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."
Giving Thanks, And More Thanks
Not only is Thanksgiving one of the highlights of the calendar year for so many, but it’s also one of the great internet holidays. And when it comes to giving thanks, Team USA is among the most thankful of thankful bunches around. Consider how much effort goes into Olympic and Paralympic dreams — the families who support and encourage loved ones to live and train and compete for a chance to be recognized as the very best in the world every four years — and it’s no wonder. So, for a tribute to giving thanks, Team USA isn’t shy at all.
Even if that means checking in while (way) away from home …
Thanks to our hotel partner in Winterberg, #USALuge was able to celebrate #ThanksgivingDay. Not easy being away from home during the holidays. We appreciate the hotel’s efforts and consideration. pic.twitter.com/64ZppV9MRy
— USA Luge (@USA_Luge) November 24, 2017
And after a full day of practice, #TeamUSA is ready for Thanksgiving dinner. 🦃 We’re thankful for our teammates, family and fans. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/s6jf9ahP7e
— U.S. Figure Skating (@USFigureSkating) November 24, 2017
From our family to yours …
thankful for my crazy siblings 💕🤪 pic.twitter.com/H6sNFXV505
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) November 23, 2017
Thankful for these kisses @shawnjohnson #short #thanksgiving #thankful pic.twitter.com/uAzKTgysjc
— Andrew East (@AndrewDEast) November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving!! Feeling so thankful for my family- near and far, friends, and running community. Thank you for enriching my life!! Enjoy your loved ones! ❤️❤️🦃 pic.twitter.com/9dsnYvZcJX
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours :) Don’t be afraid or think it’s corny to tell someone how much you love and appreciate them❤️ pic.twitter.com/RqgIspkroN
— Laurie Hernandez (@lzhernandez02) November 23, 2017
Thankful for my family every single day. #happythanksgiving #family ❤️🍗 pic.twitter.com/zMGxKIUl8B
— Melissa Stockwell (@MStockwell01) November 23, 2017
Thankful for a lot of things but especially thankful for this turkey I baked myself. pic.twitter.com/wovmBTjWlO
— Sydney Leroux Dwyer (@sydneyleroux) November 24, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm thankful for my fam, my friends, my career, this food, this life, and all this love 🙌🏼 Hope you're all having a great one🍻 pic.twitter.com/nlrcFyoMId
— April Ross (@AprilRossBeach) November 24, 2017
Grateful for an incredible year and all that supported us along the way. ❤️🇺🇸🙌 #HappyThanksgiving pic.twitter.com/dFIkTaYLMD
— Meghan O'Leary (@MeghanOLeary1) November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! 🦃🧡 Psalm 95:2 pic.twitter.com/GdNZ9vZgU6
— Carly Patterson (@CarlyPatterson) November 23, 2017
Couldn’t be more grateful for all the amazing people in my life! I am especially thankful for these 4 people I get to call my family❤️ pic.twitter.com/8vPQR36rie
— Kyla Ross (@kyla_ross96) November 23, 2017
The Turkey Trots …
#thankful for these amazing women...and for these crushing stairs! #happythanksgiving #sweatyhappiness https://t.co/dEUW8DXVf9 pic.twitter.com/oOguWG6UTi
— Summer Sanders (@SummerSanders_) November 23, 2017
The training days …
when Coach knows you gonna have those 3 plates at Thanksgiving... ☠️💤 pic.twitter.com/gkriUPIeDh
— Queen Harrison (@goQueengo) November 22, 2017
My face. Staring at your Thanksgiving Plate pictures. 🤤 You’re eating. I’m training. I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends today and always. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/UBQkQJ3Zwk
— Tianna T. Bartoletta (@tibartoletta) November 23, 2017
We pause now for … a parade dance.
Yep, this is how we watch the #MacysThanksgivingParade pic.twitter.com/UuM6t2RE7t
— Shannon Miller (@shannonmiller96) November 23, 2017
The meals …
My dear friend’s table-scape....and, yes, that is my glass of wine!! #happythanksgiving #dinnertime https://t.co/rBMlnbIEil pic.twitter.com/3uUCySBqLU
— Summer Sanders (@SummerSanders_) November 23, 2017
Who wants some dinner? We have tons of food! #MoroccanTurkey #fb #HappyThanksgiving2017 #somuchtobethankfulfor pic.twitter.com/un8p2VKl3S
— Lee Ford (@FlameGoddessLee) November 23, 2017
Beach thanksgiving 🙌🏼🦃🏖❤️ pic.twitter.com/zqflvwLMHw
— Kristy Kowal (@KristyKowal) November 23, 2017
Looks like the pies were a success!
