Sports
U.S. stars Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan lead new wave of true soccer moms
Crystal Dunn has two dates circled on her calendar.
One is in mid-Could, when she is scheduled to provide beginning to her first baby, a boy. The opposite is in July 2023, when she hopes to play in her second Ladies’s World Cup.
Getting from one such milestone to the following was as soon as thought of tough, if not harmful for world-class athletes like Dunn. However now soccer mothers have develop into commonplace across the U.S. nationwide crew.
As a result of the prime years of a soccer profession are additionally the most secure and commonest years to provide beginning, girls as soon as had to decide on whether or not they wished to play soccer or begin a household. Now, more and more, they’re deciding they wish to do each. If Dunn makes the roster in 2023, she is going to develop into the seventh lady since 2012 to play for the nationwide crew after giving beginning and the 14th total.
“You’ll be able to’t be egocentric or take into consideration your self. If there’s solely a lot room in your backpack or your suitcase, the precedence goes to the child. … It’s positively a lot tougher than I ever anticipated.”
Alex Morgan, on juggling enjoying and motherhood
“I all the time wished to be a mother alongside my enjoying profession,” stated Dunn, 29, a World Cup champion and two-time Olympian. “I feel it was nearly ready for the precise time. These final couple of years have been so much bodily, mentally, emotionally. These had been the years that actually received me realizing that I wish to be a mother.”
That realization hit Alex Morgan simply after the final World Cup, the place she scored a tournament-high six objectives and had three assists in profitable her second straight championship. At 30, she was in the most effective type of her profession and acknowledged she had “that worry of not with the ability to get again to the place I used to be 100%.”
The truth has been simply the other. Her daughter, Charlie, who turns 2 in Could, has given Morgan’s profession a lift.
“One of the best a part of the sport is attending to see Charlie after,” she stated. “As a lot as I really like enjoying soccer, and doing that each single day, I now play for greater than myself. I don’t know if I might say I’m a special participant. I simply assume that I’m extra advanced.”
She advanced on the subject of packing as properly.
“You’ll be able to’t be egocentric or take into consideration your self. If there’s solely a lot room in your backpack or your suitcase, the precedence goes to the child,” she stated. “The factor that I attempt to remind myself is don’t neglect your cleats as a result of that’s actually the one factor I really need for myself.
“It’s positively a lot tougher than I ever anticipated.”
U.S. ahead Alex Morgan (13) waves to followers whereas holding her daughter, Charlie Elena Carrasco, after a SheBelieves Cup match towards Brazil on Feb. 21, 2021, in Orlando, Fla.
(Phelan M. Ebenhack / Related Press)
It was even tougher.
Each Dunn and Morgan have entry to U.S. Soccer advantages, amongst them maternity go away and paid nanny care — together with airfare, resort rooms, meals and a every day stipend for babysitters — at nationwide crew camps and on highway journeys.
None of that was obtainable when Pleasure Fawcett turned the primary U.S. Soccer mother in 1994. But when at first she had little assist, she discovered little opposition from coach Anson Dorrance.
“I’m going to have youngsters and I’m going to deliver them with me. Is that OK with you?” Fawcett remembers asking the coach. “He stated, ‘Yeah, that’s tremendous.’”
“That’s all I wished,” Fawcett stated. “Simply to have the ability to deliver them alongside.”
Not that Dorrance had a lot selection. Fawcett made her worldwide debut within the fifteenth sport in nationwide crew historical past and helped the U.S. win the primary Ladies’s World Cup in 1991. This system barely existed earlier than she confirmed up and wouldn’t be practically pretty much as good if she went away. So to maintain her and others who had been pondering of beginning households, within the run-up to the 1996 Olympics, U.S. Soccer agreed to supply free baby look after its girls gamers.
Earlier than the following Olympics, two extra gamers turned moms.
“Nicely, you possibly can’t do it by your self,” stated Kate Markgraf, the overall supervisor for the ladies’s crew and a former nationwide crew defender who performed greater than 200 video games for the U.S. “You want to have trusted caregivers. We will’t do that as mothers except you may have individuals that you just belief.”
American Kate Markgraf carries her son, Keegan, after a 2008 Beijing Olympics girls’s semifinal soccer match towards Japan.
