Winter Olympics 2010, Vancouver

[Alpe d'Huez]

Huge congratulations to Bill Demong and and Johnny Spillane of the US for going 1-2 in the Nordic combined. I'm old enough to remember when "lucky" Bill Koch won a silver in the 50km and was the US only medal for what seemed to be forever. To actually go 1-2 in the NC event like this is just amazing. Hopefully these two guys put XC skiing and NC at least on the map, and I think showed to a nation (the USA) that XC skiing can be pretty exciting to watch.

 

[Anonymous]

the snow boarding comp is really a defacto comp for bongheads.

And if you have read the amount of gro-ops in Vancouver, wow. Enough to do McConaughey's head in for a millennia

You write that like it is a bad thing...

 

[Oncearunner8]

You know what, women's hockey is not good. I mean, most sports with women are fine to watch, but women's hockey is just not very good. Slow. Just not good...

I agree! It was like SLOW MO! Hard to watch even the highlights.

 

[Oncearunner8]

Huge congratulations to Bill Demong and and Johnny Spillane of the US for going 1-2 in the Nordic combined. I'm old enough to remember when "lucky" Bill Koch won a silver in the 50km and was the US only medal for what seemed to be forever. To actually go 1-2 in the NC event like this is just amazing. Hopefully these two guys put XC skiing and NC at least on the map, and I think showed to a nation (the USA) that XC skiing can be pretty exciting to watch.

NC has been on the map.... it is just north of SC!

 

[Oldman]

Cycling chose me because, of all the sports I've enjoyed; it always challenged. Just when you think you're good something kicks your **s and never says thank you. It's taught me alot about handling pressure or so I thought.
Last night's women's figure skating final was a revelation of grace and performance under pressure. Kim Nu-Ya's record breaking performance was athleticism, art and power all in one routine by a teenager and possibly the best single Olympic performance I've seen. A teenager carrying some serious national baggage in the face of a historic enemy, Japan. Let me say I don't like 99% of figure skating, only enduring it when I was young for my Mom's sake until Alpine skiing came on. I also don't care for the unusual amount of jingoistic nationalism shown by the networks or commentators.
Back to the skating: watching the performances leading up to Kim's; you definitely got the sense the judges' were playing for the camera...relegating Rachel Flatt to a score below the 2nd Japanese skater and Canada's Joannie Rochette (NBC's emotional favorite). The eventual silver medalist, Mao Asada had some minor faults and didn't look like she wanted to be there.
Cut to the men's aerials: the dude from Belarus killed it and was immediately and happily congratulated by the American that was bumped from gold medal position-they looked genuinely happy. Cut back to the womens' medal ceremony: Rochette cried opennly and genuinely, Asada looked like she was going to face a disgraced nation (barely forcing a smile) and Kim finally let some emotion out but it seemed to be tears of relief. For that brief broadcast none of the medalist's seemed to acknowledge each other and no natural teen-age jubilation was evident. I'm with several of you that suggested judged events should not be Olympic events. The pressure applied to perform and exploitation of teenage girls shouldn't be an Olympic feature.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Asada looked like she was going to face a disgraced nation (barely forcing a smile).

She landed two triple axels! And three in this Olympics! Something no woman has ever done before, ever! She made two minor errors, but her jumps were spectacular, and her artistry great. I'm not sure she skated enough to overtake Kim's perfectly clean performance, but what Asada did was amazing.

Agree on what you said on the judging otherwise. But figure skating has always had questionable judging. Still, this was better than in Beijing gymnastics two years ago which was embarrassing to the point where it had to be rigged - no other way to explain it.

Agree on women's Hockey. Only two good teams, and even then it's not that fun to watch. Men's junior league hockey is faster and more compelling.

Too many damned speed skating events, especially the short track stuff.

One too many alpine events. They could get rid of the Super G or Giant Slolam, or maybe the Combined and I'd be fine with it.

Both the board cross and ski cross were disappointing. In almost every race whomever got out of the gate first won the race.

 

[python]

norway takes gold in 7.5x4 biathlon relay !! the b-rocket finally shot well !!

Finland collapse in the 1st period with the US ??

the first one is expected, the second one is not...

 

[flyor64]

Biathlon...what an amazing sport. Utterly impressed with what they do on course. Norway just rocked it today

 

[python]

Biathlon...what an amazing sport. Utterly impressed with what they do on course. Norway just rocked it today

it is !

bjorndalen was totally phenomenal today. he's the recognized king of the sport but for some reason his shooting was sub par in this olympics. luckily he was ok today.. still two misses though)

these guys normally dont go into the red, like pure skiers, and actually rest while shooting and concentrating. i think one guy (norwegian?) is forty years old ! speed is only important to a point.

 

[eric_vv]

norway takes gold in 7.5x4 biathlon relay !! the b-rocket finally shot well !!

Finland collapse in the 1st period with the US ??

the first one is expected, the second one is not...

II was more impressed with Boe (I assume you mean Bjoerndalen) in the second leg, only 20 years old and already that good. Not a real big surprise since I saw him a couple of times in world-cup races (along with Hafsas who did crosscountry on the olympics here). But Norway certainly have some replacements ready for the old guard (or is Hanevold going to continue forever).

