Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Daily Olympic Reviews, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Olympics, Snowboarding, Sochi 2014, Speed Skating

February 16th – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review

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The US grabbed just two medals on Sunday but it was what they did to set themselves up for medal wins later on that was huge in bobsleigh, figure skating, and ice hockey.

Alpine Skiing

Events:

  • *Men’s Super-G

The first American to go was Ted Ligety who had a time of 1:19.48 and finished 14th. Bode Miller was next to go and after a very aggressive and quick run he’d head to the top for a while with a 1:18.67. The next few skiers came within a tenth of a second before Miller was eventually passed and tied. He would wind up with a bronze medal when he tied for third. Travis Ganong was the next American to go and he finished in 1:20.02 and was 23rd. The final chance for the US was Andrew Weibrecht who put together a great run of 1:18.44 and won the silver medal! A 2-3 finish for the US!

Results Summarized:

  • Travis Ganong – Finished 23rd with a time of 1:20.02.
  • Ted Ligety – Finished 14th with a time of 1:19.48.
  • Bode Miller – Finished tied for 3rd with a time of 1:18.67 and won a bronze medal.
  • Andrew Weibrecht – Finished 2nd with a time of 1:18.44 and won the silver medal.

Biathlon

Events:

  • *Men’s mass-start 15 km

The men’s 15km mass-start had to be rescheduled after fog caused it to be delayed. It will now be held Monday at 1 AM ET.

Bobsleigh

Events:

  • Two-man Heat 1
  • Two-man Heat 2

The first team to go for the US was that of Steven Holcomb and Steven Langton. They finished in 56.34 to go second after the first heat. Next up was Cory Butner and Christopher Fogt who ended up right behind them in third at 56.45. The final US team, Nick Cunningham and Dallas Robinson were off the pace and finished 12th in 56.73.

In heat two Cunningham and Robinson were slower at 57.07, 15th fastest for the heat, and they now are in 13th in 1:53.80. They trail the leaders by 0.98 seconds. Butner and Fogt had some issues and their run of 57.11 was just 16th fastest and they fell all the way to 11th overall with a time of 1:53.56, now 0.74 seconds off the lead. Holcomb and Langton did not slide as far, though they were only the eight fastest in the heat, with a time of 56.84. They are now in third with a time of 1:53.18 and 0.36 seconds off the leader.

Results Summarized:

  • Steven Holcomb and Steven Langton – Are in 3rd at 1:53.18 and trailing the leader by 0.36 seconds. In heat one was second fastest with a 56.34. In heat two was 8th fastest with a 56.84.
  • Cory Butner and Christopher Fogt – Are in 11th at 1:53.56 and trailing the leader by 0.74 seconds. In heat one was third fastest with a 56.45. In heat two was 16th fastest with a 57.11.
  • Nick Cunningham and Dallas Robinson – Are in 13th at 1:53.80 and trailing the leader by 0.98 seconds. In heat one was 12th fastest with a 56.73. In heat two was 15th fastest with a 57.07.

Cross-Country Skiing

Events:

  • *Men’s Relay 4x10km

The US leadoff with Andrew Newell going 24:34.3 and Erik Bjornsen going 23:56.8 in the classic style. In the free style Noah Hoffman went 21:37.4 and Simeon Hamilton finished in 23:06.6.

Results Summarized:

  • US Team – Finished 11th in 1:33:15.1. Was at 24:34.3 after first leg (15th), 48:31.1 after leg two (13th), 1:10:08.5 after leg three (10th).

Curling

Events:

  • Men’s Round Robin – USA vs. Canada
  • Women’s Round Robin – USA vs. Canada
  • Men’s Round Robin – USA vs. Sweden

The US men needed to beat Canada and Sweden on Sunday to have a shot at the playoff round. That shot was gone after the first game as Canada scored two in the ninth to take a 7-6 lead and then stole one in the 10th as the US stone came up just short to make the final margin 8-6. The loss officially eliminated the US.

[table]Teams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Total
United States, 0, 0, 2, 2, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 6
Canada, 2, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 2, 1, 8[/table]

The US women were already eliminated when they faced Canada but the last place Americans sure gave the undefeated first place Canadians a battle. The US was able to steal one in the 10th to force it into an 11th end but Canada’s last shot beat the US and gave them a 7-6 win. The US is now 1-7 and faces Korea to end the Olympics at 12 AM ET on Monday.

