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."
Remembering 9/11
The end of this 2017 summer will be remembered as one of great stress and misfortune for millions of Americans who would endure, within the span of a week, Hurricane Harvey, which left almost unimaginable amounts of rain and destruction in the Houston area, and Hurricane Irma, a massive storm that brought such destructive winds and storm surges to the Caribbean and South Florida to have left many areas unrecognizable. This past week also marked the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Team USA never forgets.
#NeverForget pic.twitter.com/dORIAZLkIt
— Elana Meyers Taylor (@eamslider24) September 12, 2017
Today we remember and honor all of those who lost their lives on 911 as well The first responders we will never forget
— MIKE ERUZIONE (@MERUZIONE) September 11, 2017
#NeverForget the victims of 9/11 and honor the heroes who defended our country on that day and everyday.πΊπΈ https://t.co/3arnj6AMOn
— Kendall Coyne (@KendallCoyne) September 11, 2017
On the anniversary of 9/11 we remember those we lost and that ordinary people make extraordinary heroes. Live on purpose. #NeverForget
— Tianna T. Bartoletta (@tibartoletta) September 11, 2017
πΊπΈ#NeverForget
— Meryl Davis (@Meryl_Davis) September 12, 2017
I will never forget where I was 9/11/01. As a country,we lost so much but we still came together &put all our differences aside #NeverForget
— Amy Van Dyken-Rouen (@amyvandyken) September 11, 2017
Team USA Rides Out Irma
While in residence on Florida’s west coast, women’s Olympic ice hockey hopefuls, many far, far from home, made the most of a difficult situation, beginning with the nerves of the impending storm, staying in a shelter, returning “home” and ending this week with a bunch of smiles and an eye on some competition.
Praying for safety over the next few days for those who will be affected by Irma. Strength and positivity will shine through tough times
— Jocelyne Lamoureux-D (@JocelyneUSA17) September 10, 2017
Praying for the safety of our squad & everyone in Irmas path. Put some extra positive thoughts & love out into the world for all β€οΈ#Irma
— Meghan Duggan (@mduggan10) September 10, 2017
β€οΈ love to everyone. #HurrcaneIrma
— Hilary Knight (@HilaryKnight) September 10, 2017
Thankful for teammates. ππΌ #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/ykMkKx7U0B
— Hilary Knight (@HilaryKnight) September 11, 2017
#Irma was a beast but we tackled her w positivity, support, & a plan!Proud of our teams mentality & VERY thankful to every1 who kept us safe
— Meghan Duggan (@mduggan10) September 11, 2017
LA Story
At long last, the city of Los Angeles has its Olympic and Paralympic year set in stone. This past week in Lima, Peru, the IOC voted on the host cities for the 2024 and 2028 Games. Team USA was well-represented in Lima, too, with some of the most successful athletes in history covering the event on their timelines.
Taking off …
always on the goβπΎ pic.twitter.com/EZNZd9JVM9
— Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) September 9, 2017
Final rehearsals are underway as team #LA2028 prepares for tomorrow's presentation in Lima, Peru! pic.twitter.com/A2jqILGmu3
— LA 2028 (@LA2028) September 12, 2017
The big day …
8:54 a.m.
The day I've been dreaming about for years is here!! Can't wait to take the stage one more time with the #LA2028 bid team π pic.twitter.com/ICydK5wHTc
— Janet Evans (@janetevans) September 13, 2017
10:26 a.m.
Excited to be spending my 50th birthday in Lima as part of @LA2028 at the IOC session celebrating bringing the Games back to LA!
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) September 13, 2017
11:04 a.m.
Olympic track legend & birthday boy @MJGold joins fellow track star @allysonfelix & #LA2028 Vice Chair @janetevans in Lima for today’s vote! pic.twitter.com/qCFoY97qLD
— LA 2028 (@LA2028) September 13, 2017
11:11 a.m.
Preparing to present with my favorite team one final time as the #LA2028 bid committee! #FollowTheSun pic.twitter.com/Yrf50Jocg9
— Janet Evans (@janetevans) September 13, 2017
2:27 p.m.
My dream & the dream of so many supporting #LA2028 just came true! The Olympic & Paralympic Games are officially coming back!! #FollowTheSun pic.twitter.com/rdAaCXbwSO
— Janet Evans (@janetevans) September 13, 2017
5:18 p.m.
We did it! The Olympic Games are coming home to LA! #LA2028
— Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) September 13, 2017
pc: Buda Mendes/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/aDfHcBU94z
10:43 p.m.
All gold everything. HBD @MJGold! pic.twitter.com/vIbSGaQMDo
— Casey Wasserman (@caseywasserman) September 14, 2017
Who’s In?
Considering it’s now official, who’s setting their sights on LA in 2028?
