Cortina d'Ampezzo-Milan Winter Olympics

[Samu Cuenca]

Vonn's participation always sounded like a crazy idea, but this obviously not something anyone wanted to see happen.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Vonn's participation always sounded like a crazy idea, but this obviously not something anyone wanted to see happen.

I had confused Vonn with Shiffrin because I don't follow alpine very much, Shiffrin is of course much younger. So at 41 these were to be Vonn's final Olympics and she apparently did still pretty well earlier even with a partial knee replacement and a torn ACL, so yeah, this kind of ending to a brilliant career is kinda sad to see.

Here's the podium for the ladies who did finish the downhill and did so in a splendid fashion.

1	USA	B. JOHNSON	6	1:36.10
2	GER	E. AICHER	10	1:36.14	+0.04
3	ITA	S. GOGGIA	15	1:36.69	+0.59

I'm happy for local girl Sofia Goggia!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

In order to distance myself from the Ocean of Love that is the Nordic skiing thread whenever Klæbo does something, I am going to discuss the biathlon mixed relay here instead.

Samuelsson has destroyed it for the Swedes. Voigt and Wierer do their usual things and keep their countries in the fight for gold.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Germany going for the magical 0+0 shooting 4th place here.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Germany going for the magical 0+0 shooting 4th place here.

Yeah, that is not impossible, although I doubt everyone else will shoot clean on the last leg.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Simon most likely has this under control, but it's not decided yet. Preuß seems to be faster than Vittozzi, but Kirkeeide will beat them both if the gap isn't too big after the last shooting.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Preuß and Kirkeeide did their best to invite other countries into the battle for bronze, while Davidová is sadly throwing away what looked to be fairly safe 5th place.

 

[KZD]

Kirkeeide and Preuß with a shocking meltdown in the last shooting. At least Germany still gets bronze.

France will likely dominate biathlon in these Olympics, in the women's races they might even do a clean sweep.

Italy with a nice silver medal but I was not impressed by Vittozzi's skiing.

 

[Brullnux]

Kirkeeide and Preuß with a shocking meltdown in the last shooting. At least Germany still gets bronze.

France will likely dominate biathlon in these Olympics, in the women's races they might even do a clean sweep.

Italy with a nice silver medal but I was not impressed by Vittozzi's skiing.

Agree with France. Jeanmonnot looks unbeatable, shooting so clean and skiing fast.

Vittozzi didn't look fast but I wonder how much of that was race management. She skied Simon speed on leg one and two and shot clean; Kirkeeide and Preuß skied Simon +10s on the middle loop and had a meltdown.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Men's 5000m speed skating now on, oooof, looks like a grueling distance. And last pair to go with Eitrem in the hot seat, can he hold on to the top spot?

Edit: not a chance Eitrem's gold was in danger, and also congrats to the young man on setting a new Olympic record!

 

[Sciatic]

Vonn's participation always sounded like a crazy idea, but this obviously not something anyone wanted to see happen.

I'm sorry she did go--this is a tough course that I don't believe she would have won on--because she just doesn't have the reps in recent years to be as sharp--even without the knee injury. The crash was also a big disadvantage for Goggia, who was already in the start house and had to wait probably 20 minutes, which also meant the snow softened up a bit in the sun. However, Johnson had a great run and would have been hard to beat.

What incredible scenery!

 

[Sciatic]

Was strange to watch the moments after the Andorran skier crashed on the 1st big jump and was then crumpled in a heap on the course, the first two assist/support skiers to reach her then skied away from her. I'm sure they saw that the snow cat would be there in 20 seconds or whatever, but it was very strange to see them leave her lying there on her own.

 

[KZD]

Men's 5000m speed skating now on, oooof, looks like a grueling distance. And last pair to go with Eitrem in the hot seat, can he hold on to the top spot?

Edit: not a chance Eitrem's gold was in danger, and also congrats to the young man on setting a new Olympic record!

I barely watch speed skating but was impressed with this young Norwegian. He reminded me of Sven Kramer.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Was strange to watch the moments after the Andorran skier crashed on the 1st big jump and was then crumpled in a heap on the course, the first two assist/support skiers to reach her then skied away from her. I'm sure they saw that the snow cat would be there in 20 seconds or whatever, but it was very strange to see them leave her lying there on her own.

