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Excerpted from Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles, Copyright ? 2016 by Simone Biles. Used by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.From Chapter 19: The Final Five... [On] Tuesday, August 9, our team did exactly what we had been training for so many years to do: We performed almost flawless routines and won team gold. If the all-around win was considered to be the jewel in the crown, the team medal was the crown itself -- the main reason we were there. On the podium afterward, feeling the heavy gold disc around my neck, I felt so privileged to be standing with my teammates. All I could think was, Wow, we did it. How long have I dreamed about this? We were so happy for each other and for ourselves, but our job was only half over. The all-around competition and the event finals were still to come. I wasnt anywhere near finished trying to make my family and my country proud.That afternoon, we told Martha that wed named ourselves the Final Five as a tribute to her. When we explained how wed all agreed on the name, she dabbed the corners of her eyes and said in her thick accent, Oh my God, I love you guys even more now! And she hugged us tightly. The rest of the afternoon and evening was a whirl of press interviews and photo ops, and then it was home to our little pod in the Olympic Village. We all fell right into bed, because we had to be up for our regular eight a.m. training the next morning. Before going to sleep, I carefully folded the green multicolored ribbon around my medal and put it at the bottom of my backpack. Later, they would give us sleek wooden cases to hold our medals, but for now, my makeshift storage would have to do.Can you believe we actually did it? Laurie whispered, stifling a yawn before we drifted off. Were not just Olympians now; were gold medalists.I was too exhausted from happiness to answer, so I just smiled. But when I awoke the next morning, I wasnt quite sure if the day before had all been a dream. I reached for my backpack and pulled out the medal, just to be sure. I unrolled the green ribbon and placed the gold disc in the palm of my hand, feeling its distinctive weight as I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude.Thursday morning, the day of the Olympic all-around competition, dawned bright and clear. The apartment was silent when I opened my eyes. The rest of the girls except for Aly had already gone to breakfast. From there they would head to the training hall. Later, they would be in the gymnastics arena to see Aly and me battle it out with the best in the world for the coveted all-around title.I went to find Aly. She was in her room and still in bed. I feel so good about today, I told her.Me too, she said, holding up one hand for a fist bump.Were so prepared. I have a really good feeling.My heart was galloping in my chest, but it wasnt nerves; it was excitement. I could hardly wait to get into the arena. Aly and I each showered and then we did our hair and makeup together in the living room. We took our time because the competition wouldnt begin until the early afternoon. I outlined my eyes in gold glitter and chose a nude lipstick instead of a bold one. The eye makeup, with my usual winged corners, was dramatic enough, and my sparkly leo would complete the effect. The night before, wed chosen the leos we wanted to wear and laid them out on our beanbag chairs. Aly had opted for the shiny red with lines of crystals fanning out from the neckline like bursts of sunlight, while Id selected a super patriotic number with sheer white crystal-studded sleeves, and dazzling red-and-white stripes running from the shoulders down both sides, framing a high-sheen blue fabric dotted with glittering stars. Id saved this leotard, my favorite, for the all-around. I hoped its shimmer would help me win gold.I was already feeling incredibly happy to be sharing this day with Aly, who was such a rock-solid competitor and friend. As we walked to the bus that would take us to the arena, we held hands like schoolgirls and bobbed our heads to the music coming through our headphones. Every so often wed hug each other and say, Youre good. Youve worked so hard. You deserve to be here. Youve got this. And then wed say, I love you so much. I love you, no matter what. Today will be a good day.Our warm-up in the training hall went without a hitch or a fall, and then it was show time. Before we walked out to compete, we always used the bathroom just in case. As I washed my hands and stared at my face in the mirror, my stomach was suddenly doing somersaults. I plopped down on a bench that was just outside the bathroom and tried to pull myself together. A few moments later, Aly walked out and sat down beside me. When she leaned her head back against the wall, I noticed she looked really pale.Are you okay? I said.She shook her head from left to right.Are you okay? she asked me.No, I said. I feel like Im going to throw up.The two of us sat there for several minutes, breathing slowly and trying to settle ourselves down.Were okay, I said after a while.Weve got this, Aly said.We can do this.Weve done this so many times.I love you, Aly.I love you, Simone.Lets go.We did another fist bump and walked out onto the arena floor.Courage to Soar releases on Tuesday, order your copy here.Cris Carter Jersey . They hope to persuade the other team owners and commissioner Roger Goodell to put pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to drop the nickname they find offensive. 