Emotional, tear-filled goodbyes with friends new and old

The great press room volunteers at volleyball.

The man to my right, Antonio Gnassi, teaches journalism in Naples, Italy. 

Yes, I've offered to be a visiting lecturer already. :) Crossing fingers to do it one day!

 So long, dear Isabel and Thaisa.

 Many tears with these guys ... Eduardo to the far left (my right), Marco to my direct right, and Francisco to my immediate left and then Adriano all became special friends. They all wrote postcards to me, and the ladies at the front desk gave me a little pink necklace I'm wearing as well as this sweet note below signed inside by the entire hotel staff. I teared up all day.

Rui surprised Annie and me with fresh-squeezed OJ

one morning near the end, "for strength," he said.
And the breakfast guys gave me these postcards, signed by each of them on
back with special notes I will cherish.

 The stadium photo is the soccer venue, with the smaller one to the left
the volleyball arena where I went every day. They were so sweet to do this.

 Melissa Dudek from UVA, and she's the one who helped me last year on

setting up the story on the coach who adopted her daughter from Senegal.

Last rooftop shot, even if it was rainy on Monday when I left.

 With Teresa Walker from Nashville and Annie Peterson of

Portland ... two of my dear AP friends. 

And, below, with Matt Rourke of our Philadelphia photo staff and Jeff

Roberson of St. Louis, the two photogs I worked with daily.

 Great new friend Angus from Australia ... and longtime special friend

Frank Franklin from NYC. He worked boxing with Greg Beacham.

 This was their last night of boxing below. So cool! Frank and another

photographer had set up a camera up top.

Ciao, Rio! It was the time of my life. Obrigada y abraco!

And, in another kind of goodbye, below, both Courtney Thompson

(from Woodinville, former UW star) and captain Christa Dietzen

walked off the court after winning bronze and announced to me

they were each retiring from volleyball. Another emotional moment.

The entire women's team and coaching staff signed a ball for me as a surprise at the end.

I was beyond humbled and touched by the thoughtful gesture, presented in the press area

by USA Volleyball PR man, Bill Kauffman. What a great trip! Happy to be home.

Those lovely Italians... and a few special stories

That's me with Italian referee, Fabrizio Paquali. We are waving to B.J. Evans of USA Volleyball.
Fabrizio is a fabulous person with a great name, indeed.

Heard from Fabrizio today, Thursday, Aug. 25:

Ciao Janie Ciao B.J.,

was amazing my stay in Rio but unfortunately I come back home just in time for this terrible earthquake that caused death and distruction. I've been lucky, me and my family are in good conditions expecially because we live 25 km. far from the epicentre of this drama. My wife is a doctor and she's living day by day this emergency with so many people died ( a lot of childrens). And since yesterday we counted more than 200 sismic shocks and during the night is a nightmare!

Sorry for this catastrofic bulletin... A big hug and thanks for share our experience in Rio.

Kind regards

Ciao

Fabrizio

 I plan to send him and his family a box of Aplets and Cotlets. In fact, just posted a $200-plus order
to send eight boxes to the hotel friends in Rio. They will love the surprise!

http://summergames.ap.org/article/life-volleyball-ref

I also bonded with Matteo Piano - how about that great moniker? - and when I interviewed him after Italy beat the U.S. in the semis, he got down on his knees to be at my eye level. Not sure

that has happened before. Then, afterward, I reached to shake his hand and he wrapped me up in a warm hug of appreciation. After his team lost in straight sets to Brazil for gold, he had these kind words to say: "I smiled when I heard the anthem of Brazil before the match. 

It was something special, all of Maracanazinho singing." 

At the airport on Monday, I saw the Italy team minus Mr. Piano (darn it!) and the head coach, ‎Gianlorenzo Blengini, stopped me, kissed me on each cheek and told the man with him, "She had the best questions of the press conferences all tournament." That compliment meant the world,

because I covered far more than just the U.S. teams.
Matteo Piano also thanked me for the story I wrote on him:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/956e06fee1f54df7996aad559b14a994/matteo-piano-italy-go-olympic-gold-mens-volleyball 

I did the best work I have in my career in Rio, and for this I am blessed
to have been sent there by the AP and to be chosen to cover volleyball. I thrived. I had blast.
I hope to cover it again in Tokyo 2020 four years from now. Just in my final few days,
these pieces I am quite proud of.
And this note from the head U.S. men's coach:

A few more special stories...
An analytics guru guiding U.S. women's team:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3b2d1c1bd67a463990fe37c40dda535b/got-data-geek-behind-us-womens-volleyball-does

Bronze for U.S. women (such a special group to me) and it's well
worth a look at all the photos by clicking the first one: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0dca249241544ad5813725562e61e3b1/resilient-us-volleyballers-last-ride-ends-bronze

Bronze for U.S. men: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cc1fa44b32b440ac8035ec042d489d4e/longtime-volleyball-ambassador-reid-priddy-goes-out-style

And, my final story on the gold medal for proud host nation, Brazil - one of the best
scenes I've seen in nearly 20 years covering sports, and I just tried to capture it all:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7c00f57c55624090b513a5c3e44e7b0a/brazil-grabs-mens-volleyball-gold-neymar-watching

Rio sights and scenes...

 At the end of the beach path, 2.5 miles and halfway into my runs, a couple of times

I would stop to lift weights with the locals - tin cans for dumbbells. Spectacular scenery. 

Still cannot believe I am in Brazil. It's a lovely place, the people, too,

despite all the problems and challenges.


Hotel rooftop view of Christ the Redeemer, not bad!
Do my band workouts and abs on the roof under the Rio sun.

 Gorgeous flags hanging on nets.

 These two children, a boy and girl, were so fun to watch.

Morning setting practice, this is regularly happening along with 

tons of group exercise classes starting by about 7 a.m. every day. It's inspiring to say the least

 Such a neat tree!

 Kids' swim lessons, YMCA, Rio de Janeiro

 Rio Naval School, where I was the only journalist allowed on site by the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Volleyball each of my first two days in the country. I got special exclusive access to training, views of sailing practice on Guanabara Bay and saw the track athletes practicing, too.

I found a park right away that featured beautiful art sculptures. 

Neat tiles everywhere!

 Came across a mass high on a hill during one morning run

Nuns on the Escadaria Selaron steps