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."
The Other Side Of Winning
In the broadcast frame at the finish line, we easily make note of who crosses the finish line first, second and third. But what about fourth? And fifth? They’re often the same elite athletes who have trained as hard and as tirelessly, who have given up as much and parted ways with a “normal” life in favor of pursuing the ultimate podium against the world’s best. In the case of Georganne Moline, the 2012 Olympian who ran a 53.92 to finish fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Games London 2012, she was running against a historically loaded USATF Outdoor Championships field with a trip back to London, this time for the 2017 IAAF World Championships, on the line with a top-three finish. Moline knocked nearly a second off her Olympic finish, which is a remarkable feat in and of itself, in a time that would have won her a medal in Rio. Unfortunately, against that deep field, she finished in fifth as one of six runners to go under 54 seconds.
Afterward, Moline found a way to look at the bright side.
I did not place top 3 to make the world team but I DID run in the fastest 400h race in WORLD HISTORY with a PR of 53.1 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/MyKki4ptYA
— Georganne Moline (@Georganne400h) June 26, 2017
Congratulations, of course, go to the defending Olympic champion, Dalilah Muhammad, who can add this to her growing list of world-class accomplishments.
Defending my title, new meet record, fastest time ever run on American soil, deepest field ever, & tied 6th for the fastest time ever ran!🙏🏾
— Dalilah Muhammad (@DalilahMuhammad) June 28, 2017
Outdoors Extra
From beginning to end, the USATF Outdoor Championships provided ample opportunity for some of this country’s best track and field athletes to offer their thoughts soon after their own performances in steamy Sacramento, California. Win, lose or draw, their reactions made following social media so worthwhile throughout the event.
With the USA Champs a wrap, there's another championship front of mind. 🇬🇧 #backtowork #London2017 #MotivationMonday
— Jenny Simpson (@trackjenny) June 26, 2017
11x state champ, 23 school records, 5 national records, 12 national titles, world youth/junior record holder, 2016 Olympian 🇺🇸🙌🏽 it's over
— Sydney McLaughlin (@GoSydGo) June 26, 2017
Whirlwind Week
Congratulations are in order for Olympic figure skating champion Michelle Kwan, who entered the week as a newly inducted member in the star-studded California Sports Hall of Fame, played in a pro-am golf event, then teed it up in heels and closed out the week with Olympic alpine skiing and ice hockey legends at a Women's Leadership Summit.
Fore A Good Cause
Olympic champion sprinter Carmelita Jeter took to an entirely different kind of track this past week — that of one of the country’s most famous golf courses. Not surprisingly, Team Jet came away with some hardware. And a pretty good pic with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.
Name That Movie
US Speedskating enjoyed a road trip this past week — quite literally, as it took them to Sonoma, California, for a stock car race. They came away with an appreciation of the sport, along with an apparent interest in lines from a film comedy.
Did we just become best friends? Yup! 📷@adeibold pic.twitter.com/QrTBoZtWcQ
— US Speedskating (@USSpeedskating) June 25, 2017
With a little bit of downtime this past week, Rio Olympic golfer Rickie Fowler dropped this gem …
Two Ways Down
When it comes to chasing terminal velocity, there are two ways to get down a ski jump hill. There’s the right way, and there’s the way USA Bobsled and Skeleton teamers Kyle Brown, Savannah Graybill and Lolo Jones (you may want to turn the volume down for Jones’) chose in Lake Placid.
On the other hand, Olympic ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson might offer this as an alternative.
Down The Middle
Used to keeping it between the lane lines, three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel pitched herself a strike this past week at an Indianapolis Indians game
Of course it was a first-pitch strike from 3x Olympian @ebeisel34 - Thanks @indyindians for having us out ahead of #Phillips66Nats! 🇺🇸🏊♀️⚾️ pic.twitter.com/gD6c7gFcq1
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) June 26, 2017
The first and only strike I'll ever throw https://t.co/NkjKuzEt7V
— Elizabeth Beisel ⚓ (@ebeisel34) June 26, 2017
On The Road
According to her Twitter bio, figure skater Sasha Cohen is, in addition to being an Olympic medalist, a “World Traveler • Adventure Seeker • Lover of Maps and Trees • Aspiring Philosopher • Amateur Chef.” This past week, she's had ample opportunity to indulge the world-traveling, adventure-seeking, map- and tree-loving sides while bouncing around stunning coastal Italy.
American Dream
This has been quite a year for Dom Dwyer, who has been married to Olympic soccer champion Sydney Leroux Dwyer since 2015. Well, the couple had a son, Cassius Cruz Dwyer, in September. This past March, the English-born MLS forward became a United States citizen. And. Now. This …
With #USMNT @GoldCup call-up, @Ddwyer14 is continuing to live the 🇺🇸️ dream: https://t.co/qf9U40F7AB pic.twitter.com/X6uHifY1KV
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 26, 2017
Leroux Dwyer, understandably, couldn’t have been more proud …
LET'S GOOOOO @Ddwyer14!!!!!!! https://t.co/npMAYKZj8Q
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) June 25, 2017
… but it didn’t stop her from reminding her husband where the bar is set.