(Michael Sohn / Related Press)
As normal supervisor, Markgraf, who gave beginning to 3 kids throughout her enjoying days, pushed U.S. Soccer to increase its being pregnant safety and maternity go away insurance policies and to increase them to gamers who undertake a toddler. Gamers beneath contract with the federation now obtain 75% of their wage whereas on go away and paid baby care whereas with the crew once they return.
But when that helps ease the monetary burdens of beginning a household, it does little to handle among the bodily and emotional questions that come up from pausing a soccer profession to provide beginning.
“Sacrificing a full 12 months off of [our] profession — and our careers will not be very lengthy — is an enormous determination that you just shouldn’t take frivolously,” Dunn stated.
“It did cross my thoughts like, ‘Oh, man, I’m going to be out for some time. Am I going to be the identical participant after I come again? Am I going to have the ability to stand up to the calls for of the sport once more?’
“All through my profession, I’ve been so adaptable and so versatile, I’m not likely frightened of that. I simply take it day-to-day and I don’t put any further strain on myself.”
Dunn, whose husband, Pierre Soubrier, is a coach for her membership crew in Portland, has tried to remain as shut as potential to her previous routine, figuring out 4 instances per week regardless of carrying greater than 20 further kilos. She avoids any actions that contain contact, however warms up with the crew and does passing and tactical drills — all which have been made harder by the actual fact she now not can see her ft.
U.S. defender Crystal Dunn strikes the ball towards Colombia throughout a world pleasant in 2021
(John Raoux / Related Press)
“It by no means crossed my thoughts to be like, ‘I’m pregnant. Now I’ve to cease,’” she stated. “I spoke to my medical doctors and so they had been all like, ‘Yeah, you’ve been an elite athlete earlier than you had been pregnant. There’s no purpose why you possibly can’t proceed coaching.’ Passing the soccer ball, that’s the least of their worries throughout my being pregnant.”
Morgan, beneath the supervision of private coach Dave Copeland-Smith, additionally educated via her being pregnant, taking a six-mile bike journey the day earlier than giving beginning. Regardless of that, coming again was harder than she anticipated.
“Your physique is actually altering for 9 months, and you’ll’t simply count on it to return to regular,” she stated. “On prime of that you just’re coping with a totally new life and elevating a new child.”
Morgan wanted two months earlier than she felt snug jogging and kicking a ball round, then returned to the sphere with English membership Tottenham in November 2020, six months after giving beginning and 15 months after her final sport with the nationwide crew.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Alex Morgan heart, vies for the ball with Studying’s Natasha Harding on Nov. 7, 2020, shortly after giving beginning to her daughter.
(Alastair Grant / Related Press)
Fawcett, in the meantime, was enjoying for the San Diego Spirit six weeks after giving beginning to her third baby, whom she breast-fed throughout halftime of video games.
“Train is an efficient factor throughout being pregnant so long as it’s a traditional being pregnant,” stated Dr. Aurelia Nattiv, a professor of household and sports activities drugs at UCLA and a former doctor and marketing consultant for a number of U.S. nationwide groups. “For elite {and professional} athletes, it’s not a time to achieve a [personal record]. However definitely to proceed exercising throughout being pregnant, particularly in the event that they’ve been exercising at a excessive degree earlier than being pregnant, is secure.”
Whereas well being issues, for each the newborn and mom, are the first fear, soccer mothers additionally fear in regards to the affect childbirth can have on their enjoying careers. It’s a sacrifice male gamers don’t have to think about when beginning a household.
Morgan’s husband, Servando Carrasco, a former Galaxy midfielder, performed 13 video games for the Fort Lauderdale crew within the third-tier USL League One whereas Morgan was recovering from giving beginning.
“There’s clearly a lot to take into consideration. As a feminine athlete we have now to time our pregnancies. And clearly it all the time doesn’t finish the way in which you need it to,” stated Christie Pearce (previously Rampone), who gave beginning to each her daughters between main worldwide tournaments.
“There’s no assure that you just’ll be capable to get again to the participant you was. There’s no assure that you just’ll be capable to earn that spot again.”
Former U.S. participant Christie Rampone stands along with her kids throughout a 2017 ceremony honoring her.
