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RIO DE JANEIRO -- They came at him with two lines of coverage, just in case he had any notions of trying to elude them. But Adam Krikorian knew this group wasnt ever going to let him go. And so they wrapped him up in a gang tackle and swept him into the pool at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, and afterward they draped their gold medals around his neck, his grief, for one moment anyway, blending with tears of joy.His U.S. womens water polo team had defeated Italy 12-5 on Friday in still another show of domination for a team that won its second Olympic gold medal in a row. The Americans, also the reigning world champions, outscored their Rio opponents 73-32, extending their winning streak to 22 straight games and their 2016 record to 42-2.That they operated so efficiently over a two-week period during which their coach learned of the sudden death of his brother, flew home to California for the funeral, and then returned to Rio three days later to guide them, spoke both of Krikorian and a tightly bonded team that flourished in large part because of its selflessness.The thing I kept coming back to is that it would be very selfish of me to let what happened to me personally and to my family and to let the grieving and mourning affect this group and what we set out to do the last four years, Krikorian said. These girls have worked so hard for four years. Some have worked their entire lives for this moment. Who am I to ruin that for them?To a player, however, Krikorians squad showered its admiration and appreciation on the coach, who held a team meeting Aug. 3 after hearing that his older brother Blake, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, died of an apparent heart attack after paddleboarding.For him to pull his team together after hearing that news hours before and be able to sit down and talk to us in that situation is so telling of his character, said team captain Maggie Steffens. He was telling us to enjoy the moment, enjoy opening ceremonies. Dont worry about me, you be you. This is your dream. Live it. And here is this coach who had just been through something so traumatic.We wanted to be strong for him, but he was strong for us. Thats why hes the best coach in the world in my eyes.Why his team is the best in the world is based largely on what won the Americans the gold medal Friday. Their first five goals came from five different players and eight players scored in all, with Kiley Neushul (three), Rachel Fattal (two) and Makenzie Fischer (two) getting multiple goals.Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson, the first African-American woman to play water polo in the Olympics for the U.S., was also spectacular, saving a penalty shot in the third quarter that would have trimmed the U.S. lead to 7-4 and making nine saves in all.Shes a competitor at its finest, Steffens said. It doesnt matter what the score is, she wants to get that block for our team. I remember one meeting talking about what pumps us up, and Ashleigh said when she makes a stop, immediately she can see the fire in our eyes because she was able to inspire her teammates.That was something I got from her. I want to get a goal or a stop for her because she has our backs.The low-key Johnson, 21, who attends Princeton, said she had not played the way she would have liked early in the tournament.Im really happy I was able to make some stops in key moments for us, she said. Thats what our team is about, being able to step up in the big moments and play your role.It is a team of women who consider each other family and talk about building unity by sharing their most vulnerable side. Once, Krikorian had them write letters to coaches who inspired them growing up to be who they are today.When they read the letters aloud, Krikorian said he cried at every single one of them.We talked about not hiding anything and being very open and honest with one another and even emotional and vulnerable at times, he said. And to do that, to do something that extremely emotional and to do it in front of your teammates, creates this compassion for one another that helps us become tighter as a unit and helps us know each other a little better.In the end, they said, in trying to describe the emotion flowing through them as they gathered at midpool in a mixture of chlorine and sweat and tears, it was that closeness they will never forget.We started this together and we wanted to end it together, Steffens said. To just all be in that circle and share that circle with one another, it was fun for me to just look around and look everybody in the eyes and say, We dreamed of this and we did it.Thursday would have been Blake Krikorians 49th birthday, and Adams wife, Anicia, flew to Rio to surprise her husband. On Friday, not long after his players put their gold medals around his neck, Krikorians thoughts once again turned to his brother.I just keep coming back to how my brother, who was the coolest dude in the world, would want me to be, he said. And anytime I was losing focus or getting too emotional, I would think about him and what he would tell me: Man, you are wasting this moment. Go have a blast. Kick some butt. Go compete. Never give up.When I started thinking about that, it gave me some peace to know I can continue on to do what I do.Giving Krikorian the medals is something of a team tradition begun in London, a symbolic gesture because coaches do not receive medals. But on this day, it was to honor the man who has been through so much.But I dont need a medal to know the love and respect we have for each other, the relationships that have been born, Krikorian said. Theres no medal thats going to prove that to me. Whats most important is whats inside my heart and whats inside my mind, and that can never be replaced.Fake Vans 2020 . Hazard cut in from the left and scored with a swerving right-footed shot for ninth goal of the season, which proved to be enough for the victory despite Chelseas forwards again lacking a cutting edge up front. Fake Vans Cheap . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. https://www.vansfake.com/ . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. Fake Vans From China . