By Jamie MacDonald | July 07, 2017, 6:07 p.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 and having children. They're taking hard-earned vacations. Or retiring. Or 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."

 

Red, White And Blue Dreams

Dom Dwyer’s year managed to get just a little bit better this past week. After the birth of his son in September 2016 and gaining United States citizenship in March 2017, the husband to U.S. Women’s National Soccer Teamer and Olympic gold medalist Sydney Leroux Dwyer earned a call-up to play with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team earlier this month against Ghana.

And of course the Kansas City forward scored in his debut on a well-timed volley to give Team USA a 1-0 lead, which sent his wife into a thrilling celebration. Sadly, that was not caught on camera, though we did get the next best thing.

But, first, a few pregame pics …

 

 

… the aforementioned after-celebration goal celebration …

… and the postgame, beginning with a mini-feature on Dwyer’s goal and celebratory flip …

 

Kobe Bryant, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the best players in NBA history, has in hoops retirement taken on a sort of elite athlete emeritus status and been kind in complimenting the elite athletes who have earned his admiration via Twitter. Welcome aboard, Dwyer.

 

 

 

Dream so big they call you "unrealistic" 🇺🇸❤️

A post shared by Dom Dwyer (@ddwyer14) on


Another Beauty Debut

July 1 also marked a milestone for young Kellyn Acosta, who bent a free kick in for a 2-0 lead against Ghana in what turned out to be a 2-1 win. United States soccer fans, meet the lanky 21-year-old Texan:

 


Cage Match

Everything seemed to be going along with such mundane beauty for Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles on a Hawaiian vacation that may have been seen, in one social post or another, by millions.

There was this (110,000+ likes)…

 

"ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten"

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on

… and some of this (175,000+ likes) …

 

m o a n a 🌸

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on

… and a lot of this (134,000+ likes) …

 

beachin' 🤙🏾

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on

… none of which would lead to harm. Until this …

 

watched 47 meters down then got in a cage 🦈

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on

Biles’ swim with the the sharks earned her more than 245,000 likes along the way.


The Fun Continues

Another week, another continent for Olympic figure skating gold medalist Tara Lipinski and Todd Kapostasy as their honeymoon rolls on. After their impressive Kiawah Island wedding, the pair hit the road for the stunning Maldives. The next stop: Thailand. Where Lipinski met a spirit animal.

 


Wedding Bells

Congratulations are also in order for three-time world champion and Rio Olympic wrestler Adeline Gray, who tied the knot with United States Army captain Damaris Sanders in Denver’s Chatfield State Park.

 

Down a different path with the love of my life. Day one starts today! #dawedding #pictureday #denverwedding

A post shared by Adeline Gray (@adelinegray) on

 

 

 

Best wedding ever! #dawedding #denverwedding

A post shared by Adeline Gray (@adelinegray) on

In Utah, long track speedskater Lauren Cholewinski married Tigh Isaac in a #laurentighstheknot hashtagged ceremony this past weekend. Soon after, she updated her Instagram account to mrs.issac, under which she recapped the event.

 

Me and my girls!! #laurentighstheknot #bridalparty #bridesmaids #4thofjuly #wedding

A post shared by Lauren Isaac (@mrs.isaac) on

 

 


Great Skate

If Dan Jansen is in the rink with a pair of skates, time is going to stop for a bit there. When it comes to legendary Olympic stories, few can compete with Jansen’s. Jansen, a multiple world-record setter, suffered heartbreaking loss both off and then on the oval during his 1988 Games, but, as one of the very best in the world throughout the years before and after, he finally earned gold in 1994. This past week, he made more than a few days while in Utah.

 

Got to share the ice with Olympic Legend, Dan Jansen this morning 🇺🇸

A post shared by Brittany Bowe (@brittanybowe) on

 


Project Walk

A year ago, Olympic high jumper Jamie Nieto returned home after a fall left him partially paralyzed and in the hospital. Now, after more than a year of training for a different kind of event, that of merely walking again and down the aisle later this month, Nieto’s story is one of step-by-step inspiration.


6-Foot-9 Problems

There’s an old saying about one can’t teach height, and, particularly for Olympic beach volleyball star Phil Dalhausser, being 6-foot-9 comes in handy. Unless your accommodations aren’t quite prepared for much more than 5-9.


Body Shops

One of the more anticipated magazine issues of the year among athletes dropped this past week to much social media fanfare, and this year’s #ESPNBODY delivered plenty of Team USA athletes, including six from the U.S. Women’s National Ice Hockey Team, Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, Olympic figure skater Ashley Wagner and Olympic soccer player Julie Ertz. Ertz (née Johnston), who was married this past February to NFL tight end Zach Ertz, joined her husband for his shoot. Featuring Olympians Meghan Duggan, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Brianna Decker, Kacey Bellamy and Olympic hopeful Alex Rigsby, a few behind-the-scenes outtakes …

 

#StongIsBeautfiul pics are out with these amazing women! @espnmag #bodyissue2017

A post shared by Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (@jocelyneusa17) on

 

 

What an experience!!! Stay tuned for more @espn #bodyissue

A post shared by Kacey Bellamy (@kaybells22) on

 

 

 

Behind the scenes and a glass of wine to warm up!

