Canada, U.S. get firsts from Nordic combined
pandora style beadsVANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Johnny Spillane ended an 86-year drought that few Americans even knew existed. Alexandre Bilodeau ended a much shorter wait that practically everyone in Canada had been agonizing over.
Spillane finished second in Nordic combined, just four-tenths of a second from making the first U.S. medal come in the best color. Still, it's a terrific accomplishment, the kind of thing that could land him on the cover of the media guide for the American Nordic combined team.
Bilodeau's feat -- winning the men's moguls -- might land him on a postage stamp or a loonie, Canada's $1 coin.
The victory was significant because it was the first gold medal won by a Canadian in any event at an Olympics held in Canada. While there were only two Olympics in Canada before Vancouver, there were 244 gold medals awarded over those games. Bilodeau's breakthrough came in the 10th event of these games and well past the point of panic for a country that invested about $6 billion in hosting and $110 million in preparing its athletes to "Own the Podium."
GERMAN WINS FIRST LUGE GOLD
There was finally something to cheer about at the Whistler Sliding Center.
Two days after Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a training wreck, 20- year-old Felix Loch of Germany became the sport's youngest gold medalist with a dominant performance on a track made shorter, slower and safer following the tragedy.
Another German, David Moeller, was second, followed by two-time defending Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy.
American Tony Benshoof, sliding with three herniated discs in his third and final Olympics, finished eighth. He was fourth in 2006, one-fifth of a second from claiming the first medal by an American in singles luge. With another miss this time, a new set of Americans will try again in 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
U.S. FALLS SHORT IN BIATHLON
Tim Burke and Jay Hakkinen were supposed to challenge for medals. Then came a heavy, wet snowfall that was tough enough to undo Norwegian great Ole Einar Bjorndalen as well.
Bjorndalen, winner of a record nine biathlon medals, had the worst finish of his Olympic career -- 17th.
Burke, the first U.S. biathlete to lead the World Cup standings, wound up 47th. Hakkinen was 54th.
The three medalists -- France's Vincent Jay, Norway's Emil Hegle Svendsen and Croatia's Jakov Fak -- were among the first 10 starters, before the snow began to cause problems. Jeremy Teela was the top American, finishing ninth.
VONN, DOWNHILL DELAYED
It's getting to the point where it will be news when they do ski in Whistler.
The Alpine schedule was wiped out yet again, this time keeping the women from a training session because of heavy rain and snow. The men's downhill is to begin Monday, when drier, cooler air is expected.
The delays continue to help Lindsey Vonn in her recovery from a bruised right shin. Vonn's husband told The brochure printing Associated Press she went through a rigorous slalom training session, her biggest test since being injured Feb. 2.
"Her focus has definitely changed from, 'Am I going to race?' to 'I'm definitely racing, and I need t
Other articles:
http://www.chinaylh.com/Blog/View/?334
http://www.somalihub.com/blog.php?user=mywatches&blogentry_id=265
http://www.xaeg.cn/Blog/View/?379
http://www.jdhauser.com/Man-sentenced-to--years-for.html
http://www.vivarmenia.com/blogs/blog.php?user=mywatches¬e=12775