Snowboarding - Women's Snowboard Cross:
- I wonder what it is like to have so much media attention centered on a "small" mistake you made four years ago. A lot can change in four years including your competitors abilities so why are you expected to win the gold and anything else is considered a failure? Gotta say I love the way Lindsey Jacobellis handled the media with a true laid back snowboarder attitude! The silver she got in Torino was NOT a failure and a 5th place finish in Vancouver is not either. I would have loved to see her win, like the media, but that's the nature of the sport and competing in the Olympics period is an accomplishment! I'm definitely a Lindsey fan.
- Yay for Canada getting their second gold at a home Olympics, maybe now they'll stop talking about how it's never been done before. It's only a few days in so maybe they can make up for others they never earned in the past.
- I used to think if I ever got to compete in the Olympics, I would want to do figure skating or gymnastics. Now that I know how hard those sports are and my own physical limitations/capabilities, I think it would be fun to be a snowboardcrosser...is that a word?!?
Figure Skating - Men's Short Program:
- Definitely one of my top most anticipated Olympic events. For the first time, I'm more excited for the men's and ice dance over women's and pairs. I'm sure this largely has to do with the talents of the U.S. athletes but I'm finding it's also because I enjoy those performances more.
- The men seem to have less falls (especially on quads) these days and are more artistic and entertaining to watch than they used to be. Quads are cool but when there are so many falls attempting them, they are not so cool to watch.
- There were so many champions (National, Olympic, World, European, etc) competing, it was hard to guess who might come out on top. But, I knew it would come down to whoever could stay on their feet and skate clean with very minimal mistakes.
- Thoughts on stand out athlete performances: I'm not a big fan of the skating style and look of the last Olympic champ from Russia, Evgeny Plushenko but the dude can skate, or at least, jump well. The Japanese men have a unique presentation I like and serious talent. The Brazilian born French skater (can't remember his name now) is still an up and comer but really enjoyed his unusual skating style. I was disappointed the super talented U.S. champ Jeremy Abbott wasn't able to skate a clean program (no falls but popped jumps) but I very much enjoy following his positive outlook on twitter. American Johnny Weir never fails to entertain and was glad he skated so well! Perhaps my favorite skater, Evan Lysacek, lived the Olympic short program I'm sure any athlete dreams and hopes to have. So fun and exciting to watch hard work pay off like that. Keeping my fingers crossed for him in the long program!
Short & Long Track Speed Skating - Men's Long 1000m Finals, Men's Short 1000m Qualifications, Men's Short 5000m Relay Qualifications:
- Another repeat Olympic gold medalist and another American gold in the men's long track 1000m. Yay!
- Apolo Ohno was back to qualify for the 1000m (and 5000m relay). He's so fun to watch because he's so good at the sport. But, I get so nervous watching because I so want him to do well haha! Bronze medalist in the 1500m from a few days ago and fellow American JR Celski also qualified.
- The relay looked a bit like mass confusion at first but was intriguing to watch. Each athlete of the three person teams go a lap and a half before switching off. So, there is a continuous chaotic motion as teammates try to keep pace to be ready for the switch.
- South Koreans are definitely strong speed skating competitors. There were 4 countries attempting to qualify for 2 spots in the relay. One country wiped out and took another country down with it effectively taking them both out of the competition. So, the U.S. and South Korea qualified without a problem and with less pressure. However, speed skating has a ton of rules that attempt to make it as fair as possible I imagine and probably to prevent it from becoming a demolition derby so the country that got taken down by no fault of its own received an advance and qualified as well.
- Looking forward to seeing the final for the relay event, well, the 1000m too.
Alpine Skiing - Women's Downhill:
- Lindsey Vonn FTW! So much hype and talk of her injury leading up to this event it was again so fun to see someone live up to their potential and accomplish their goal. So impressed by what she went through and was able to do.
- Major props to fellow American Julia Mancuso for claiming silver. Go USA!
- It's scary when skiers crash going around 70mph down an icy course! Thankfully none were seriously injured.
- What I've learned about following a racing line in motorsports has a very interesting parallel in several winter sports including downhill and snowboardcross. Apexing is important but not done as often as you would think.
Snowboarding - Men's Half Pipe:
- Shaun White...he has some serious skills!! It's one thing to win by putting the competition to shame but to do it so obviously even to inexperienced viewers is really amazing! He does crazy hard tricks and makes them look easy but what I liked best was the massive height he is able to achieve. Oh and it's really crazy that Red Bull has built him his own private half pipe to train on!
- Another double medal event for the U.S. and not who I expected to get the second medal but it was well deserved! The U.S. is definitely the best country in this event but it's good to see other countries do well too.
- I had high hopes for former Dancing with the Stars competitor, Louie Vito, earning a medal but it wasn't meant to be but 5th is nothing to be ashamed of for sure! I thought he did a great job but wasn't scored as high as I thought he should be but what do I know about scoring in snowboard half pipe!
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