ty.The opportunity was certainly there gi

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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Dance parties. Dark chocolate. Calls to mom.All are helping Missy Franklin cope with an Olympics gone wrong.A huge star at the London Games four years ago, Franklin has been one of the biggest U.S. disappointments in Rio de Janeiro -- an inexplicable fall shes at a loss to explain.I really wish I could tell you, Franklin said Thursday after another lackluster swim. In my mind, I made the hardest sacrifices Ive ever had to make this year. Ive poured myself into this every single day for the whole year and the three years leading up to that. For whatever reason, its just not happening at this meet.As a high school senior-to-be in 2012, Franklin competed in a staggering seven events, winning four gold medals and a bronze. She became only the second American woman, after Amy Van Dyken, to capture four golds at a single Olympics.But following two years swimming collegiately at California and then turning pro last summer, Franklin hasnt been able to recapture the form that made her one of the most-hyped -- and heavily sponsored -- U.S. athletes heading into the Rio Olympics.She struggled at the U.S. trials, qualifying for the team in only two individual events, both with runner-up finishes.In Rio, she failed to even qualify for the final of the 200-meter freestyle. After that showing, the coaches only picked her to swim the preliminary of the 4x200 free relay, a decision that would have seemed unfathomable just a few months ago but didnt meet with any protest from Franklin.I was absolutely fine with it, Franklin said. They 100 percent made the right decision.The 21-year-old still earned a gold medal -- the fifth of her career -- when a Katie Ledecky-led squad swam to victory in the relay final Wednesday night.That did little to ease the sting for Franklin. Shes ready to go home to Colorado.Being totally honest, Im doing better because its almost over, she said. The closer we get, its just good reminders that this is a disappointing swim meet for me. Its a disappointing race, its a disappointing swim meet. Life goes on. This is just one phase of my life that I worked so hard for and made so many sacrifices for and for whatever reason it didnt go my way. It doesnt mean Im anywhere close to being done with the sport, that I dont feel like I have anything left, because I do.Franklin has coped with her struggles by leaning heavily on her religious faith.My faith in God is really getting me through, she said. I know that hes going to make something beautiful out of this, hes going to transform me and my life into doing something from all of this. I have no clue what that is. I wish I could ask him what hes going to do.Her teammates are doing all they can to help.I just throw a couple of random dance parties. I take some really, really horrendous Snapchats of her, Cierra Runge said. Whatever I can do to make her laugh.Those Dove chocolate candies with the inspirational message on the wrapper help, too.One of the verses really stuck with Franklin.Every day is an opportunity to change things for the better, she recounted. That was a good reminder that regardless of how things have been going, how Ive been feeling, every day is a new opportunity.And, of course, she can always turn to her family.Youre never too old to call your mom and cry and ask her for advice, Franklin said. She just told me that its going to be OK, and thats all I needed to hear. Yeah, its hard right now. Its probably the hardest thing Ive had to go through. But its going to be OK. Im loved. Im supported. When you put things in perspective, if a disappointing meet is the worst thing that happens in my life, then I have a pretty damn good life.Franklin was competing Thursday in her final event of the Games, the 200 backstroke, an event she won at London. She gave little indication of turning things around in the preliminaries, managing only the 11th-best time at 2 minutes, 9.36 seconds. And it didnt get any better in the semifinals, where she finished 14th in 2:09.74.?Franklin will return to Cal in the fall to resume her studies, but she made clear that her swimming career isnt over.If theres a bright side, Franklin has learned just how much shes really loved.Yeah, its a disappointment. But the support Ive received has shown me so much more than I ever couldve expected, she said. Youre so much more than the number of medals you have, youre so much more than the time you spend in the pool, your value goes so beyond all of that. I dont think I ever wouldve come to that realization without going through something like this.Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.coms Bonnie D. Ford was used in this report. Buy Adidas Shoes Australia . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Adidas Shoes Australia .Y. - New York City has been selected to host the NBA All-Star weekend in 2015, with the game played at Madison Square Garden and the slam dunk contest and other skills events held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. http://www.cheapadidasaustraliashoes.com/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Cheap Adidas Shoes Online Australia .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. Adidas Shoes Australia Cheap . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. The dominoes couldnt have fallen any better to give undrafted rookie running back Robert Kelley an opportunity to show the Washington Redskins what he could do.Starter Matt Jones and third-down back Chris Thompson were out of the Friday preseason game against the Buffalo Bills with injuries, and Kelley got the start. Fellow rookie Keith Marshall, a seventh-round pick, sprained his left elbow on his first carry of the game, making it Kelleys stage the rest of the first half with the starters.Kelley ran for 51 yards on 12 carries, and the Tulane product looked every bit like a player capable of filling the top job Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers if Jones separated shoulder hasnt completely healed by Sept. 12.He looked good, left tackle Trent Williams said. He found the creases, he moved forward. Obviously there are some things we can clean up, but I think it was a good outing for him.Kelley stood out to everyone, except maybe himself. The 23-year-old thought he did well running and protecting quarterback Kirk Cousins but wasnt ready to express confidence in himself as the No. 1 running back if called upon.Hes still approaching it like he has to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.Once I get on this team, then we can start going on to other ventures, Kelley said after Washingtons 21-16 victory. Every time I get up there I try to put myself in a better situation to make the team, take advantage of the opportunity.The opportunity was certainly there given the injuries to Jones, Thompson and then Marshall, but Kelley appeared to impress coach Jay Gruden early in training camp. Gruden gave Kelley rave reviews before players put on the pads and with contact liked more of what he saw from the 6-foot, 228-pounder who can shift direction without wasting energy.Kelley made decisive runs against the Bills and fell forward to gain extrra yards.dddddddddddd Gruden said Kelley ran hard and well, but he was also looking to see what the young running backs could do in pass protection.Kelley was strong in that department, too, taking care of plenty of Buffalo blitzes, though he acknowledged room for improvement.Theres probably blocks I couldve gotten more of his body or something like that, but for the most part I think I did pretty good in picking up protection with the O-line, Kelley said. I thought I did a good job, especially out there with Kirk. Theres not too much thinking because hes pointing everything out there to you, so youre kind of getting the answers to the test.Kelley has passed each test so far in the preseason and feels he has most improved on special teams. Throw in the blocking and its probably enough to show he should be ahead of second-year back Mack Brown on the depth chart and could be an every-down runner if required.A lot of guys can run the ball, but its what you do when you dont have the ball: Can you help out the O-line? Can you protect that quarterback? Kelley said. I think all of us can run the ball well, so its what you can do when you dont have the ball in your hand.Kelley, a New Orleans native, has impressed Cousins with his runs, blocks and overall approach.I think he showed a lot of confidence tonight as he got going, and hes a talented football player, Cousins said. I think when youre a rookie and undrafted and youre in that position, what you need is belief. You need people around you to believe in you and have confidence in you because he does have the talent and he can run the football well. You just have to continue encouraging him.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '