Madrid The 28-year-old spent some time at the athletes village in London, even though he was not based there, with many other tennis players also staying elsewhere because the Olympic to

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Maggie Steffens and the U.S. womens water polo team stood on the top step of the podium and belted out the national anthem through a mixture of smiles and tears.Italy and Russia stood on each side of the Americans, and they might as well have been miles away.The dominant U.S. womens teams in gymnastics, basketball and swimming have some company. The womens water polo team, hailing almost exclusively from California, beat Italy 12-5 on Friday for its second straight gold medal, and there are signs it could replicate the sustained success of some of Americas most famous Olympic juggernauts.We could, goaltender Ashleigh Johnson said. But some of our girls arent coming back, and they already know that. It wont be the same team. This team will never be the same team again.The U.S. closed its schedule with 22 straight wins, rolling through its six games in Rio by a combined score of 73-32. It currently holds each of the major crowns in womens water polo, adding a second Olympic gold to its world championship, World Cup and World League Super Final titles.The ease with which it dispatched with the eight-team field in Rio -- the Americans held the lead after 23 of their 24 quarters and trailed for a total of 44 seconds -- made a case for this team being the best ever assembled in the sport.I think you could make a strong argument, coach Adam Krikorian said. That 2012 team in the last games I love to death, they were a gritty, hard-nosed, tough crew, but this team has done some special things.Said Italy coach Fabio Conti: USA is, in this moment, a team of another universe.While the 2012 gold medalists were a veteran crew, the U.S. had nine newcomers this year, including teenagers Maddie Musselman and sisters Makenzie and Aria Fischer. Musselman scored 12 goals and made the all-tournament team, and Makenzie Fischer scored seven times.Johnson, the first black woman to play water polo for the United States in the Olympics, turns 22 next month. Steffens, the MVP of the last two games, is just 23 and sounded ready to sign up for Tokyo right away.I dont know whats going to happen in the next four years, Steffens said, but this is too incredible, incredible of an opportunity to call yourself an Olympian with a team, a real team, not just people that are thrown together, but a team that has grown together, to pass up again. So I for sure would love to be back in this situation in four years.The big question is the status of Krikorian, who said he wasnt sure if he would continue with the national team. Krikorians brother, Blake, died right before the start of the Olympics, starting an emotional time for the former UCLA coach, culminating with the victory in the final.Krikorian is beloved by his players, who rallied to his side when he returned to Rio after going home to spend time with his family, and his departure could alter the trajectory of the program.I love coaching. I love this team, Krikorian said. I love having an impact on young people. I love leading. That doesnt mean that this is what Im going to do the rest of my life. I think I need to figure that out. I think its always good to keep your options open and see what else is out there.---Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Oilers Jerseys China . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Oilers Jerseys 2020 . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. Edmonton Oilers Shirts . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Edmonton Oilers Gear . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2.Andy Murray says he will stay at an apartment with the British tennis team and not in the Olympic Village in Rio during the Games this summer. The defending champion stayed in the athletes village in Beijing in 2008 but opted against that in London four years later where he won gold in the singles tournament and silver in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson. Andy Murray says the conditions and shots produced by Radek Stepanek made his win over the Czech at the Madrid Masters very tough While he enjoyed the experience of mingling with athletes from other sports in China, the world No 2 says the best preparation possible must come first. Im not staying in the village, he said. Im staying in an apartment with the rest of the team. Hopes are high for Great Britains athletes this summer in Brazil To be honest, when I stayed in the village in Beijing I had a great time but my tennis was pretty bad there. I did something different obviously during London and that worked out well for me.My job there is to try to prepare as best I can and win a medal for my country. I think the best way to do that is to sort of prepare like you do for other events where youre in your own space.dddddddddddd Andy Murray was taken to three sets by Radek Stepanek in Madrid The 28-year-old spent some time at the athletes village in London, even though he was not based there, with many other tennis players also staying elsewhere because the Olympic tournament was played at Wimbledon, distant from the other venues.Roger Federer had problems at the Olympic Village in 2008 because of the constant requests from other athletes for autographs and photographs, with Maria Sharapova also sought-after in London. Jamie Murray thinks his and his brothers form should bode well for the Rio Olympics Its different than what were used to, Murray added. I think thats why the players are staying outside.Rafael Nadal won gold in Beijing when he stayed at the Olympic Village and has already said he wants to enjoy the same experience in Rio, while Novak Djokovic also stayed at the village in 2008. Also See: Murray battles past Stepanek Strongest ever Queens line-up Nadal continues winning streak Murrays Masters route ' ' '