It may sound great the the US medaled in four separate events in alpine skiing in Sochi but when you consider that there are ten events and the US medaled in six of them in Vancouver you can see how it wasn’t a total success in Sochi. There were some bright moments in events the US hasn’t dominated in the past and one young skier in particular has the potential to be a future star. Still there was not nearly the star power of Bode Miller and Lindsey Vonn on the medal stand for the US in this Olympics.
Men’s Downhill
The men were certainly competitive in the downhill with two top eight finishes (Bode Miller eighth and Travis Ganong fifth) but medals are still elusive in this event for the US with just one in the last five Olympics.
Women’s Downhill
Without Lindsey Vonn, the defending gold medalist, the US did their best to try and win the downhill but couldn’t get anyone higher than eighth (Julia Mancuso). They did place three in the top 17 but this was only the second time since 1988 that the US didn’t have anyone in the top seven.
Men’s Super-G
The men’s super-g was a major success for the US with Andrew Weibrecht leading the way with a silver and Bode Miller right behind him grabbing the bronze. It was the second straight Olympics with a super-g medal, the first time the US has medaled in two straight over the eight Olympics it’s been contested in.
Women’s Super-G
The women’s super-g was another event where the US was solid, Julia Mancuso’s eighth place is nothing to scoff at, but wasn’t able to be among the very best. It’s the third time in the last four Olympics that the US hasn’t been able to place anyone in the top six after winning gold in both 1994 and 1998.
Men’s Combined
The men’s combined was a chance for Bode Miller to win back-to-back golds. He was the top US skier but wasn’t able to reach the top five as he finished sixth. Jared Goldberg and Ted Ligety also placed in the top 12 for the US. This was the first time since 1998 that the US didn’t medal in the event.
Women’s Combined
The US only had one of four women finish the combined event but they’ll take it after Julia Mancuso grabbed the bronze medal. Mancuso has now been the top American in four straight Olympics in the combined and her medals in Vancouver and Sochi are the first time the US had medaled in two straight Olympics.
Men’s Giant Slalom
In the men’s giant slalom the US grabbed gold as Ted Ligety stole the show on his first run and did enough on the second run to take first. It was the first ever gold for the US and only their second medal ever after Bode Miller’s silver in 2002.
Women’s Giant Slalom
Mikaela Shiffrin came close to giving the US a medal in the giant slalom but finished fifth place. It was an improvement on 2010 for the US but did make it five times in the last six Olympics that the US did not medal. It’s the second best finish in the last six Olympics.
Men’s Slalom
Only one of the three US men finished in the slalom with Nolan Kasper placing 13th. This is not a strong event historically for the US with only one top 10 visit since 1984. Kasper’s 13th was an improvement on Vancouver where he was the top American in 24th.
Women’s Slalom
Winning gold in the women’s slalom is not something that has been on the radar of the US lately. Mikaela Shiffrin may be the best female slalom skier in the world at just 18, but for the US this was an event that hadn’t seen a top ten finish since 1992 and hadn’t seen a medal winner since 1972. Shiffrin dashed those streaks and perhaps may be starting a new one as she has the potential to be a major figure for the US for the new few Winter Olympics.
Previous Olympic Recaps
Short Track Speed Skating
Freestyle Skiing
Curling
Nordic Combined
Figure Skating
Ski Jumping
Skeleton
Luge