A post shared by Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (@jocelyneusa17) on

 

 

#behindthescenes #bodyissue2017 @espnw @espnmag @espn #strongisbeautiful @mduggan10 @bdecker1814 @jocelyneusa17 @kaybells22 @arigs33

A post shared by Monique Lamoureux-Morando (@moniquelam7) on


From Athens To London

Two-time Paralympic sprinter Jarryd Wallace, training in his hometown of Athens, Georgia, will soon be off to Great Britain like …


King For A Day

Though only three Americans are riding in the Tour de France, which opened this past weekend, one of them bearing the most Team USA interest is three-time Olympian Taylor Phinney. Phinney, once injured so badly that his ability to run again was in doubt, is making the most of a TDF debut that was delayed by that very crash in 2014. Even now, Phinney’s leg can bother him. All these years and all those hard miles since, Phinney is now racing on the biggest stage.

For Stage 2, he earned the title of King of the Mountains when he climbed ahead of the field before relinquishing the jersey the following day to teammate and fellow American Nathan Brown.

 

 

 


Air Time

Life as a Team USA athlete can often be summed up, when it comes to competing, as a travel life with competition dropped in between. For Olympic diver Steele Johnson, here’s the next month summed up in this tidy arrangement of emojis.

Three-time Olympic javelin thrower Kara Winger can relate. And then some.


Land Of The Free

When it comes to holidays, few are more appropriate for Team USA than the Fourth of July. Representing one’s country has a way of bringing out the pride in everything they do (Olympic bobsled medalist Steve Langton, who you’ll see below is a Point Break fan, began a trend among his peers in March to hashtag his social posts with #itsforamerica), and, each year, we see more and more impact on Team USA timelines. A good, heaping helping of the most shared, original and/or heartfelt follow, including from Purple Heart recipient and Paralympian Melissa Stockwell.

 

 

 

 

🇺🇸💙❤️ ☕️

A post shared by Gerina Piller (@gerinampiller) on

 

 

 

 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!! ❤️💙❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸💙❤️💙

A post shared by Jason Brown (@jasonbskates) on

 

 

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸✨😸🌟 #FourthOfJuly #RedWhiteAndBlue #IndependenceDay

A post shared by Karen Chen (@karebearsk8) on

 

 

~4th of July~ Smile at a stranger today. Say thank you. Say please. Tell someone you love them. Salute a veteran, or active service member. Because how lucky are we, to have this? How lucky are we to have love and life and justice and liberty and the pursuit of our dreams and happiness? No, it isn't always perfect, but how lucky are we to have a home worth fighting for? How lucky are we to have people who are willing to fight for all of those values. To stand up for this country. Thank them! Thank the men and women who risk their lives to keep the biggest fights away from our home. So we can have days like this, where our biggest worry is how we are going to properly celebrate the "birth" of our country. Thank you to all the service men and women who keep our country safe. Happy 4th of July! #independenceday #4thofjuly #thankyou #family

A post shared by Mikaela Shiffrin (@mikaelashiffrin) on

 

 

 

 

Stars and Stripes! 🇺🇸🎉 @ido5sports

A post shared by Erin Storie (@erinstorie) on

 

 

 

 

4th of July Vibes #allamericanbaby #catandjack #murica #sloanscott #happyfourthofjuly #babygirl

A post shared by Alicia (Sacramone) Quinn (@asaq_3) on

 

 

Because 'Merica 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #4thOfJuly

A post shared by Natasha Hastings (@natashahastings) on

 

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

A post shared by Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we CELEBRATE all the great things about this country. Happy 4th to everyone 💥 ENJOY!

A post shared by Sanya Richards-Ross (@sanyarichiross) on

 

 

America, I ♥️you! Happy 4th everyone! 🇺🇸🗽🍉🌭🌻💃🏻🎆

A post shared by Ali Krieger (@akrieger11) on

 

 

 

 

Happy 4th!!! #family

A post shared by Michael Phelps (@m_phelps00) on

 

 

 


Postcards From …

It wouldn’t be Team USA if there weren’t greetings from the road, and these Fourth of July posts made for a touch of home from around the world.

From Italy …

From Switzerland …

 

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸Repping America over here in Switzerland with a side of Cali pride 😜👊🏼

A post shared by April Ross (@aprilrossbeach) on

From France …

From China …


No Days Off

For a good many Team USA athletes, July 4 came with a dose of reality. Tuesday was simply a work day. And for the incomparable Tatyana McFadden, it was, again, another winning day.

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