(Julio Cortez / Related Press)
Markgraf acknowledged she wasn’t as dominant a participant after giving beginning to her first baby in at 29. However the expertise introduced different issues to her sport and a 12 months later she began 5 instances within the 2007 World Cup.
“I wished to have kids whereas I used to be nonetheless enjoying,” she stated. “I knew it could take a very long time to come back again as a result of your physique is totally different. [But] I all the time wished to have the ability to have my kids up within the stands sporting my jersey, watching me as a mother so that they knew they might do tough issues.”
“You achieve a perspective when you may have youngsters; that that [poor] cross, it’s OK,” she added. “Since you come dwelling and there’s a child that’s so excited to see you.”
Fawcett agreed. After the U.S. misplaced to Norway in time beyond regulation within the 2000 Olympic last, the gamers groused about their silver medals — till Fawcett’s 6-year-old daughter Katey received a glance.
“It’s probably the most stunning factor I’ve ever seen!” the woman stated.
Fawcett quickly satisfied her teammates her daughter was proper, altering the temper within the locker room immediately.
“I used to be like, ‘What’s there to be unhappy about?’” she stated.
U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn slides throughout a 2021 worldwide pleasant soccer match towards South Korea.
(Colin E. Braley / Related Press)
Becky Sauerbrunn, who changed Markgraf each at heart again and as a crew captain, has taken a special strategy to her household planning. She’ll be 37 in June, so reasonably than pausing or ending her profession to provide beginning with the following World Cup 16 months away, Sauerbrunn had six embryos extracted and frozen late final 12 months.
“It was virtually to me unfair that I used to be having to principally ponder the top of my profession simply to have a household,” stated Sauerbrunn, who has performed in 202 video games for the nationwide crew, another than Markgraf. “Soccer is my calling and my ardour. Do I probably have to finish it early to type of begin the following chapter?
“The following chapter could possibly be wonderful. And I may discover that being a mom can be my calling. However I actually simply wished to see out just a few extra years of this primary chapter.”
There has lengthy been a stigma connected to extracting and freezing eggs, and that has intimidated some girls. The WNBA, nevertheless, is encouraging the method by reimbursing gamers who bear the process, which might enable them to proceed their enjoying profession whereas getting ready for motherhood.
“It looks as if there’s some kind of turning level taking place, the place extra athletes are keen to speak about fertility issues,” Sauerbrunn stated. “Why not use science to our benefit to have a household if that’s what you really need?”
Dunn actually needs a household. However like Morgan and Sauerbrunn, she needs to play within the subsequent World Cup too.
In response to the circles on her calendar, she ought to be capable to do each.
“These final couple of years, I used to be in a position to lean into extra issues off the sphere that actually impressed me to be simply not an awesome soccer participant however an awesome human being,” Dunn stated. “And I used to be like, you already know, I feel I’m prepared to begin a household.
“It’s given me such a brand new motivation to come back again and the most effective individual and the most effective participant I can presumably be.”
Sports
NFL quarter-season superlatives: Darnold and Daniels hot; Jaguars not; Chiefs face a challenge
The first quarter of the NFL season is in the books, and although there’s a lot of football left to play, you can sense things starting to fall into place for many teams (and developing concerns for others). Let’s take a look at some of the things we’ve learned after four weeks, and also award some superlatives.
What we’ve learned
Fit is everything
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold’s career resurrection is among the best stories of the young season. Cast off by the New York Jets and then Carolina Panthers, Darnold used a season as a backup in San Francisco to help reset his career, and then signed with the Vikings this offseason to serve as a bridge to eventual first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. But through four weeks, Darnold has been a star. He’s leading the NFL with 11 touchdown passes and a 118.9 passer rating and has completed a career-best 68.9 percent of his passes while helping lead the Vikings to a 4-0 record.
GO DEEPER
Is the Vikings’ scorching 4-0 start to the season sustainable?
While Darnold continues this revival, quarterbacks Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Jared Goff are also enjoying second-chance success with Tampa Bay, Seattle and Detroit, respectively. Derek Carr looks revitalized under new Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Justin Fields has exhibited promise in Pittsburgh. These reclamation projects provide a valuable lesson, that seemingly debilitating struggles aren’t always the fault of the quarterback. It doesn’t always matter how talented a prospect is if he’s on a team led by a general manager who doesn’t understand how to properly build around him, or if he’s playing for a coach who doesn’t understand how to tailor his system to that passer’s strengths. But if blessed with the opportunity to pursue a more stable situation, some quarterbacks can make good on second chances.