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Fake Vans . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race.When a gymnast flies off a pommel, strains every sinew holding rings with out-stretched arms or somersaults over two bars nine feet off the ground, they are completely on their own.No team-mate to pass to. Nobody to scream at. Just them at the apparatus. Pan your eyes 20 feet sideways and you may see someone in a tracksuit, face racked with anxiety, hoping desperately their pupil delivers.Sam Oldham has had Sergey Sizhanov guiding him for 15 years. It is a relationship that glowed at London 2012, survived the torment of a career-threatening injury in 2014 and is now relighting Sams ambition after his Olympic disappointment.Sam describes his coach as a passionate perfectionist genius. What does the Russian think about the Sky Academy Sports Scholar?1. Describe Sam in three wordsFocused. Fighter. Friend 2. What are your early memories of Sam?It was my very first training session in Britain in 2001, Sam was 8 and was practising a handstand on the rings. I told him my name, gave him some coaching tips and the rest is history. Sam and Sergey have now both returned to Notts Gymnastics Academy 3. What were his strengths and weaknesses?He was always very respectful to the coaches and older gymnasts and did exactly what you told him. If you asked him to do 10 chin-ups hed always do 10 even if I didnt watch him. From the beginning, he worked hard and realised that was key to becoming a great gymnast.4. Describe his development from young gymnast to nowHe was always strong and powerful, but had to work hard on the technical apparatus, such as the pommel horse and high bar. Hard work came naturally to him and it was rare he would waste time during training. This work paid off and by the time he was 17 he was competitive alongside the GB seniors.After long sessions in the gym as a junior and growing rapidly between 16-18, he suffered many injuries which slowed his development, but at 21 he was in great shape and was reaching his potential as a senior gymnast. His injury at the Commonwealth Games was very serious and set him back mentally and of course physically.It was a long road to where he is now but hes completely back to full health and pushing towards his potential again. Sam broke his ankle at the 2014 Commonwealth Games 5. Describe your relationship with SamWeve been a team for 15 years. This is something that is very special and were not just gymnast and coach - we are great friends. 6. What makes a good coach?Being able to understand each athlete is very different. Seeing the bigger picture is really important and you need lots of patience. The athlete needs to respect you, believe in you and absolutely trust you.7. Any time for fun?Its mainly just work but as Sam has got older we spend more time together outside the gym. We go to the cinema or go for food. We also went to Tokyo last year thanks to the Sky Scholarships program and spent two weeks training and being tourists in what is currently the home of gymnastics!8. Any big memories stand out? Two days before the Youth Olympics when Sam was going in all of the disciplines in the all-around finals, he was very ill and could hardly train. When we got to the floor exercise, I told him to stop after his first warm-up tumble. He had no energy! On competition day, he felt better but started with a fall on his first apparatus.He fought back and was second heading into his last and best apparatus - high bar. He just needed to get through his routine and hed be second, possibly first! He missed one of his release-and-catch elements by millimetres and was fourth.ddddddddddddWe were gutted and it was a hard lesson for Sam. Two days later he became the first ever High Bar Youth Olympic Champion! Seeing him compete at London 2012 was amazing. We had worked our whole lives for that moment and to see the GB team win bronze for the first time in 100 years was something I will remember for the rest of my life. Sam Oldham opens up to SSNHQ about his Rio disappointment and bouncing back for Japan 2020 9. Why does your coaching work with Sam?When Sam was younger Id explain what to do and how to do it. Now hes older we have open conversations about what skills to learn or what he needs to do in training. 10. How hard has it been to support Sam during his recovery from injuries?Its always difficult when your gymnast or athlete is injured. But my main job was always to motivate him and keep him moving forward. He needed to see I was positive even if he was feeling very low. 11. How did you and Sam cope with not being selected for the Olympics?It was really tough - especially for Sam. We put so much time and hard work into giving him the best chance to be on the team.He competed incredibly well at the Olympic trials and was in peak condition. Sometimes in life, you dont get what you believe you deserve but I am very proud of how Sam competed and reacted to such a difficult point in his life. Sam is now fully focused on performing on the Olympic stage in Tokyo in 2020 12. You are at Notts Academy now with Sam - how is that?Its where our friendship began and I started teaching gymnastics to Sam. It feels almost perfect we will spend the final stage of his career where it all started.Its a fresh start for both of us and I am very excited to be back coaching in Nottingham and hopefully we can rebuild the mens program. Everyone at the club has been very welcoming and I feel very much part of a team again which is brilliant. 13. How are you and Sam working together to move on from Rio and to Tokyo 2020?We have already started building towards Sams ultimate goal which is the Tokyo Olympics. Now he is completely healthy we can push towards his potential once more which is very exciting.He comes in the gym everyday motivated which for me is the most important thing after the summer. Ive always told Sam that as long as he wants to continue in gymnastics I will stay by his side.We are a team! Our aims for next year are the European and World championships!WHATS COMING UP FOR OUR SCHOLARS....NOV 11-14: Elise Christie, World Cup, Salt Lake City, USANOV 12: Jessica Judd, Milton Keynes XCAlso See:About the ScholarshipMeet the athletesBlogsVideos ' ' '