Highlighting UCLA's biggest moments at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The Olympics represent a chance to succeed or fail on the largest platform possible.
But even failure, defeat and disappointment come with the comfort of making it to the Games in the first place.
There were 50 current or former UCLA coaches, athletes and advisors who went to Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. 21 came back with medals across eight sports, and even more made headlines across the 16 days of the Games.
While some Bruins were able to have gold placed around their necks, not every match, game or rotation had a storybook ending. From injuries and question marks to comebacks, blowouts and surprises, here are the moments that sparked the most UCLA-centric conversations at this year's Olympics.
July 26: Danusia Francis powers through injury
Francis had been away from UCLA gymnastics for five years. At the London 2012 Olympics, she represented the United Kingdom as an alternate.
A long journey since then led to Francis suiting up for Jamaica this time around, with one last chance to compete as an Olympian.
Two days before her long-awaited debut, however, Francis tore her ACL. As a result, she withdrew from the balance beam, vault and floor exercise, seemingly ending her Olympic dream before it even started.
Francis decided to compete on the uneven bars in the opening days of competition though. Despite the fact she only spent a few second up on the lower bar before slowly returning to the ground nursing her injury, she still gets to leave Japan as a true Olympian.
July 27: Jordan Chiles fills in for the GOAT
Simone Biles came into these Games with a chance to become the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, with all the hype and praise that comes along with that.
So when Biles pulled out of the all-around team finals after struggling with "the twisties" and mental health, someone had to take her place to keep Team USA afloat.
Chiles, an incoming UCLA freshman, was only scheduled to compete on floor and vault. With Biles missing, however, Chiles wound up competing in all four disciplines.
Her 14.666 score on vault was expected considering it was one of her top events, but it was Chiles' 14.166 on bars that kept Team USA in podium contention. Even with Chiles posting an 11.700 on floor, her most well-regarded discipline, the Americans salvaged silver without their superstar world champion.
Chiles returned to the States as an Olympic icon, riding her team performance into worldwide praise and lifelong bonds with her teammates.
And the silver medal isn't too bad of a prize, either.
July 31: Confusion surrounds Sarah Sponcil's defeat
UCLA beach volleyball alumna Sarah Sponcil and her USC partner Kelly Claes were riding high midway though the round of 16.
After winning the first set and leading the second 10-4, though, the American pair faltered and found itself trailing Canada 12-11 in the deciding third set. Sponcil had a serve get called out, but after a challenge, it was signaled as in.
Canada counter-challenged, though, and the judge realized there was error from the scoreboard operator and the ball was actually ruled out.
The explanation didn't stop people from complaining online. All over the internet, fans and media members were crying out how the close call and ensuing confusion cost Sponcil and Claes a spot in the quarterfinals.
In terms of the United States' final gold medal count, it didn't wind up making a difference, since the country's top pair – April Ross and Alix Klineman – came out on top
Aug. 2: Team USA upset by Jessie Fleming's clutch gene
Fleming had more than one key penalty kick throughout the Olympic tournament.
The former UCLA women's soccer midfielder had four, actually, with the one coming in the second half of Canada's semifinal match against Team USA standing out as the most memorable.
Canada drew a foul in the box in the 72nd minute. After it was confirmed by VAR, Fleming stepped up with a chance to put her team up by one in what had been a scoreless game up to that point.
Fleming drove it to her right, and the Americans' backup goalie was unable to turn it away despite guessing the side correctly.
Her game-tying penalty kick in the gold medal match against Sweden was also integral to Canada's pursuit for the top spot of the podium, as was her converted PK following extra time of that same game.
But by slaying the giant that was Team USA and doing so in a high-stakes solo moment, Fleming became an Olympic legend in the process.
Aug. 5: Angela Dugalic makes delayed Olympic debut
The incoming Oregon transfer did not appear on the court for Serbia in any of the women's basketball team's first four games at the Olympics.
And then, facing their toughest opponent yet, Serbia tossed the new Bruin straight into the fire against Team USA.
Dugalic came off the bench and played the third most minutes on the team and shot 2-for-10. Poor shooting performance aside, Dugalic proved her place on the Olympic stage by leading Serbia with 10 rebounds and both teams with four offensive boards, in addition to a team-high two steals.
Dugalic also posted a +3 plus-minus in a game her team lost by 20 points.
In the bronze medal game against France, Dugalic got some more playing time and converted it into two points and a rebound.
UCLA will welcome their new big to campus this fall, riding high after an Olympic debut that came maybe four games after it should have.
Aug. 6: Jrue Holiday, Zach LaVine celebrate gold
Team USA was the favorite to win gold the second it stepped on the court, even without stars LeBron James, Chris Paul, James Harden or Stephen Curry suiting up in red, white and blue this time around.
The lack of All-NBA talent raised questions about Team USA, especially after it lost two exhibitions in July, but that opened up spots for fresh faces and more hard-nosed players like Zach LaVine and Jrue Holiday.
The pair of UCLA men's basketball alumni were both on the court when Team USA lost its opening game to France. They also both got a shot at revenge in the gold medal game.
Heading into that final matchup, the two ranked third and sixth on the team in points per game, combining for 22.6 points a night on 53.2% shooting from the field, 45.9% from 3 and 80% from the free throw line. They were also the two leading assisters on Team USA.
Holiday helped the Americans keep it close against the French in the first half, and he played a key role in creating separation early in the second. LaVine was the one who seemingly put the game out of reach in the third quarter, but France stayed close until the waning moments.
Holiday's defense and rebounding helped the United States close things out, and he also tied for third on the team with 11 points.
Team USA had secured gold for the fourth-straight Olympics, and LaVine threw down a flashy slam after the final buzzer sounded to cap it all off.
Aug. 7: Goals galore for Maddie Musselman
Maddie Musselman was one of Team USA's best players throughout most of the women's water polo tournament.
She turned it up a notch in the semifinals and gold medal match, and that earned her Olympic MVP.
Musselman scored five goals to beat the Russian Olympic Committee in the semifinals, and she once against led Team USA with a hat trick in a blowout win over Spain that secured them the gold medal.
There were two former Bruins in the pool with Musselman – Rachel Fattal and Alys Williams – but neither put on the scoring tear the rising redshirt senior did with medals on the line.
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