I couldn't stand to watch another bad crash so didn't see this, but I'm trying to look up how Cande Moreno is faring after the crash and every headline and article talks about Vonn. I don't even want to watch the NBC evening coverage cause all they'll be talking about is Vonn as well, it's tiresome.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I barely watch speed skating but was impressed with this young Norwegian. He reminded me of Sven Kramer.

Omg, there's a blast from the past, I remember enjoying Kramer skate and win what seems like eons ago. Can Eitrem be another Kramer? Stay tuned!

 

[Sciatic]

I'm trying to look up how Cande Moreno is faring after her crash but every headline and article talks about Vonn. I don't even want to watch the NBC evening coverage cause all they'll be talking about is Vonn as well, it's tiresome.

Ever since I set up a VPN I stopped watching the Olympics on NBC. This Olympics I'm watching Swiss, Spanish, and Canadian broadcasts.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Ever since I set up a VPN I stopped watching the Olympics on NBC. This Olympics I'm watching Swiss, Spanish, and Canadian broadcasts.

I hadn't thought of that cause I've been watching live on Peacock, but good call!

 

[Sciatic]

Omg, there's a blast from the past, I remember enjoying Kramer skate and win what seems like eons ago. Can Eitrem be another Kramer? Stay tuned!

Fun fact: I was at the 10,000 meter final during the Vancouver Olympics when Kramer won in WR time and then was disqualified for skating in the wrong lane (due to his coach). The skating arena held I think 7,000 people, and the 6,950 who were wearing orange were stunned.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I'm sorry she did go--this is a tough course that I don't believe she would have won on--because she just doesn't have the reps in recent years to be as sharp--even without the knee injury. The crash was also a big disadvantage for Goggia, who was already in the start house and had to wait probably 20 minutes, which also meant the snow softened up a bit in the sun. However, Johnson had a great run and would have been hard to beat.

What incredible scenery!

It just seemed like too much hubris and Hollywood, especially with the whole injury story, which in retrospect now leaves it with, either she wasn't as hurt as they say, in which case it's lying for the sake of mythologising if she wins and an easy excuse if she doesn't succeed, or she was as hurt as they say, in which case she had no business being out there and could have avoided a horrible accident.

I mean, after all, all the pre race hype was about Vonn, and most of the post race fallout has been about her crash too. Breezy Johnson has been reduced to a footnote in her finest hour both before, during and now after the race and that's really not fair.

 

[Sciatic]

Germany going for the magical 0+0 shooting 4th place here.

It was shaping up to be a great 3-way battle for silver and bronze, but both the German and Norwegian anchors shot their way out of any chance at silver. Fun race to watch. And loved the big crowd there--that's what seemed missing from both alpine events.

 

[Sciatic]

Yeah, that is not impossible, although I doubt everyone else will shoot clean on the last leg.

That was definitely true!

 

[Sciatic]

Simon most likely has this under control, but it's not decided yet. Preuß seems to be faster than Vittozzi, but Kirkeeide will beat them both if the gap isn't too big after the last shooting.

Simon not only shot clean but seemed like the fastest (at shooting) as well.

 

[Sciatic]

It just seemed like too much hubris and Hollywood, especially with the whole injury story, which in retrospect now leaves it with, either she wasn't as hurt as they say, in which case it's lying for the sake of mythologising if she wins and an easy excuse if she doesn't succeed, or she was as hurt as they say, in which case she had no business being out there and could have avoided a horrible accident.

I mean, after all, all the pre race hype was about Vonn, and most of the post race fallout has been about her crash too. Breezy Johnson has been reduced to a footnote in her finest hour both before, during and now after the race and that's really not fair.

Completely agree. I tend to think she really was hurt and was silly or stubborn. I don't want to be conspiratorial, but I wonder if there were cash bonuses just for competing (like in Diamond League Athletics meets) regardless of winning?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Breezy Johnson has been reduced to a footnote in her finest hour both before, during and now after the race and that's really not fair.

So much THIS!

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It was shaping up to be a great 3-way battle for silver and bronze, but both the German and Norwegian anchors shot their way out of any chance at silver. Fun race to watch. And loved the big crowd there--that's what seemed missing from both alpine events.

Antholz has the biggest audience capacity of all the venues at these Games apparently. And the Germans will always pile in to any venue within a few hours of their borders for some ski-shooting, before you get to the number of travellers for the Olympics.