son.Boston took the lead briefly early in the second --

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. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Stitched Athletics Jerseys . Breaking three of his own world records on his way to winning in Paris, Chan silenced the critics and left the audiences standing in appreciation and awe. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Athletics Jerseys 2020 . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Oakland Athletics Gear . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- Bostons David Pastrnak is ready to go home after taking two of three games on a season-opening road trip.The 20-year-old Pastrnak scored the eventual game-winner on Monday night as the Bruins ended their road swing with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.Were excited to get back and see our fans, Pastrnak said. We cant wait to play in the Garden.Pastrnaks team-leading fourth goal of the season came in his 100th career game and was a fortunate one, as he banked a long centering pass off Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom and in late in the second period. The goal extended his point streak to three games and gives him six points on the season.I tried to beat (Jets defenseman Tyler Myers) wide but he made a good gap so I turned around, tried to look up, centered the puck and got a good bounce there, Pastrnak said.Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler opened the scoring 10 minutes into the game. Boston trailed for all of 19 seconds, however, as Dominic Moore tied things up at 10:19 of the first period.Its kind of the exact opposite of the last couple games -- not a whole lot of time in the (offensive) zone, but we were capitalizing on our chances, Wheeler said.We didnt get the bounce that we needed at the right time. We were in pretty (good) control of that game until (Pastrnak) scored there at the end of the second period. It just felt like we spent a lot of time in the box in the third period and could just never really get into a rhythm to try to tie it up.Rookie Brandon Carlos first-career goal added insurance for the Bruins with 1:59 remaining in the third period and Zdeno Chara scored an empty-netter inside the final minute.Bostons Tuukka Rask turned away 34 of 35 shots, while Winnipegs Connor Hellebuyck stopped 21 of 24.We want to be able to consistently generate in a certain manner, things that you think you can replicate and do again. That was the real positive for us, Jets coach Paul Maurice said.ddddddddddddWe spent zone time against a pretty well-schooled defensive team and we were able to generate that. There was some finish, some shot-blocking, some quickness just with the final release of the puck that didnt go for us.Wheeler opened the scoring when he was sprung by Alexander Burmistrov with a breakaway pass as Wheeler stepped out of the penalty box. He deked Rask and slid the puck behind the Bruins goaltender on his forehand for his third goal and fifth point in his third game of the season.The Bruins responded immediately as Moore scored his first of the season.Boston took the lead briefly early in the second -- before a coachs challenge video review by Maurice determined Chara was unable to keep the puck onside before his shot from the blue line deflected off Winnipeg defenseman Ben Chiarot and past a screened Hellebuyck.Neither team was able to convert on the power play, with the Bruins going 0 for 4 and the Jets 0 for 5. Winnipeg is just 1 for 13 on the season after finishing last season 30th in the NHL in power-play efficiency.Those penalties were deserved. We did a good job of killing them and when we had the opportunity to get some scoring chances, I thought we were pretty good, Bruins coach Claude Julien said.Our back end wasnt pretty as far as getting pucks out, but the battle factor was there.Game notes Jets D Dustin Byfuglien continued his heavy log of ice-time this season. The 31-year-old entered Monday leading the NHL in average ice time with 29:38 per game, and kept the pace up with 30:05 Monday night, including 5:20 while anchoring the power play.UP NEXT:BRUINS: Their home opener is Thursday night against New Jersey.JETS: Round out a three-game home stand as they welcome Toronto on Wednesday. ' ' '