sounds like a great, welcoming trip full of reunions and laughs in California, it is also very much a stressful one, too, as athletes know they are quite clearly competing for jobs. For a behind-the-scenes closer look at January Camp, check out U.S. Soccer’s “New Cycle Officially Begins …”

Oh, yes, and for fellow Olympians Morgan Brian and Lindsey Horan there was also this …

Happy Returns

On the men’s side, Tim Howard is back. Kind of. While headed to Los Angeles for MLS appearances, the Team USA goaltender stopped in to visit with some of his former teammates at their own January Camp.

Cover Girl

Coming to a magazine stand near you, Paralympic track superstar Tatyana McFadden …

String Theory

It’s not every day that one has the occasion to hold a musical instrument that is not only a work of art, but also a work of art that’s older than our country.

Shadow Boxing

When it comes to tributes, it doesn’t come more unique than Olympic golfer and workout marvel Lexi Thompson’s post honoring The Greatest.

Rock On

How did curling Olympian Chris Plys celebrate a successful Continental Cup, where Team North America topped Team World, 31-19.5, this past week in Las Vegas? By taking an epic photo that goes straight to header photo status.

Snow Joke

This past week has seen feet upon feet of snow drop on Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and more snow, as much as six feet more at higher elevations is due through the weekend. And that’s going to make halfpipe snowboarding gold medalist Hannah Teter pretty happy. The images she posted this week reveal an almost surreal landscape.

Fellow halfpipe champion Kaitlyn Farrington also had more than a little fun on the hill this week.

As did Paralympic snowboard medalist Amy Purdy …

Meanwhile …

On the other hand, Paralympic swimming star Becca Meyers and her dog took off for some summer …

Parting Shot

Even while dragging this rig behind him, Olympic rugby speedster Carlin Isles may be faster than most of us.