Sure, Darnold — now 27 and in his seventh NFL season — has probably learned a lot more than he could have ever imagined as a 21-year-old rookie. But Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah get it, and have used a strong rushing attack, quality offensive line, supremely talented wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and dominant defense to ease pressure on Darnold while capitalizing on his strengths.
Defense is making a comeback
We’re often told the NFL is “a passing league,” but through four weeks, passing numbers are down across the NFL. Teams have averaged 202.8 passing yards a game compared to 217.9 per contest through four weeks last season. Passing numbers have declined every season since 2020, when teams averaged 249.8 per game. Rushing numbers have increased slightly, but as a whole offenses have found it more challenging to move the ball this season.
Why? Have the league’s defensive gurus cracked the code on these high-powered offenses despite rule changes that make it harder to cover wide receivers?
Yes and no, said three NFL coaches with offense expertise. It’s true that defensive coordinators are finding ways to take away explosive plays. They’re using more two-high safety looks in an attempt to guard against getting beat deep by wide receivers. That has in part forced quarterbacks to settle for shorter, underneath passes. But offensive coaches also report that as defenses opt to cover the pass with seven players, that has left them with more four-man fronts, which lends itself to more favorable run opportunities. Some of these offensive coaches also believe that deteriorating offensive line play has factored into the decline in passing yards. Even though quarterbacks are facing more four-man fronts, sacks have still gone up slightly. Decreased practice time and less full-contact action in training camp and the preseason are among the potential reasons for offensive line struggles.
Will this trend continue, or after limited work together in preseason games, did offensive starters simply spend the first month of the season honing their skills as they gear up for an explosion?
The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey has made field goals of 65 and 60 yards this season. (Andrew Dieb / Imagn Images)
Kickers are up
The new “dynamic” kickoff generated a lot of buzz this offseason, and the rule change has made this element of the game slightly more relevant. Teams have combined for 187 returns this season, compared to 112 at this point last year, according to NFL Research. But the real buzz involves field goals, on which kickers are booming the ball through the uprights from greater distances than ever.
Already, we have seen Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey make two field goals of 60 yards or greater (a 65-yarder in Week 3 and 60-yarder in Week 4). New England’s Joey Slye nailed a 63-yarder on Sunday. Thus far, kickers have successfully kicked 61 field goals of 50 yards or longer, which is a record through four weeks, according to NFL Research. The previous record was 46 (2023).
The Chiefs are still the Chiefs, but …
Some things never change. Fresh off their repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs have kicked off their three-peat quest with a four-game win streak. The Chiefs haven’t lost a game since Week 16 of the 2023 season, putting them on a 10-game win streak when including the playoffs.
The Chiefs’ approach has differed to start this season. Travis Kelce got off to a slow start, but Patrick Mahomes relied heavily on second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice and rookie Xavier Worthy while leading his team to wins over the Ravens, Bengals, Falcons and Chargers. The Chiefs’ success has come despite the the losses of free-agent wideout Marquise Brown and top running back Isiah Pacheco to injuries. But now Mahomes and the Chiefs will be tested further. Rice suffered a serious knee injury in Sunday’s win over the Chargers. Already shorthanded, Kansas City will need other players to step up. Kelce did have his most productive day of the season (seven catches, 89 yards). But can Worthy assume the No. 1 role? Will the Chiefs have enough firepower to defend their title, or will their hopes fizzle down the stretch of the season?
Panthers’ dysfunction is hard to cure
Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper’s impatience prompted him to fire Frank Reich after just 11 games last season. This past offseason, Tepper charged Dave Canales with the task of fixing top 2023 pick Bryce Young. But after two dismal performances, the Panthers’ rookie head coach benched Young (24 hours after pledging loyalty to him) and turned to Andy Dalton. The 14th-year veteran did help the Panthers win a game in his first start. But Carolina faces all kinds of uncertainty regarding Young’s future. Will Canales help the Alabama product reset his career and better understand the pro game as a backup? Or will the Panthers eventually trade him?