Still, Leroux Dwyer had some advice for her husband …
When your World Cup champion wife can give you some advice: 👌🏾
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 27, 2017
Words of wisdom from @sydneyleroux to @ddwyer14: https://t.co/qf9U40WIs9 pic.twitter.com/l3GRmETI6S
At least one fan also wanted some evidence.
Ask and you shall receive. @Ddwyer14 looking good in 🔴⚪️ and 🔵! #USMNT pic.twitter.com/rm6FSSraPW
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 26, 2017
Book Club
It’s official. As of this week, two-time Olympian and six-time gymnastics medalist Aly Raisman is joining the ranks of Team USA authors — and an impressive group at that, including Sanya Richards-Ross, Missy Franklin, Laurie Hernandez, Julie Foudy, all of whom have announced a book in the past year.
SO EXCITED TO FINALLY SHARE THAT I AM WRITING A BOOK. Can't wait to share my story with you all....comes out Nov 14!! FIERCE 💗❤💋 #GIRLPOWER pic.twitter.com/hPdPYQIbeV
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 26, 2017
Now at work with a release date in time for the holidays, Raisman reached out to her fans to ask what they might like to see in the book.
We're still working on the book right now.... tweet me things that you want to be included..... :)
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 26, 2017
Your early gymnastics years
— Grace (@gracemgreen13) June 26, 2017
I have that. Some of my favorite parts 💗 https://t.co/c3ERINjijU
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 26, 2017
Memories from high school!
— Julie🖤Miller (@jdianemiller) June 26, 2017
You got it!! https://t.co/tazFvTv1me
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 26, 2017
how you go about self care and making it a priority when you're busy with training and other business ventures
— Alison Spiegel (@alisonpspiegel) June 26, 2017
Love this. It's so important to take care of ourselves. Sometimes we forget cuz we are so busy. Have to make me time. Def going in my book. https://t.co/rGAe1Xx9uZ
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 27, 2017
My mom and I were just writing about this... working on that chapter right now. How funny!
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 27, 2017
Any funny camp stories ?
— laura🏳️🌈✨ (@lauraelizaa_) June 27, 2017
Duh!! So many fun moments. Definitely putting those in :) https://t.co/ZpaTCuznrt
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 27, 2017
Any times you wanted to quit gymnastics and why you didn't
— Jazzy (@Pentayonce_) June 26, 2017
Totally normal to go through phases of being unsure or wanting to quit. Def going in. Good suggestions guys. Thanks for the tips :) https://t.co/eokgDSuK51
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 27, 2017
Wow you guys are so brilliant. Thanks so much for all the support and the great ideas. You all inspire me to be strong 💪🏻
— Alexandra Raisman (@Aly_Raisman) June 27, 2017
It’s Harry’s World …
… and Rio swimming medalist Cody Miller is just living in it. On the anniversary of the publishing of the first "Harry Potter," the book that launched the reading careers of millions of kids, many a fan marked the occasion. Miller, the floor is yours.
I'll never forget when my mom gave me my 1st HP book. Changed my world🖤 Thank you @jk_rowling #HarryPotter20 https://t.co/0KTJ9hJnL2
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) June 26, 2017
Miller, of course, isn’t alone in his appreciate for the now-classic hit.
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." @jk_rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 📚#20Years #HarryPotter
— Margaux Isaksen (@MargauxIsaksen) June 26, 2017
#HarryPotter20 💙💙⚡️⚡️
— Chellsie Memmel (@CMemmel) June 27, 2017
And what a beautiful world it was to grow up in. Thank you @jk_rowling #HarryPotter20 https://t.co/Uq1W1LlNvO
— Cassidy Lichtman (@CassidyLichtman) June 26, 2017
In honor of #HarryPotter20... our Potter-themed #KelloggsTour quiz: pic.twitter.com/aLkgiGkpgU
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) June 26, 2017
Honoring Babe
Before cross-training was a thing, there was Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the Texas-born super-athlete who won medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Games in the 80-meter hurdles, javelin and high jump, then went on to win 10 major championships in women’s golf between 1940 and 1954. On the anniversary of her 1911 birthday this past week, the USGA posted a video tribute to her third and final U.S. Open win. Now, if you’ve seen Rio Olympian Lexi Thompson drive the ball, you know she can rip it (even in slow-motion, as we saw this week), but you can see in the video below that Didrikson Zaharias didn’t get cheated, either. What a swing …
Babe Didrikson Zaharias, born on this day in 1911, overcame cancer to win her third and final #USWomensOpen title 63 years ago @SalemCC1895. pic.twitter.com/E3hnX7QJsv
— USGA (@USGA) June 26, 2017
Time Machine
Two of the fastest men in the world, Olympic sprinters Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon, were once two of the fastest young Arkansas Razorbacks. Credit goes to Spearmon for hopping in the way-back machine for this flashback …
If we could go back and have a conversation with the kids in this picture, what would you tell them? @TysonLGay pic.twitter.com/leJQaKHbY4
— wallace spearmon jr (@PrinceSpearmon) June 27, 2017
Credit also goes to Trey Hardee, the non-sprinter, for being so quick with the first zinger of a reply …
"Trey is gonna beat you in ping pong for the next 8yrs... better practice harder!" 😂
— trey hardee (@treyhardee) June 27, 2017
Olympic champion Natasha Hastings thought the pic was pretty cool, too.
