A distracted Lewis Hamilton used the Japanese Grand Prix press conference to brush off controversy around his Malaysia retirement and reiterate his belief in Mercedes.Hamilton retired from the lead in Sepang when his engine blew 16 laps from the finish, leaving him 23 points behind teammate Nico Rosberg in the title fight. The retirement was Hamiltons third major engine problem of the season and the Britons initial quotes -- someone doesnt want me to win-- caused controversy after the race. He later clarified he had been referring to God.Though it was a key topic of discussion Thursdays press conference in Suzuka Hamilton, who spent much of the session playing with his phone, brushed off the questions about his failure.Ive not been thinking about the last race, he said. Usually when I leave a race I think about a lot of other things going on. I was in Tokyo enjoying my time, it is one of my three favourite cities in the world. [In Sepang] It was good [before the failure], I was happy with it and hope I can continue like that here.Hamilton did not feel the need to speak about the engine failure having addressed the conspiracy theories and outlining his belief in Mercedes on his social media channels in the days since.You can go on my Instagram, Ive put all my feelings on there. They [fans] have the right to their own opinions but as youve seen from my post you see how passionate I am about this team and my guys.One point of note was the world champions Facebook page, which has featured several posts about his team (see one example below) in recent days.?When asked why he and his social media team had chosen this week to share those posts, he said: I had been planning it for a while as we had been building it up for a couple of weeks. It turned out to be the perfect time to do it...Having spent a long time between questions looking at his phone Hamilton -- who posted a Snapchat of himself as a rabbit surrounded by carrots, while sitting in the press conference with the caption This s--- is killing me -- the world champion said he was just trying to pass the time.After a journalist asked what he was doing on his phone, he replied: Huh? Oh, just some funny snaps of us drivers. Hey man, weve been doing this a long, long time and it is the same thing each time so youve got to keep adding new things to it.Custom Nike Tampa Bay Rays Jerseys . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Cheap Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. https://www.customnikebaseballjerseys.com/111n-custom-nike-new-york-yankees-jerseys-baseball.html . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys Online . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Custom Nike Chicago Cubs Jerseys .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend.As a young gymnast growing up in Oklahoma in the 1980s, I had one idol: Mary Lou Retton, who vaulted her way to victory at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Mary Lou was peppy, compact and full of explosive power. As a gymnast I was nothing like her. All the same, I was determined to carry on her legacy: to go out and achieve excellence at every single competition, no matter what the circumstances.Mary Lous accomplishments followed me and my future Olympic teammates to dream throughout our childhoods, and they accompanied us as we marched into the Georgia Dome for our own Olympic moment when we won gold in July of 1996.Fast forward 20 years, and the Final Five -- Simone Biles, Aly Raisman, Gabrielle Douglas, Madison Kocian and Laurie Hernandez -- are the undisputed queens of gymnastics. You cant really compare the victories: My teammates and I won Olympic gold by eight-tenths of a point in a close duel with the Russians. The Final Five stormed the Rio Olympic Arena and landed eight whole points above the nearest competition (still Russia). They are that good.No one word does this team justice, but when I think about it I keep coming back to the word strong. All gymnasts are physically strong, and behind every flawless routine is half a lifetime of work. But the mental strength displayed by these five young women surpasses age, natural talent, and even the assurance that springs from outstanding past results.It was an open secret that the American women were going to win the team gold medal in Rio, barring a stranger-than-fiction catastrophe. It was so clear they were the best that they didnt even need to do everything they were capable of to lock down that medal. They could have chosen to simplify their routines. To play it safe. To protect the gold. They could have accepted winning by seven points, or six, or five -- and it still wwould have been glorious.ddddddddddddBut they refused to go easy. They gave everything they had, performing to the maximum of their abilities. And they executed flawlessly, turning in the most dominant performance of any womens gymnastics team ever.We say its easier to be the hunter than the hunted. I always felt it was simpler to be the underdog, because when there are no expectations, whatever you do is going to be great. But when youre the team thats supposed to win -- when youve been splashed across the media and everyone is saying that you cant possibly lose this -- it can throw you off balance. What I love about the Final Five is that each of these young women was actually able to thrive on that pressure. They understood that they were walking in as the best and they were determined to maintain that. To be able to cross the finish line, to fight for every tenth of a point as though everything were riding on it, is as hard as most of the gymnastics they did so well in Rio.What better example could be set for all the little girls who were glued to their TV or computer screens watching them this summer? What more could we ask for in role models for our daughters, the next generation of Simones, Alys, Gabbys, Madisons and Lauries?More on the Final Five? They are the greatest! U.S. are best womens gymnastics team ever?Story ?? Simone Biles and Final Five meet Zac Efron?Story ?? The Final Five gymnasts play Hungry Hungry Humans with Jimmy Fallon?Story ?? 9 stunning photos of the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team?Photo gallery ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. ' ' '