Superlatives
Brightest newcomer: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
The second pick of the 2024 draft is off to a historic start, completing a league-best 82.1 percent of his passes. He has passed for three touchdowns and just one interception while rushing for another four touchdowns to lead the Commanders to a 3-1 start. Give offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury props for his work in developing Daniels and easing him into his role as starting quarterback.
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Biggest surprise: Vikings QB Sam Darnold
As mentioned, Darnold looks like a man reborn after stepping in as the Vikings’ replacement for Kirk Cousins. Leading the league in touchdown passes and passer rating, and ranking second in yards per attempt (8.8 yards), Darnold has Minnesota looking like a playoff team.
Best coaching job: Packers’ Matt LaFleur
There’s stiff competition for this distinction. Minnesota’s O’Connell and Washington play-caller Kingsbury both deserve consideration. But LaFleur took Titans castoff Malik Willis, inserted him into the Packers’ offense for an injured Jordan Love, tailored the system to capitalize on Willis’ strengths and positioned him for effective play and wins in both starts.
After playing all 17 games last season following a concussion-plagued 2022 campaign, the Dolphins’ quarterback suffered yet another concussion in Week 2. Now Tagovailoa faces an uncertain future. The Dolphins have placed him on injured reserve to give him time to heal and seek additional medical advice, but it’s unknown when/if he will return. Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are 0-2 after using Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley as starters. Huntley will start again Sunday at the Patriots.
Derrick Henry and the Ravens have won two in a row, against the Cowboys and the Bills. (Tommy Gilligan / Imagn Images)
Scariest 2-2 team: Ravens
After an 0-2 start, the retooled Ravens broke out of their funk with a much-needed win at Dallas and then rolled to an authoritative 35-10 victory over Buffalo. Offseason pickup Derrick Henry rushed for 199 yards against the Bills while backup Justice Hill had 18 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards and a touchdown. Lamar Jackson rushed for a touchdown and passed for two more. The Ravens defense had struggled to find its footing following former coordinator Mike Macdonald’s departure to become Seattle’s head coach, but had its way with Josh Allen and the Bills, restoring confidence that Baltimore can contend in the AFC this season.
Most suspect winning record: Bills
After a comeback win over Arizona and a thumping of Miami, the Bills looked elite and Allen an MVP candidate. But then came Sunday night’s loss at home to the Ravens, which raises questions about the Bills’ legitimacy. Arizona is inconsistent, and Miami struggled mightily against the same defense that Baltimore walloped. Buffalo (3-1) may win the AFC East because of the Dolphins’ Tua-related misfortunes, the Patriots’ rebuilding and the fact the Jets will always be the Jets even with Aaron Rodgers. But can the Bills really go toe-to-toe with the conference’s elite teams?
Hottest coaching seat: Doug Pederson or Nick Sirianni?
Pederson was supposed to rescue the Jaguars from the dysfunction of the short-lived Urban Meyer era. He was supposed to help Trevor Lawrence live up to the billing of a generational talent, one who just earned a new $275 million contract. But three years in, Pederson appears no closer to these goals than when he started. Sure, Lawrence showed promise in 2022 in helping Jacksonville make an unlikely playoff push. But rather than build on that success, Lawrence and the Jaguars regressed in 2023, losing five of their last six games to miss the postseason. And now they’ve opened the year 0-4 as Pederson continues to defend highly criticized offensive coordinator Press Taylor. Can Pederson, whose team has back-to-back games in London in Weeks 6 and 7 after hosting the Colts on Sunday, get this thing turned around?
Meanwhile, Pederson’s replacement in Philadelphia finds himself under a great deal of pressure as well after a listless 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers dropped the Eagles to 2-2. Nick Sirianni started hot, taking Philly to the Super Bowl in Year 2 at the helm. But the Eagles regressed last season and continue to struggle. Sirianni has a very good roster with which to work, and offseason signee Saquon Barkley has already made his presence felt. But Jalen Hurts has yet to regain the excellence and consistency the Eagles hoped for under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Injuries to wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have hampered the offense. But as a whole, this unit continues to underperform, and defensive guru Vic Fangio (hired this offseason) has yet to cure the ills that plagued the Eagles on that side of the ball.
