Go USA!

HotDamGam · #1 02-21-2002, 11:46 AM

I don't know how many of you are keeping up with the Olympics or even tuning in every once in a while, but the US team is kicking butt! Usually I don't get very excited about the Winter Games, but there's just something about this year that has made them special...maybe the spirit of patriotism.

Jim Shea, the third generation olympian, took gold in the skeleton last night. I thought it was so awesome that he wore his grandfather's medal at his Medal Presentation Ceremony. And Vonetta Flowers (bobsleigh) became the first African American man or woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal! Apollo Anton Ohno (who is such a hottie in my opinion) also won a gold in speed skating after the guy from Korea was disqualified.

We are in second place overall - our medal count stands at 26 as of this morning, behind Germany with 31.

Here's the website if anyone wants to check things out:
http://www.saltlake2002.com/x/f/fram...main_front.asp

KarenC725 · #2 02-21-2002, 12:07 PM

I'm excited about the figure skating tonight and then the Russia-USA men's hockey rematch!

IowaHawkeye · #3 02-21-2002, 12:52 PM

i was watching the medal presentation to flowers and her teammate - she had tears in her eyes, a big smile on her face, she was mouthing the words to the national anthem - and i realized this is really what the olympics are all about. maybe its my increased sense of patriotism lately - but i have been really into this years olympics - can't wait for the women's skating tonight - there's a possibility the us can sweep the medals

The1calledTKE · #4 02-21-2002, 12:55 PM

The USA will hopefully take Germany in the medal count . Figure skating could be a sweep by the American which would draw us closer to Germany.

SparkliiQTMTSU · #5 02-21-2002, 01:38 PM

Im excited about figure skating although I havent been able to watch much so youguys have gotta keep me up to date

nichole

Optimist Prime · #6 02-21-2002, 02:04 PM

we rule

valkyrie · #7 02-21-2002, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HotDamGam
Apollo Anton Ohno (who is such a hottie in my opinion) also won a gold in speed skating after the guy from Korea was disqualified.

He *is* a cutie, isn't he?

GreekLetterGirl · #8 02-21-2002, 05:53 PM

I know that I will be watching the Figure skating tonight, word on the street is that there is a chance of an American 1,2,3 sweep... GO USA!!!!!!!!!!

AlphaGam1019 · #9 02-22-2002, 12:49 AM

Congrats to Sarah Hughes for her gold medal!

I feel sorry for Michelle Kwan though

GreekLetterGirl · #10 02-22-2002, 12:54 AM

oh no poor michelle i missed it because i was driving home that must really be a bitter pill for her to swallow

#11 02-22-2002, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaGam1019
Congrats to Sarah Hughes for her gold medal!

I feel sorry for Michelle Kwan though

Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable!
Sarah Hughes put on an amazing performance hitting every single triple she had planned. Not only is she a gold metal winner, but she's also the first woman to ever hit a double triple.

I wanted Kwan to win, but i have to give credit where its due. However I do think Kwan should have gotten silver and not bronze.

HotDamGam · #12 02-22-2002, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by UMgirl
I wanted Kwan to win, but i have to give credit where its due. However I do think Kwan should have gotten silver and not bronze.

While I feel bad that Kwan once again lost out to a younger teammate, I have to say that I prefered Sarah Hughes and was disappointed when she did so poorly in the earlier performance. However, I think beginning this evening in fourth place took a lot of stress off of her and let her skate at her best...and she did! That was a beautiful, elegant, wonderful routine!

I'm still a little confused as to why Kwan ended up with bronze instead of silver because I thought her scores were higher even with the fall.

ladybug1116 · #13 02-22-2002, 01:32 AM

The reason that Michelle ended up with bronze and not silver: (and this is kind of complicated) After Michelle skated tonight she was still in first b/c of the short program and being in the top 3 automatically gave here the edge over Hughes. However, the judges needed to create a mathematical tie between Kwan, Slutskya, and Hughes in order to award the gold to Hughes. For the judges to do that, they HAD to place someone in the top 3 in front of Kwan. In the case of a tie, they use the winner of the long program to award the gold (which was Hughes). It's a very complicated system.

I am a huge Michelle Kwan fan but I am very happy that Hughes won gold--her performance liteally gave me goosebumps. Also, I think Michelle was lucky to have medaled at all. I though Sasha Cohen's performance was better than both Kwan's and Slutskya's but overall I think the results were fair.

Peaches-n-Cream · #14 02-22-2002, 01:45 AM

I feel so sorry for Michelle Kwan. I'm happy for Sarah Hughes. She definitely was the star tonight.

Sasha Cohen did a great job also. It's too bad the Americans fell. It was great to see Kristi Yamaguchi and Peggy Fleming in the audience. (sorry about my spelling)

h2oot · #15 02-22-2002, 01:47 AM

Wow, I was impressed with Hughes. She skated beautifully and didn't let the pressure get to her. I wished Michelle would have won, but I believe she and the Russian girl skated not to lose and that made a difference. I was also impressed with the Japanese girl who skated earlier.