— Monica Abbott (@monicaabbott) November 24, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving🍂 pic.twitter.com/BjvHkCASXc
The food comas …
So full but I want pie
— Ellie Roditis (@USARoditisE) November 24, 2017
Bout to start dinner... putting on my stretchy pants
— Meg ⭐️⭐️ Klingenberg (@meghankling) November 23, 2017
And a special note of thanks from Simone Biles …
Princess And Superwoman
When one of the most successful athletes ever and a gold medalist superstar with the kind of fame that allows for recognition on a one-name basis — Serena — gets married, the festivities are bound to draw some attention. With more than 7 million Instagram followers, Serena is also likely to put on a good show in her timeline. This past week did not disappoint when she married Alexis Ohanian in New York City. A look back …
Oh, and about those shoes …
… and the dress. The dress …
Yes, the bride, per usual, was the undisputed star of the evening. Second? Perhaps their daughter …
And the bride in a quiet moment …
He’s Back
After a pair of injuries in early September and late October, Olympic medalist and iconic snowboarder Shaun White is back on his board and sharing from picturesque Austria.
White also appears to be enjoying himself on the slopes, too …
Swim, Meet
Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky set yet another record this past week in earning her fifth consecutive Female Athlete of the Year award at Golden Goggles. So, why not celebrate with a couple of her fellow Olympic legends?
All in all, the event brought out a constellation of stars …
And a self-professed fangirl, who also just happens to be a four-time Olympic swimming medalist, in Maya DiRado.
Just some studs and their fangirl. Thanks @USASwimming for letting me crash Golden Goggles and congrats @stanfordwswim for cleaning up 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/64j2AdYQWW
— Maya DiRado (@MayaDiRado) November 20, 2017
Happy Anniversary
Here’s something worth celebrating every single year, Melissa Stockwell’s completing an Ironman and celebrating with a U.S. flag …
4 years ago today. Happy @IRONMANtri Anniversary to me! And a good luck to all those racing in Arizona today! #ironmanArizona 🏊🚴🏃🏽♀️ pic.twitter.com/jMNQJdjqIt
— Melissa Stockwell (@MStockwell01) November 19, 2017
Tough Crowd
When it comes to athletic achievement, NCAA and Olympic champion Rebecca Lobo has earned the right to sass just about anyone. As a mom, well, she’s probably earned that right, too, even if she did have some remorse for joking about his kidney stones.
Huge thank you to Hartford Hospital for taking care of @SteveRushin and his 2 kidney stones. Doc told him he just experienced labor. #Please
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) November 20, 2017
My bad. They haven’t passed. He’s ABOUT TO experience labor. Talk to me when you’ve done it four times. #SortOfKidding https://t.co/8UI7uWN4gh
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) November 20, 2017
Starting to feel bad for making jokes about @SteveRushin ‘s kidney stones. If they pass, we’ll have an interesting podcast on Wed. If not...
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) November 20, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving. Our latest podcast, fresh out of the oven, is stuffed with Tom Cruise, kidney stones & miniature chickens. https://t.co/1DSxAocTHj
— Rebecca Lobo (@RebeccaLobo) November 22, 2017
Changes In Latitude
You think Helsinki is high-latitude country? Well, drive about 600 miles north, and you’ll find Pyhä Ski Resort in northern Finland, where Team USA’s Paralympic snowboarding hopefuls are training. This time of year, there isn’t much sunshine up there, so it sure does help when it’s spectacular. This past week, it did not disappoint for Keith Gabel and teammate Mike Shea.
Nighttime? Also spectacular.
Honoring Holcy
This bobsled season opened on a bittersweet note. Yes, this is an Olympic season with so much promise heading into PyeongChang, but it is also the first season in nearly 20 that does not include three-time Olympian Steven Holcomb, the most decorated U.S. bobsledder in history who died this past May. In addition to his teammates and friends on the tour, his legacy continues to be honored at the tracks he once raced.
#Holcy Thanks @slidingcentre for honoring his legacy pic.twitter.com/m4EQ2pfzuJ
— Elana Meyers Taylor (@eamslider24) November 23, 2017