Eagles brass positioned this team to contend, but things remain shaky. That ultimately could cost Sirianni, who admitted last week he hadn’t prepared his team adequately for Tampa Bay.
GO DEEPER
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Unluckiest team: Rams
After going 5-12 in 2022, one year after winning the Super Bowl, the Rams went 10-7 last season and returned to the postseason. They aimed to make a deep playoff run in 2024, but injuries have hit L.A. hard across the offensive line, in its secondary (cornerback Darious Williams) and at receiver (Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp). At 1-3, the Rams already find themselves in an early hole in the competitive NFC West.
Earliest big-spending return: Falcons QB Kirk Cousins
The Falcons believed they had a roster fit for contention, and just needed a quarterback to put them over the top. So they armed new head coach Raheem Morris with Cousins, signing the 13th-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler to a four-year, $180 million contract with $140 million guaranteed despite the fact he was coming off surgery for a torn Achilles tendon. The Falcons offense isn’t quite a well-oiled machine yet, but Cousins already is making his presence felt, leading his team on game-winning drives twice in the first four weeks.
There were rumblings during the preseason that this relationship might quickly sour. And while the Raiders are 2-2, Adams has requested a trade, and Las Vegas has let teams know he’s available for the right price.
GO DEEPER
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What team makes sense for Adams? The Ravens certainly could use an explosive pass-catching threat for Jackson, and Adams could potentially put them over the top. The Chiefs are desperate with Rice and Brown injured. But would the Raiders trade within the division? Buffalo drafted Keon Coleman to replace Stefon Diggs, but Adams certainly would look good catching passes from Allen. And Justin Herbert is working with a thin supporting cast, but the Chargers also reside with the Raiders in the AFC West.
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(Top photos of Jayden Daniels and Sam Darnold: Stacy Revere and Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
When Becca Hart was a child, she didn’t have the same experience as everyone else her age or almost anyone else growing up.
While other kids were playing sports and taking dance lessons, Hart was often on the outside looking in, as she had been born with familial spastic paraplegia, a hereditary condition that weakens her legs.
“You’re going to be like everyone else. But the world quickly pounds into you that that’s not the case. And I was really mad about that,” Hart told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.
But one day, she got on a horse. And nearly 25 years later, she’s a Paralympic gold medal winner.
Becca Hart poses with her three gold medals from Paris. (Mercury LLC)
Hart says she “struggled with my disability as a kid” as the “magic” of enjoying childhood was essentially gone. That is, however, until she rode a horse for the first time.
“But I was a horse-crazy little kid, and something clicked in my brain. This horse doesn’t care if my legs don’t work, they will do everything I need them to do. It was this light-bulb moment, and all of a sudden, I was able to take all the anger I felt and push it into a passion for horses and sport, and that was the catalyst for my obsession with horses and competing that has spanned over 25 years.”
Hart first participated in the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, and it finally took until this past summer to earn gold; she is the captain of the USA’s equestrian dressage team.
But while she is not competing, Hart has worked at Starbucks since the year she made her Paralympic debut. But the company has become so much more than her place of employment.
“Starbucks has been wildly a part of my journey since before I was on the international scene. I was a working student trying to make my break into international performance. I needed a job, and Starbucks was there.
Becca Hart competes in Paris. (Mercury LLC)
LOS ANGELES KICKS OFF JOURNEY TO 2028 OLYMPICS IN STYLE
“My manager knew I was doing ‘professional sports’ on the side, and he said, ‘Why don’t you look at this elite athlete program? It might be something useful for you.’ I looked into it, and they’ve been one of my main corporate sponsors for the last 16 years. Having the flexibility to travel the world, keep my job and have the financial backing to support that has been kind of paramount to getting triple gold this year.”
Hart jokes that the alarm clock going off at 3 a.m. to head to work shortly after winning gold was a tough kick back into real life, but on her return to work, she got a champion’s welcome.
“They decked the store out in gold, everything, streamers, sparklers, balloons. And the entire community came in at the end of my shift, the entire fire department, sheriff’s department, the mayor, my friends, customers, they all came in, and we just had a blast,” she said.
Hart admitted there were times she had to keep herself from getting distracted while competing.
