The next stop on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is Falun, Sweden. The US has two athletes, fresh off their Sochi competition, in the field. Both Anders Johnson and Nick Alexander will start competition today with the qualification round. There are 64 competitors from 19 nations at the event. The training jumps happened earlier this morning with the qualification round at 12 PM ET. The event wraps up on Wednesday.
We’ll have coverage of the results of the qualification round later today.
On Monday the US grabbed their first gold since Thursday and had a couple of historic firsts. Several events got canceled due to the weather and the US hockey team won a medal, we just won’t know which one until Thursday.
Biathlon
Events:
*Men’s mass start 15 km
*Women’s mass start 12.5 km
The men’s 15km mass-start was supposed to be Sunday. Then it got postponed until Monday. Then it was rescheduled, and now it’s been postponed again… to Tuesday. Fog in the area was just too dense to hold the event. Hopefully things will work better on Tuesday at 5:30 AM ET.
The women’s 12.5km mass start did happen with the only American in the field, Susan Dunklee. Dunklee had a great start and was in sixth heading into the second round of shooting but missed one target in each of the final three rounds of shooting. Despite a great effort in the skiing she couldn’t overcome the shooting woes and finished 12th in 36:57.9, 1:32.3 behind the winner.
Results Summarized:
Susan Dunklee– She finished in 12th with a time of 36:57.9, 1:32.3 behind the winner, after missing 3 targets.
What’s on tap today? Eight disciplines and competition in nine events with six gold medals up for grabs. In today: Freestyle skiing and ski jumping. Out today: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and speed skating.
All times below are ET.
Biathlon
Events: The men’s 15km mass-start will begin at 1 AM. The 30-man field will include only two Americans, Lowell Bailey and Tim Burke as they have the final chance to earn an individual medal for the US men in Sochi.
The women’s 12.5km mass start at 10 AM also features 30 in the field. The only American is Susan Dunklee.
When:
*Men’s 15km mass start – 1 AM
Women’s mass-start 12.5 km – 10 AM
Live Streaming: A live stream will be available on the NBC Olympics website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra app. You will probably have to authenticate a cable subscription to watch the live streams of the Olympics.
TV Coverage: The men’s biathlon will be included in coverage on NBCSN from 3-7 AM ET and in NBC’s daytime coverage from 3-5 PM ET. The women’s biathlon will be included in coverage on NBCSN from 1:30-3 PM ET.
Time to refocus and prepare for an early start tomorrow. This will definitely be the earliest wake up in Sochi so far!
Another disappointing day as the US only managed to pick up one medal and wasn’t real close in most of the events. The highlight of the day though was an amazing hockey game between the US and Russia.
Alpine Skiing
Events:
*Women’s Super-G
There were 50 women scheduled to start the women’s super-G and only 31 completed the course. That’s how difficult the course was this morning. Leanne Smith was the first to go for the US and the only of the first eight skiers to finish the course. She finished in 1:28.38 and was 18th. Laurenne Ross was next to go for the US and while she made it through the early tough portion where many skiers succumbed she did have problems near the end and got too wide and lost the race line taking a DNF. Julia Mancuso was able to finish the course without too many difficulties but she finished 8th in 1:27.04. The final American was Stacey Cook and her run didn’t last long as she DNF’d in the treacherous early steep section.
Results Summarized:
Laurenne Ross – Made it through much of the course but missed a gate near the end and was a DNF.
Stacey Cook – Missed a gate in the earl portion and was a DNF.
Leanne Smith – Finished 18th with a time of 1:28.38.
Julia Mancuso – Finished 8th with a time of 1:27.04.
Tough day up there… that course was tricky and I let it get to me. So grateful for the days it came together. Winning feels magical.
What’s on tap today? Eight disciplines and competition in nine events with seven gold medals up for grabs. In today: Ice hockey, short track, and speed skating. Out today: Biathlon, figure skating, and freestyle skiing.
All times below are ET.
Alpine Skiing
Events: Four women in the 50-woman field for the Super-G are Americans. This single run event begins at 2 AM and it won’t take long before the first American is underway. Leanne Smith will be the second down the mountain. Laurenne Ross goes seventh, Julia Mancuso bids for a second medal in Sochi while starting 14th, and Stacey Cook goes 29th.
When:
*Women’s Super-G – 2 AM
Live Streaming: A live stream will be available on the NBC Olympics website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra app. You will probably have to authenticate a cable subscription to watch the live streams of the Olympics.
TV Coverage: The alpine skiing will be included in NBC’s evening coverage from 8-11:30 PM ET.
Friday was not great for the US. Both curling teams suffered crucial losses and the US picked up only one medal while struggling to compete for medals in most of the traditional events conducted.
Alpine Skiing
Events:
Men’s Super Combined – Downhill
*Men’s Super Combined – Slalom
The Americans hoped to get out to good starts in the downhill portion of the event. That wouldn’t exactly happen. Ted Ligety was the first to go and his time of 1:55.17 left him in 18th, 1.93 seconds off the lead. Andrew Weibrecht went next and his time of 1:55.33 was only 20th best, 2.09 seconds behind the leader. The best American was Bode Miller who finished 12th in the downhill in 1:54.67 but was still 1.43 seconds off pace. Finally Jared Goldberg finished 15th in 1:54.90 and was 1.66 seconds behind the lead.
In the slalom portion Weibrecht took a spill halfway down after straddling a pole and took a DNF. Ligety put up a 52.22 that wasn’t enough (8th fastest) and he finished 12th in 2:47.39, Goldberg couldn’t keep pace either and his 52.39 was only 10th best in the slalom and he finished 11th in 2:47.39, Miller failed to make his mark as well as his 51.93 was 6th best and he finished 7th in 2:46.60.