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Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy.WASHINGTON -- It might appear that the Philadelphia Phillies are playing out the string as the last-place club in the National League East.But that is not the case for manager Pete Mackanin, whose team will end a four-game series against the first-place Washington Nationals on Sunday in Washington. The Phillies are 63-79 after a 3-0 loss on Saturday night as Bryce Harper hit a three-run homer in the eighth.I am very patient. I dont have to be happy about the losses, Mackanin said.Mackanin has not hesitated to talk this weekend about his young pitchers and what September means when the club reports to spring training in February in Clearwater, Fla.Left-hander Adam Morgan will start Sunday for the Phillies. And while he is 2-9 with a 5.90 ERA, Morgan will take his place as one of several young pitchers who has faced the Nationals this weekend.Morgan is 0-2, 5.12 in three starts in his career against the Nationals, including a 2-1 loss at home on Aug. 31 when he gave up three hits and two runs in six innings with no walks and five strikeouts.Alec Asher started Thursday and went six innings and allowed no runs on two hits.Does he think about 2017?I just control what I can control. That is go out and compete to the best of my ability, Asher said. I am going to pitch to my strength.I am going back to being me, he said of last year. It is something to build on. I was a little bit of self-evaluation. It doesnt matter how hard you throw. If it is straight, they are going to hit it. (The change) has made a world of difference so far.Jake Thompson pitched into the sixth inning and gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings on Friday.Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff started Saturday night and gave up no runs and five hits in six innings.That was a great pitching performance by him, Mackanin said. He mixed his pitches pretty well. He fought, he works hard. He was really good. I kind of expected him to be this kind of pitcher. He doesnt get rattled. He looks like hes out there to beat you.Thompson, Asher and Eickhoff were all acquired in a trade with the Texas Rangers in July 2015 for veteran lefty Coole Hamels.ddddddddddddMorgan had lost nine games in a row before he beat the Miami Marlins in his last start as he did not walk anyone while giving up a run and five hits.It feels good. I wouldnt say I lost confidence, Morgan told reporters after that win. You cant lose confidence, you cant lose that belief in yourself.While the Phillies have a young staff, Washington has mostly a veteran one and Gio Gonzalez will start Sunday for the Nationals. He is 10-9 with a 4.40 ERA and he has won at least 10 games in every year since 2010.Freddy Galvis of the Phillies has faced Gonzalez 33 times and is hitting .273 against him.Maikel Franco, a right-handed hitter, is batting .077 in 13 at-bats against Gonzalez and Cesar Hernandez is hitting .211 in 19 at-bats.The Phillies will certainly start right-handed hitting Tommy Joseph against Gonzalez. Joseph is 0-for-2 against the lefty and Ryan Howard, a left-handed swinger for the Phillies, is 0-for-11 against Gonzalez in the past five years.Fans and media always ask will it be good Gio or bad Gio who takes the mound.On Tuesday at home against the Atlanta Braves, it was bad Gio, as he allowed six runs and did not get past the fourth inning. He does have a 1.40 ERA in three starts against the Phillies this year.The Nationals need Gonzalez to step up after Stephen Strasburg left his start after 42 pitches on Wednesday and has a flexor mass strain.And right-hander Joe Ross has been on the disabled list since July with right shoulder inflammation, although he did throw 60 pitches in a simulated game Saturday at Nationals Park.I guess that extra confidence just knowing, not having to worry like hows it going to feel when I get out there. (I had) a little bit of nerves going out there today, Ross told reporters. I guess it was easier in a controlled environment, live BP.Feeling good, so hopefully I get to the next start or whatever opportunity I get to go throw. Nothings really on my mind but going out there and try and get outs. ' ' '