. >> reporter: travis stevens has been to 3 olympic ga never medaled up until rio. he told me he was approaching these games differently t. appears to have paid off. travis stevens is no stranger to the olympics. the 30 year old has competed in the past 2 games for team usa learning more about himself every time. >> i feel more confident heading into this olympics than i have for any 1. sites in london. >> man, that is never going to leave me. imagine 80% of your life working towards a goal to not only fail, but to feel like it was taken from you. that was one of the hardest things in life i've ever had to go through. >> reporter: there was a silver lining. inspired stevens to find a new balance in his life. making judo and his >> the balance out of sport and in sport was so important going into this one. even if we fail for this one i still have my balance. so not all of my happiness is weighed on just my sport. >> reporter: it's a mindset that served him well. stevens jumped into the olympic medal mix after taking home gold competition. >> that was a complete mista

. >> anchor: travis stevens who trains for judo in wakefield has been to threelics games but had never medal up until rio. before we came out to brazil he told me he was approaching these games differently and it appears to have paid off. travis stevens is no stranger to the olympics. the 30-year-old has competed in the past two games for team u.s.a. learning more about himself every time. >>> i feel more confident heading into this olympics than stephen had his sight set on podium in london. instead, he finned fifth. a loss that still haunts him. >>> that is never going to leave me. imagine 80% of your life working toward a goal to not only fail but to feel like it was taken from you. that was one of the hardest things in life i have ever had to go through. >> anchor: but there was a silver lining. the defeated stevens defined a new balance not only judo but his personal life a priority. >>> the balance out of sport and in sport was so important going into this one because even if we fail for this one, i still have my balance so not all of my happiness is weighed on just my sport. >>

travis stevens. >> determined than ever, and it paid off, he won the silver in judo. hats off time. here's 7's nancy chen. >> nancy: travis stevens that trains for judo in wakefield has been to three olympic games but never medaled until rio. before we came to brazil he said he was approaching these games differently, and it appears to have paid off. the 30-year-old has been competed in the past two games for team usa learning more about himself every time. >> i feel more confident heading into this olympics than i have for any other one. >> nancy: after coming in 9th in 2008, stevens had his sights set on the podium in london. instead he finished 5th, a loss that still haunts him. >> that will never leave me. imagine 80% of your life working towards a goal to not only fail, from you. that was one of the hardest things in life i've ever had to go through. >> there was a silver lining. he found a new balance in his life, making not only judo but his personal life a priority. >> the balance out of sport and in sport was so important going into this one, because even if we fail for this one, i still have my balance, so not all of sport. >> it's a mindset that served him well

travis stevens, the third time was the charm. >>> in year he won silver in the first medal in that weight division. 7's nancy chen has more. >> reporter: travis has been to three olympic games but had never medalled about he came to rio. he told me he was approaching these games differently and it appeared to payoff. travis stevens is no stranger to the olympics. the 30-year-old had competed in the last two games for team usa learning more about himself >> i feel more confident heading into this these olympics than i have for anyone. >> reporter: stephen had his sights set oned pot yu on the p. >> imagine 80% of your life working toward a goal cannot only fail, but to feel that it was taken from you. things in life i had to go through. >> reporter: but there was -- making not only judo -- >> so important going into this one, because even if we fail for this one, i still have my balance, so not all of my happiness is weighed on just my sport. >> reporter: it's a mind-set that served him well. ranked filth in the world he jumped in the medal mix taking gold add the judo asthmas ter's competition earlier this year. a big win for the washington state nati

william, who has been nursing a shoulder injury, seemed out of she showed a lack of power. the number one in the world exiting early. american travis stevens nearly missed making history in judo tuesday. no american man has ever won gold. he took the silver medal for team u.s.a. his teammate kayla harrison who trains in wakefield tweeting out, "although it's not the result you wanted. i love you. i'm proud of you, and this medal represents years of hard work and perseverance. you are now an olympic silver medalist." >> sarah: the u.s. men's rugby teams and patriots' safety nate ebner looking to stay alive. after losing to argentina on tuesday, the team beat brazil. ebner played a pivotal role in the win. he scored a try at the end of the first quarter to give the u.s. the lead. the u.s. plays top-ranked fiji in a must-win game this afternoon. the u.s. has increased its lead in theal eight silvers and nine bronze during these games. china is second with 17 medals and japan is currently third with 14. of course, 7news is your home for the summer olympic games. our own nancy chen is in rio bringing you all the latest results. you can catch he

has been nursing a shoulder injury, seems out of sorts. he match showed a lack of power. exiting early. american travis stevens barely missed making history in judo tuesday. no american man has ever won gold. he took the silver medal for team u.s.a. his teammate kayla harrison, who trains with him in wakefield, tweeting out, "although it's not the result you wanted, i love you. i'm proud of you, and this medal represents years of hard work and perseverance, travis stevens. you are now an olympic silver medalist." and there is more olympic coverage coming up, same shirt at each competition. with we'll tell you why. make sure you stay tuned for that. also ahead, michael phelps would not let that stop him. who stepped up. i'm going to send it back for you in boston. >> christa: all right. nancy. thank you so much. let's check the medal count, shall we. team u.s.a. is in the lead. a total of 26 medals so far. they brought home nine gold, eight silver, nine bronze. so many of them for michael a total of 17 medals. and japan coming in third place right now with 14. >> sarah: all right. we're following more news toda

has been suspended for six months by the team. the suspension comes after she cowards after team u.s.a.'s shocking loss in rio. >> amaka: and a warm welcome for three local olympians. travis stevens, kayla harris and jenny stevens back in town after the olympic games. the olympians were greeted by family, friends and fans, all congratulating them on their big wins. >> i missed home for a while now. it's been a listening four years. so to end and the share it with all the people i love and care about is amazing. >> it's always great to come back to boston. it's home for me. coming back the that reception like this makes it even more special. >> people are saying they haven't seen me smile this much in history, as long as they've known me. i'm on top of the world right now. >> amaka: harrison says she plans on retiring from judo and >> sarah: katie ledecky showing her skills at the washington national's game. he handed her five medals off so they wouldn't hinder her pitching motion. the olympic hero says she has been practicing and it showed, firing the throw right over home plate. >> amaka: and ryan lochte could soon be going for the gold in a new gig on the dance floor. the olymp