This photo give me all kinda feels! 🤗 https://t.co/VaDJAVElJY
— Natasha Hastings (@natashahastings) June 27, 2017
This Is What Maryland Does
What do you get a guy who has achieved so much at such a young age? Well, if that guy hails from Maryland and he’s more than 2,200 miles from home in Arizona, how about sending him some crabs? Michael Phelps, joined by his family, had a spread fit for an Olympic legend with his June 30 birthday on the horizon.
Field Of Dreams
Merely playing a soccer game simply wasn’t enough. For a collection of soccer players that included 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team alternate Lori Lindsey and U.S. Women’s National Team Fitness and Sport Science Coach Dawn Scott, the sky was the limit for their initiative. So they took their game to Africa’s highest peak, the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, playing a game within a few hundred feet of the 19,336-foot summit.
So proud of @LoriLindsey for doing this and for @GoalFiveSoccer for getting behind these women! #equalplay @cnnsport https://t.co/xYu0t4yHXk
— Lindsey Jones (@JonesyFive) June 15, 2017
3 days until Kilimanjaro. I'm pumped to be a part of an amazing movement, #EqualPlayingField Please donate! https://t.co/x6AbSgrzG8
— Lori Lindsey (@LoriLindsey6) June 12, 2017
T-2 days until I arrive in Kilimanjaro to climb&play in the highest altitude game ever-all for #WomensEquality https://t.co/uxckBQ0zfb pic.twitter.com/9EThSRVMyy
— Lori Lindsey (@LoriLindsey6) June 13, 2017
Thankful for this opportunity to be involved in the @EPFinitiative project! Mount Kilimanjaro I'm coming for you! pic.twitter.com/93gxlbY3pJ
— dawn scott (@DawnScott06) June 15, 2017
This is amazing! Good luck to everyone! 👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/kd45QABlX8
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) June 17, 2017
HISTORY, at 18,799 feet.
— #FIFAWWC (@FIFAWWC) June 28, 2017
Our 1,000,000% respect to you all @epfinitiative.#EqualPlayingField pic.twitter.com/Wavm7UGAxU
Afterward, Team USA came out in full support …
So incredible! These women are badass and I'm proud of know some of them @LoriLindsey6 @DawnScott06 and more. Congratulations!! https://t.co/jPqNsAiJzR
— Alex Morgan (@alexmorgan13) June 28, 2017
Wow. Wow. Wow. #equalplayingfield https://t.co/Ld1JmzlStf
— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) June 28, 2017
Incredible https://t.co/EGRTF3Ffhz
— Lindsey Horan (@Lindseyhoran11) June 28, 2017
So great! Congrats to all that hiked and made a difference!!!!!@EPFinitiative https://t.co/sGYjkWgJwW
— Kristine Lilly (@KristineLilly) June 28, 2017
@DawnScott06 @LoriLindsey6 and All awesome! https://t.co/E4mXXc9SvC
— Amanda Cromwell (@CromwellUCLA) June 28, 2017
What a historic event and I have goosebumps watching this video. Proud of you @LoriLindsey6 and @DawnScott06. So so proud. #invitemenexttime https://t.co/VzB46JJwtx
— Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach) June 28, 2017
Wedding Bells
Chimes were ringing from the South Pacific to the East Coast of North America this past week, as Olympic diver Abby Johnston, who married Duke football coach Sam McGrath, alpine skier Julia Mancuso, who has now married Dylan Fish twice since December, the first time at Squaw Valley, California, and figure skater Tara Lipinski, with TV producer Todd Kapostasy, tied the knot.
From the coast of eastern Connecticut …
From Fiji …
And from Kiawah Island in South Carolina …
Wedding Before And After
Prior to the Kiawah Island nuptials, Lipinski’s partner in crime, fellow Olympic figure skater and broadcaster Johnny Weir, took a turn or two with the bride-to-be on wedding eve …
Lipinski’s mom may have stolen the pre-game show, however, with this special gift …
After the big day, the happy couple hit the road for paradise in the Maldives.
Going Strong
Athlete power couple, two-time Olympic bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor and fellow USABS athlete Nic Taylor are still going strong (get it, they’re push athletes), and her post this past week might make for good reading for new couples.
Canine Corner
We aren’t quite yet to the dog days of summer, unless you’re Jones, Olympic rower Meghan O’Leary or field hockey player Ali Campbell.