“When I glance to my right, there’s the [Château Versailles], the gardens, the waterfront, and I’m like, ‘Focus. Focus.’ I had to remind myself to really hone in,” Hart said. “I enjoy the pressure. Pressure is a privilege, but it’s tight. I needed a good performance, but I also needed a personal best, which is asking a lot in the Olympics, but we were able to pull it off.”
Gold medalist Rebecca Hart of Team United States poses for a photo during the Paris Summer Paralympic Games at Château de Versailles on Sept. 3, 2024, in France. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
And while her goal is finally accomplished, the best part about her sport is that there is longevity. Now, she wants USA equestrian to become a dynasty, and she will be in Los Angeles in 2028.
“We worked too hard and too long. We’re just getting good, we’ve just brought the U.S. into the spotlight, and I want to stay there, especially on home turf in four years.”
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The Rams are searching for answers.
With a still-injury-depleted lineup, they must reverse their 1-3 start and avoid falling out of the playoff race before it truly begins.
The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Jordan Love are coming to SoFi Stadium on Sunday, and they will face a Rams defense statistically ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL.
The Rams are second-to-last in the NFL in total defense, giving up 385.3 yards per game. They are last in rushing defense (165.5 yards per game), 21st in pass defense (219.8 ypg) and second to last in scoring defense (28.8 points per game).
“We’ve been stressing it’s about communication, playing together and I know we’ve had a few moving parts, but I don’t think it’s an excuse for anything,” first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “We have to play, and we expect to go play well.”
The Rams have only three takeaways, which is tied for 27th in the league, and seven sacks, which is tied for 26th.
Safety John Johnson III’s fourth-quarter interception in the season opener against the Detroit Lions is the Rams’ only interception.
“That’s the age-old question,” Shula said when asked what the Rams could do to create more interceptions. “If I knew it, I would do it right now — but that’s something that you harp on. … It comes from playing good defense. … You get [opponents] in more vulnerable situations.”
There have been a few bright spots for defense.
Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse, the No. 19 pick in the draft, was named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the month for September. The former Florida State standout had a sack against the Lions but has missed numerous opportunities in the last three games to record more.
Rookie lineman Braden Fiske also has created significant pressure.
Former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (8) adds another dimension to the Packers’ offense.
(Matt Ludtke / Associated Press)
Against a Packers offense led by Love and running back Josh Jacobs, the Rams must stop the run, create pressure and force low-percentage passes. The Packers rank third in offense (410 yards per game), seventh in passing (235.5) and second in rushing (174.5). They are tied for sixth in scoring (26 points per game).
Before the season, Love signed an extension that includes $160.3 million in guarantees, according to overthecap.com. The fourth-year quarterback is nursing a knee injury, so the Rams must “assault” the pocket, lineman Kobie Turner said.
“Hopefully, he’s not as mobile as he can be,” Turner said. “But that’s the danger with him: He has the ability to kill you from the pocket, but he also has the ability to get outside of the pocket and create plays.”
The back end of the defense must avoid the penalties and communication errors that have plagued the Rams most of the season.
“Everybody needs to execute their one-eleventh of the defense every single play,” linebacker Troy Reeder said. “It’s got to be the same sense of urgency from the first play to the last.”
Interceptions, players say, will come.
Improved communication, eye discipline and technique are the keys, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon said.
“It’s just paying attention to detail,” he said, “and not just like, ‘Oh, I’ll do it different on game day.’”
The secondary could be bolstered if cornerback Darious Williams is activated to the roster.
Last spring, the Rams re-signed Williams, a member of their Super Bowl championship team, after he played two seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams, in his seventh NFL season, has 10 career interceptions, including four last season.
The Rams envisioned Williams starting opposite Tre’Davious White, a former All-Pro for the Buffalo Bills who was coming off Achilles surgery.
Williams suffered a hamstring injury on the second day of training camp. He was placed on injured reserve before the season opener, making him ineligible to return after four games.
Williams practiced this week and was a full participant Thursday. McVay is expected to update Williams’ status Friday for Sunday’s game.
Safety Quentin Lake said players are working individually and collectively to take advantage of turnover opportunities.
Lake, for example, lamented not making an adjustment that might have resulted in an interception or prevented San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings from making a spectacular catch in the second game of the season.
“You still have a long season to go,” he said. “Those opportunities will come, and I think we’re going to make those plays when they do.”
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