At the Olympic and Paralympic Games, U.S. medalists have the opportunity to reward their coaches with a medal of their own: the Order of the Ikkos. And it is supposed to represent the countless hours a coach provides to guide the athlete to the medal stand.
Truth be told, nothing can truly symbolize what the coach-athlete relationship can mean.
In celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, TeamUSA.org collected some stories from athletes who wanted to give thanks to their coaches for all they have done for them in their careers.
NASTIA LIUKIN, Olympic gold medalist gymnast
There are very few athletes who can follow in their parents' athletic footsteps, and even fewer can be coached by their parents to the elite level. In the case of Nastia Liukin, it was even more intense. Her father, Valeri, is one of the most decorated gymnasts from the Soviet Union, having won four Olympic medals (two