McFadden does appear to be in decent shape …
Wedding Bells
It has been well established in this space that two-time Olympic medalist swimmer Cody Miller has, for years, been building up his nerd cred. And it all came together gloriously this past week on one of the biggest days of his life in the form of a true testament to his Harry Potter appreciation …
Wedding in 3 days... #HereComesTheGroom pic.twitter.com/kYCEyqd1xs
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 6, 2017
Wedding count down 2οΈβ£Days #MillerTime #WifeHerUp pic.twitter.com/KqW2CszI5i
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 7, 2017
WEDDING 1 DAY AWAY!! #MillerTime pic.twitter.com/ionnc9BL27
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 8, 2017
Love these menππΌ pic.twitter.com/MQb7fq4URy
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 9, 2017
SO EXCITED!!!!! pic.twitter.com/9JppbXowFR
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 9, 2017
Thank you to the Weather Gods for a perfect day #outdoorwedding pic.twitter.com/pfTp1rWqp5
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 10, 2017
My Hogwarts'y wedding cake!! pic.twitter.com/cy1piKWjjy
— Cody Miller (@swimiller) September 13, 2017
Whoa, Canada
Often, it’s the hair of two-time Olympic skeleton athlete John Daly that steals the show. This time, in an upset …
Torch Light
All manner of Olympic news comes across the news wires — venue updates, round-number countdown clocks, competition results — and some may mean less than others to even the most ardent Team USA fans. But every last one of them means something to Team USA’s PeyongChang hopefuls. So, when the torch designs are released, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games’ horizon is nearing. And it’s hard not to think about anyone sweating and bleeding mental, physical and emotional energy nearly every waking second of every last day thinking about those Games.
The design of the #PyeongChang2018 Paralympic torch has been released!
— PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) September 8, 2017
μΈκ°μ 무νν μ μ¬λ ₯μΌλ‘ μΈκ³μΈμ νν©μ κ°μ Έμ¬ #2018νμ°½ λκ³ν¨λ΄λ¦Όν½λν μ±νλ΄μ΄ 곡κ°λμμ΄μ! @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/rzWFgEfW9T
We're getting closer!!! π₯ π https://t.co/sgsc2sqokJ
— Elana Meyers Taylor (@eamslider24) September 10, 2017
Yes, winter is coming.
Gorgeous view of PyeongChang, South Korea π°π·βοΈ- only 150 days to go @PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/jAlPe54x6o
— Olympics (@Olympics) September 11, 2017
We Are Skiing
If you’re a fan of snow and skiing, and some of the most stunning mountain vistas on earth, Chile in September is for you. That’s where we find some of Team USA’s PyeongChang skiing hopefuls this week …
Olympic alpine skier Travis Ganong, under a watchful eye …
Two-time Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht looks fast even in slo-mo …
Sounds good, too …
Alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn stopped to enjoy the view …
There was some fun to be had off the course, too.
Playing In The Sun
Olympic slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin’s posts lately have taken on a sunny theme …
New Zealand R&R
Not only does New Zealand offer some excellent training options for Team USA’s winter athletes, but it also offers quite a bit to do with some downtime.
Everybody, Out Of The Pool
Known mostly for sprinting across the water faster than anyone in the world, Olympic 100-meter freestyle champion Simone Manuel isn’t much for a languorous, sight-seeing swim. But, considering this meant conquering fears, this experience might just be unforgettable.
Five-time Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky also enjoyed the swim.
Slip-Sliding Away
Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East can do a lot of things well. And they can do a lot of things well together. This is absolutely not one of them …
Four Score
Not only was this past weekend’s US Open women’s final an all-American affair, but so, too, were both semifinals for the first time since 1981. The winner? Twenty-four-year-old Sloane Stephens, who played for Team USA at the Rio Olympics, over 22-year-old Madison Keys, who played for a bronze medal in Rio. Following Stephens’ timeline might have been as enjoyable as watching her path to her first major.
Quarterfinals tomorrow! I'll be playing second on Ashe after 12pm π
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 4, 2017
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THIS IS THE REAL DEAL. #USOpen πΊπΈ
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 5, 2017
Very excited to be playing 1st on Ashe tomorrow night at 7pm- hope to see you all out there πΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈ
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 7, 2017
So happy and privileged to be playing in my first @usopen final tomorrow. I hope to see you all there πΊπΈ
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 9, 2017
BEST. DAY. EVER. πΊπΈπ pic.twitter.com/R8ARc09Qwb
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) September 10, 2017
Keys couldn’t have been more gracious in defeat.
Just a beautiful moment at the net:@SloaneStephens and @Madison_Keys#USOpen pic.twitter.com/uRbDKCjRW9
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2017
Are You Ready For Some Football?
The NFL season is now well underway, which wasn’t easy for a Browns fan such as Olympic women’s ice hockey goalie Brianne McLaughlin, who watched Cleveland score eight points in the fourth quarter only to fall to the Steelers, 21-18, in the end.
Before …
He may have outgrown his jersey but we ready. #fatguyinalittlecoat pic.twitter.com/yBbQVYn8wM
— Brianne McLaughlin (@BrianneMcL) September 10, 2017
After …
Picture worth a thousand words... πΆπ pic.twitter.com/SMVZA4QRk7
— Brianne McLaughlin (@BrianneMcL) September 10, 2017
And a few more Team USA superfans …
My attire's not over the top for grocery shopping, but shouting number one in the AFC East in the produce section may have been…#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/35o0K2FPX2
— Summer Sanders (@SummerSanders_) September 10, 2017
Kid Corner
Say it with us now, awwwww …
Stanley may not love everything I do but I love everything he does #aMothersLove pic.twitter.com/PqKCkJ9b5A
— gwen jorgensen (@gwenjorgensen) September 10, 2017