[table]Teams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, Total
United States, 0, 0, 3, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 6
Canada, 2, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 7[/table]

The US men was already eliminated when they faced Sweden but did give the first place Swedes a run for their money before going behind and not being able to recover late. The US lost 6-4 and is down to one game in Sochi, a 5 AM ET game that pits them against Switzerland who is also 2-6.

[table]Teams, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Total
United States, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, X, 4
Sweden, 0, 3, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, X, 6[/table]

Results Summarized:

  • US Men – Lost to Canada 8-6 and Sweden 6-4. Eliminated from playoff contention. Faces Switzerland at 5 AM ET Monday.
  • US Women – Lost to Canada 7-6 in 11 ends. Face Korea at 12 AM ET Monday.

Figure Skating

Events:

  • Ice dance short dance

The first US skaters up were Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani. The Shibutanis ended the short dance in ninth with a 64.47. Madison Chock and Evan Bates went right behind them and just narrowly edged past them with a 65.46, good for eighth place.

The final American to go were medal contenders Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Davis and White put on a fantastic show and sit in top after the short program with a score of 78.99

  • Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani –  In the short dance cored a 64.47, 9th best.
  • Madison Chock and Evan Bates – In the short dance scored a 65.46, 8th best.
  • Meryl Davis and Charlie White – Won the short dance with a 78.99.

Ice Hockey

Events:

  • Men’s Preliminary Round – Group A – USA vs. Slovenia

The US needed a win over Slovenia to win Group A and we knew early on that seemed likely. Phil Kessel scored twice in the first five minutes before adding a third in the second period. Ryan McDonagh and David Backes also scored for the US. Assists on the day to Joe Pavelski (three), James van Riemsdyk, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan, Blake Wheeler, and Brooks Orpik. Ryan Miller had 17 saves after getting the start in goal.

Results Summarized:

  • USA Men – Beat Slovenia 5-1 and won Group A. Face the winner of the Czech Republic and Slovakia on Wednesday.

Snowboarding

Events:

  • Women’s Snowboard Cross Seeding
  • Women’s Snowboard Cross Quarterfinals
  • Women’s Snowboard Cross Semifinals
  • *Women’s Snowboard Cross Finals

In the seeding round Faye Gulini put up a time of 1:23.96 and was seeded ninth and Lindsay Jacobellis went 1:21.40 and was seeded second. The final American, Jacqueline Hernandez took a spill on a landing and smacked her head against the slope. She was knocked out and after regaining consciousness was carted off the course.

In the quarterfinals Gulini advanced in third from the first heat while Jacobellis won the fourth heat to advance to the semifinals. Gulini again finished third in the semifinal’s first heat to advance to the final while Jacobellis fell on the final turn while all alone in the lead. She finished sixth and advanced to the small final but her medal hopes were gone.

In the small final Jacobellis showed what should have been with a great run to finish seventh overall. In the main final Gulini came from the back to get into the top four after a final turn crash but she couldn’t pass in to third so she finished in fourth.

Results Summarized:

  • Jacqueline Hernandez – Crashed on her seeding run and wasn’t able to continue.
  • Lindsey Jacobellis – Finished seeding run in 1:21.40 to be seeded second. Won her quarterfinal heat and was leading semifinal heat in final turn before crashing and finishing sixth. Won the small final to finish seventh overall.
  • Faye Gulini – Finished seeding run in 1:23.96 and was seeded ninth. Was third in her quarterfinal heat and third in her semifinal heat to make it to the final. Came in fourth in the final.

Speed Skating

Events:

  • Women’s 1500m

The first American to go was Jilleanne Rookard who finished in 1:59.15 and was the low American in 18th. Heather Richardson went next and was the top American as her 1:57.60 was good enough for seventh. Finally Brittany Bowe put up a time of 1:58.31 and finished 14th.

Results Summarized:

  • Jilleanne Rookard – Finished 18th in 1:59.15.
  • Brittany Bowe – Finished 14th in 1:58.31.
  • Heather Richardson – Finished 7th in 1:57.60.

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