Results Summarized:
Andrew Weibrecht – In the downhill he was 20th in a time of 1:55.33, 2.09 seconds behind first. In the slalom he fell after straddling a pole and took a DNF.
Ted Ligety – Finished 12th overall with a time of 2:47.39. In the downhill he was 18th in a time of 1:55.17, 1.93 seconds behind first. In the slalom he was 8th with a time of 52.22.
Jared Goldberg – Finished 11th overall with a time of 2:47.29. In the downhill he was 15th in a time of 1:54.90, 1.66 seconds behind first. In the slalom he was 10th with a time of 52.39.
Bode Miller – Finished 6th overall with a time of 2:46.60. In the downhill he was 12th in a time of 1:54.67, 1.43 seconds behind first. In the slalom he was 7th with a time of 51.93.
Really tough day of racing, congrats to viletta, kostelic, and innerhoffer on their medals. It was hard fought.
What’s on tap today? Just eight disciplines and competition in 10 events with six gold medals up for grabs. In today: Alpine skiing and ski jumping. Out today: Ice hockey, luge, short track, and speed skating.
All times below are ET.
Alpine Skiing
Events: Alpine skiing returns with the men’s super combined on Friday. The 50-man field starts the downhill portion at 1 AM. Four Americans are in the field and they will take to the course in a tight grouping. Ted Ligety will start 22nd, Andrew Weibrecht 23rd, Bode Miller 24th, and Jared Goldberg 28th. The slalom begins at 6:30 AM and will start in the reverse-order of the times from the downhill portion.
When:
Men’s Super Combined – Downhill – 1 AM
*Men’s Super Combined – Slalom – 6:30 AM
Live Streaming: A live stream will be available on the NBC Olympics website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra app. You will probably have to authenticate a cable subscription to watch the live streams of the Olympics.
TV Coverage: The alpine skiing will be included in NBC’s evening coverage from 8-11:30 PM ET.
The US did take home a couple more medals on Tuesday but it’s hard to call the day a total success when you consider all the chances missed by the US. There were still a lot of great performances and awesome results, but a lot of disappointment for the US as well.
Biathlon
Events:
Women’s 10 km pursuit
After disappointment in the sprint event on Sunday, American Susan Dunklee was hoping to rebound in a major way on Tuesday. That was all looking pretty good as she battled her way back from a 16th place start to fifth heading towards the final round of shooting. That’s where she missed three targets (four in the whole race) and the penalty laps that she had to take after that meant she finished 18th. It was another big disappointment for Dunklee.
Two other Americans were in the field but were not a major part of the race. Sara Studebaker was 44th at the start and fell to 51st after missing five targets. Annelies Cook started 53rd and slipped a spot to 54th after missing five targets as well.
Fantastic feeling on skis and 3 strong shooting stages tonight. Missed the last piece of the puzzle but I sure love being in the mix!
What’s on tap today? Nine disciplines and competition in 11 events with eight gold medals awarded. Figure skating returns for the individual events now that the team event is done.
All times below are ET.
Biathlon
Events: Tuesday is the women’s 10 km pursuit event at 10 AM. The 60-woman field will chase the leader over the course with four rounds of shooting. Each missed shot is a 150 meter penalty loop. The field is staggered by the amount they finished behind the leader in the sprint event on Sunday. Three Americans will compete: Susan Dunklee, who might have medaled if she didn’t miss a target in the sprint event, starts in 14th starting 42 seconds after the leader, Sara Studebaker is 44th and starts 1:53 behind the leader, and finally Annelies Cook starts 2:17 behind the leader in 53rd.
Lifelong role models and lovers of anything ski related… Enjoying a moment with my parents post race yesterday http://t.co/yu0ZmUBAvx
Live Streaming: A live stream will be available on the NBC Olympics website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra app. You will probably have to authenticate a cable subscription to watch the live streams of the Olympics.
TV Coverage: The biathlon will be included in NBC’s latenight coverage from 12-1 AM ET Wednesday morning.
Second day of medals awarded and two more medals for the US, another gold and another bronze. Some disappointments as well though for the US today.
Alpine Skiing
Events:
Men’s downhill
In the men’s downhill event Bode Miller was the most likely medal contender while three other Americans were part of the field. Steven Nyman was the first down the slopes, both for the US and for the entire competition. Nyman nearly wiped out a couple of times but made some spectacular saves to keep his footing. He finished with a time of 2:09.15 to lead the way. That lead didn’t last long though and the second man down topped it and after five had gone he was out of medal contention.
Next up for the US was Travis Ganong. Ganong skied an aggressive race and despite some parts not perfect he just edged into first with a time of 2:06.64, 0.07 seconds better than anyone else at that point. Ganong was immediately bumped from the gold medal by the next skier but it took 11 men after him before he was bumped from the medals.
One of those 11 men was Bode Miller. Miller made mistakes in several parts of the course including catching way too much of the flag. It cost him as he was sixth after his run with a time of 2:06.75. The final American was Marco Sullivan who was the 25th man to go. Sullivan just wasn’t nearly fast enough and his time of 2:10.10 placed him 30th in the end. When it was all said and done Nyman was 25th, Miller eighth, and Ganong was in fifth, just 0.31 seconds behind bronze.
5th place in the Olympic Downhill today!!!! Fired up that was fun and oh so close to a medal!!!!!… http://t.co/ZgimekFdWO — Travis Ganong (@TravisGanong) February 9, 2014
Results Summarized:
Marco Sullivan – Finished in 30th with a time of 2:10.10
Steven Nyman – Finished in 27th with a time of 2:09.15
Bode Miller – Finished in 8th with a time of 2:06.75
Travis Ganong – Finished in 5th with a time of 2:06.64
Bode Miller finished 8th for the US in the men’s downhill on Sunday.
Biathlon