Bjoerndalen was good bnut he still missed 2 shots in the first round and was lucky Sumann made a mess of it.

 

[eric_vv]

. i think one guy (norwegian?) is forty years old ! speed is only important to a point.

That would be Hanevold (starting man in the relay today).

 

[python]

That would be Hanevold (starting man in the relay today).

yeah, a 20 yo and a 40 yo on the same team !

iirc, ole is getting there too - hes 36 or something but the beast is still the fastest out there and can afford missing as no one else.

 

[eric_vv]

The Netherlands didn't have a good run in the high altitude TP's, but they were 2nd in the only low altitude TP (still 1.73 behind canada but not like the 5-6 seconds at high altitude) at Thialf. I'm just saying that if anyone is going to beat Canada it will be the Netherlands and they are in far better position to do it than they were earlier in the season.

That put an end to that theory, out in the first round against Germany (impressive last lap).

On a positive note Sauerbrij (snowboard giant slalom) just guaranteed the first ever non ice medal for the Netherlands in the winterolympics by making the final. (speedskating providing the bulk and figure skating in a far past the rest).

 

[Moondance]

Sucks for the Dutch team pursuit women... I'm shocked Elma de Vries wasn't selected.

Shocking result for the Canadian women... Absolutely stunning skate from the Americans. Shame the Dutch won't be there to profit from their misfortune.

Anyway, most importantly we're gonna get a medal in snowboarding.... Snowboarding. First time since 1964 that we get a non-speed skating medal, and the first one on snow.

 

[flyor64]

That would be Hanevold (starting man in the relay today).

Yup. His last race before retirement. What a way to go out! He shot and skied great.

But have to agree...Boe was amazing. Shot great and his skiing was fantastic.

 

[Moondance]

That put an end to that theory, out in the first round against Germany (impressive last lap).

On a positive note Sauerbrij (snowboard giant slalom) just guaranteed the first ever non ice medal for the Netherlands in the winterolympics by making the final. (speedskating providing the bulk and figure skating in a far past the rest).

Yes.... I was right about the Dutch women, you were right about the Canadians. Ingrid Paul is getting fired right quick.

And great news about Sauerbreij. They're practically equal after 1 run. First non-speed skating medal since 1964 and the first ever on snow, I'm pretty sure.

 

[eric_vv]

Yes.... I was right about the Dutch women, you were right about the Canadians. Ingrid Paul is getting fired right quick.

And great news about Sauerbreij. They're practically equal after 1 run. First non-speed skating medal since 1964 and the first ever on snow, I'm pretty sure.

THe woman's competition is now Germany's to lose. 3 out of 4 races went against (my) expectation with Russia, Canada and the Netherlands all out.

Not only the first medal on snow, but could also be the 100th gold medal for the Netherlands in olympic history (both summer and winter olympics).

 

[Moondance]

THe woman's competition is now Germany's to lose. 3 out of 4 races went against (my) expectation with Russia, Canada and the Netherlands all out.

Not only the first medal on snow, but could also be the 100th gold medal for the Netherlands in olympic history (both summer and winter olympics).

Pretty much. Beckert was v. strong, and started a lot quicker than I thought she was capable of. de Vegt screwed up royally by selecting Groenewold. I was cursing at the computer this morning when I read she was getting the nod for the selection over de Vries, and that she was getting a starting place to boot. She clearly didn't have it. Time-wise the Dutch would've lost to every semi-finalist and Canada as well.

 

[pedaling squares]

Sad to see our ladies eliminated from the long track team event. But congrats to the US and German women for eliminating strong teams.

Alpe - give the poor women a break! Junior hockey (U20) players are adult men. No way can the ladies be as fast as men with twice their size and strength. And those men have played against strong competition their entire young lives. But I agree that we need to see a more competitive tournament, the sport is currently a side show until the final game or two.

 

[Moondance]

Woooohoooo... Sauerbreij is a legend. Amazing stuff.

Who says flat countries can't snowboard.

Also nice to see Maria Riesch take another gold. She finally has one over on Vonn.

 

[theyoungest]

An alpine gold for the Netherlands... never thought I'd live to see the day. Amazing.

 

[ak-zaaf]

An alpine gold for the Netherlands... never thought I'd live to see the day. Amazing.

Pigs fly. That's for sure.

/lol, speed-skaters get beaten by usa in pursuit.

it's opposite day!

 

[theyoungest]

Pigs fly. That's for sure.

/lol, speed-skaters get beaten by usa in pursuit.

it's opposite day!

As long as it's compensated for by a gold in as unlikely a discipline as snowboarding, it's fine with me.

 

[Moondance]

F@cking sh!t.... Again no team pursuit medal for the men. Now we can't even hide behind the fig leaf of having lost only because of a fall. Kramer shouldn't have gone back to push, he should've kept pulling.... Terrible, terrible, terrible. Beaten by Brian Hansen and Jonathan Kuck. Shocking. Great performance by the young American though, they started fast and never died.

 

[theyoungest]

Yes, it's a disgrace. But AFAIK we can still get a medal, the bronze one.