Unfortunately, the story of these Games to date is all about how bad weather (either too much rain or too much snow) and technical difficulties (malfunctioning zambonis – ice resurfacing machines) have conspired to force postponements of almost all of the signature events. And it’s a tossup whether these postponements are causing more frustration for the athletes or spectators.
What is certain, however, is that the Vancouver organizers are even more humiliated by the technical difficulties than they are frustrated by the weather. (Recall that things did not get off to a very auspicious start when technical difficulties ruined the choreographed lighting of the Olympic flame at the Opening Ceremony.)
Men’s Moguls
In any event, the highlight so far has to be Alexandre Bilodeau’s win in the Men’s Moguls on Sunday. Because this win not only gave Canada its first gold medal as host country (a real feat after not winning any gold medals in the two previous hosting gigs: Montreal 1976 and Calgary 1988); it also capped a very endearing human interest story, which featured Bilodeau speaking fondly of his older brother – who was born with cerebral palsy – as his biggest fan and greatest inspiration.
Women’s Snowboardcross
But if Bilodeau’s win represented the thrill of victory, Lindsey Jacobellis’s loss in the Women’s Snowboardcross last night represented the agony of defeat; not least because she was living out a human interest story that was almost as compelling as Bilodeau’s. Specifically, Jacobellis gained notoriety for blowing a gold medal in this event in 2006 when she tried a showboating trick just meters from the finish line and fell flat on her ass. She recovered well enough to get silver.
More importantly though, she spent the past four years proving that the gold really was hers by dominating this event at all major international competition. This is why everyone, including Jacobellis, felt certain that her redemption was finally at hand. Instead, she suffered even greater ignominy. Because, ironically, she wasn’t even trying to showboat this time when she flubbed a standard turn, lost control and ran off course. She was disqualified. And this was only the semifinal.
Perhaps there’s some consolation in the fact that Canadian Maelle Ricker went on to win, giving her country its second gold.
Men’s Downhill
On the other hand, Bode Miller (r) had even more to prove, given his failure to win a single medal in Alpine Skiing in 2006 after being favored to win five. His spectacular failure incited unbridled schadenfreude because of his notoriously cocky attitude, which made him think that he could spend as much time drinking and partying before each event as he did preparing on the slopes.
But even before his first event, the talk was of Miller certain repentance, if not his potential redemption. He exuded serenity. Then he skated to a thrilling bronze in the Men’s Downhill – finishing just nine-hundredths behind the gold medal winner and two hundredths after the silver. This made him the most decorated Alpine skier in US history. And he will undoubtedly add more medals to his haul before these Games are over.
Pairs Figure Skating
Otherwise, I enjoyed watching the Chinese husband and wife team win the Figure Skating Pairs on Monday night. This was rather like Canada finally winning gold because this was their third attempt too, coming out of retirement (at 36 and 31 respectively) for the occasion.
However, I only found out the morning after that the most dynamic pair in this event was not even featured on TV. They just happened to be a black team from France that finished 14th.
What makes this noteworthy is not just their rave performance but the fact that they were the first black pair to ever compete in this event at the Olympics. Not to mention that in a sea of white and Asian faces, it would have been inspiring for many to have seen them in prime time.
Speaking of which, featuring this French pair would have given the announcers an opening to inform the television audience that figure skating is not as lily white as it might appear, since US skater Debi Thomas (who won a bronze in 1988) and French skater Surya Bonaly (who competed in ’92, ‘94 and ’98) are pioneers in this respect.
Speedskating Men’s 1000
It is regrettable, though, that the alienation of esprit de corps, dating back to 2006, between black American Shani Davis, the defending gold medalist in Men’s 1000 Speedskating, and the rest of the mostly all-white US team (having to do, alas, with accusations of racism) has not been reconciled. I just hope that, like 2006, Davis can vindicate his antic disposition by winning gold for the US again.
Men’s Snowboardcross
The only other result of note so far is Seth Westcott winning gold in the Men’s Snowcross to become the first American athlete to win consecutive gold medals in the same event since speed skater Bonnie Blair did over a decade ago.
Apolo Anton Ohno
Which brings me Apolo Anton Ohno; because he’s running a dead heat with Lindsey Vonn as the most talked about athlete at these Games. But unlike like Vonn – who has yet to compete, Ohno has already won a silver medal in the Men’s 1500, making him the most decorated Winter Olympian in history – along with the aforementioned Blair.
Never mind that he only won it because two Korean skaters ran into each other just meters from the finish line, ruining a chance for a clean sweep and allowing Ohno and his teammate to skate on by. Frankly, his most impressive feat this year might be the fact that he showed up at a competitive 145 pounds, after competing at 165 in 2006.
Of course, this might have more to do with the training he did for his winning performance on Dancing with the Stars than with any training for these Olympics. But it’s an indication of how formidable a challenge it will be for him to medal in his remaining four events that he failed to even place in the Men’s 500, which he won in 2006.
Cross Country, Ski Jumping and other sports
To be fair, I have thoroughly enjoyed what little I’ve seen of Cross Country, Ski Jumping, and other sports (though not including Curling; for calling this an Olympic sport is rather like calling Karaoke a fine art). But since I know little about them, and even less about the athletes who compete in them, I have only two comments to make:
1. Apropos Curling, instead of glorifying the fact that a six-month pregnant woman is competing, commentators should stress what an insult her participation is, not only to the spirit of Olympic competition but also to all other Olympic athletes who must get their bodies into top physical shape just to qualify for the Olympics.
- 2. You’d think having virtually no other sportsbesides ice skiing and skating would make Scandinaviansthe superstars of these Winter Games. Yet they are being dominated not only by the Americans, Germans, and French, but even by the South Koreans. Go figure….)
I am really looking forward to all of the alpine events (especially the Women’s Downhill, featuring Lindsey Vonn); women’s figure skating; and all of the remaining speed skating and snowboarding events (especially tonight’s halfpipe featuring Shaun White).
Dead Georgian Luger
With all due respect to the Georgian Luger who lost his life on Saturday, I think the announcers should observe a moratorium on any further references to him. For it’s bad enough that organizers have sissified the men’s Luge course (by moving the start down to the women’s level to make it easier), but it’s just unfair to all of the other Olympic athletes to make his death the running theme of these Games.
NOTE: Much has been made of the fact that these postponements have given Vonn extra time to rehab her bruised shin. But this also means that she will now have far less time to recover between races once her first of five events begins later today. So let’s hope the “bumpy” course does not aggravate that shin too much.
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Let the Games begin…
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