PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games

[j44ke]

That's what the Olympics needs - more skinny 15 year old girls winning medals.

[Doug Fattic]

My household says they got the Russians in the wrong order.

Absolutely! The older Russian skated the most beautiful program ever not to get a gold. The younger one put her jumps last where they got 10% bonus points because they are harder to do on tired legs. While her skate was athletic it didn't have the grace of her older buddy. It was interesting to see the winner console the loser with a long huge afterwards. They have the same coach and train in the same facility and are friends.

[Paul Jacobs]

I tuned in for the free skate with my girls, and it was worth it. My household says they got the Russians in the wrong order.

BBC commentators Robin Cousins and Jayne Torvill (both Olympic Gold medallists) seem to agree with you.

[Corso]

It's the tradition (politics) of figure skating hierarchy: the older skater is suppose to win (on their way out) and the younger skaters are expected to "put in their time" (on the way up).

So it's not surprising to hear "old guard" olympian skaters feel the same way, as that's what they did.

And that's why figure skating scoring sucks and always has. Judges can be biased.

[72gmc]

Far be it from me to tell figure skaters how to do it. Zagitova put on a heck of a show. If I was choosing one routine to watch again, however, I'd watch Medvedeva's.

Given that the IOC is involved, I do wonder about the business aspect. Which one is more likely to return as the defending champion in 4 years, creating all sorts of promotion opportunities? Seems it's the one who will be 19.

[72gmc]

via her instagram

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[j44ke]

via her instagram

Screen Shot 2018-02-23 at 9.09.31 AM.jpg

...Given that the IOC is involved, I do wonder about the business aspect. Which one is more likely to return as the defending champion in 4 years, creating all sorts of promotion opportunities? Seems it's the one who will be 19.

Where is Kikkan Randall?

[72gmc]

Not in Beijing in 4 years?

[j44ke]

Yes. Eurosport had a nice interview with her after the race. She said (paraphrasing) these moments are the sort that make you think you can keep it going one more time but its time and I have nothing to regret at this point at all. She was actually quite calm and obviously happy but simultaneously sad. Nice way to go.

[thollandpe]

It was interesting to see the winner console the loser with a long hug afterwards. They have the same coach and train in the same facility and are friends.

Why the women's events are great. That and because many of the women are so multi-talented and might have MBAs and whatnot.

[bironi]

Just want to hear from my Canadian neighbors. Are there many in the fetal position up your way? It's a friendly enquiry.

[j44ke]

Marit Bjørgen was incredible but not immortal, which made her effort even better. That last race, the women's 30km, was a tour de force.

And Jess Diggins got 7th!

[vertical_doug]

Far be it from me to tell figure skaters how to do it. Zagitova put on a heck of a show. If I was choosing one routine to watch again, however, I'd watch Medvedeva's.

Given that the IOC is involved, I do wonder about the business aspect. Which one is more likely to return as the defending champion in 4 years, creating all sorts of promotion opportunities? Seems it's the one who will be 19.

I'll doubt she will return in 4 years to defend. The stresses being placed on the body for the more athletic jumps probably mean a skaters career is shorter now. Skating may become more like gymnastics when the career is over by 20 or younger.

You are probably focuses on the artistry of Medvedeva's, but Zagitova's routine took advantage of the modern scoring system to max on back loading points.

If they both had the same coach, then Medvedeva most certainly knew how to game the system too, but maybe physically was unable to backload her program with jumps to get the bonus. This seems a more likely answer.

[SteveP]

my patience for the ads runs poorly.
i did get to watch a bit of Nordic early, i caught the team short track on a fluke... ( hungary? really? loved it). a bit of ski racing and shawn white winning the half pipe. flashed onto the Germany/ Canada hockey game but was stunned to see 4-1 germany.
would have liked to watch the womans hockey final but timing was poor.
prob a couple of hours over 2 weeks.


not much interested in watching ice bocce, the sliding stuff or figure skating..

[SteveP]

my patience for the ads runs poorly.
i did get to watch a bit of Nordic early, i caught the team short track on a fluke... ( hungary? really? loved it). a bit of ski racing and shawn white winning the half pipe. flashed onto the Germany/ Canada hockey game but was stunned to see 4-1 germany.
would have liked to watch the womans hockey final but timing was poor.
prob a couple of hours over 2 weeks.


not much interested in watching ice bocce, the sliding stuff or figure skating..

[TMB]

Just want to hear from my Canadian neighbors. Are there many in the fetal position up your way? It's a friendly enquiry.

I was very happy to see the hockey tournament not including NHL players. It was frankly wonderful to see how excited the men’s hockey team was to get a bronze medal. A bunch of lunch bucket players who have received no love from the press that usually salivates over the NHL players getting an Olympic medal. It was great.

Women’s hockey - it happens, I hate shoot outs to decide games but that’s the way it is. I was just happy to see other teams becoming more competitive. It has been Canada / US dominant for too long and the sport needs to grow if it is to continue.

Curling is a different question. Hard to fathom what happened. The women’s team had been dominant in the year preceding the games ( 33 - 3 ), I guess the fishbowl got to them. Men’s curling is just inexplicable.

Again, curling is becoming a much improved sport worldwide and that is good. The medals aren’t a foregone conclusion anymore, for the better.

No fetal position.

[s_curran]

I was very happy to see the hockey tournament not including NHL players. It was frankly wonderful to see how excited the men’s hockey team was to get a bronze medal. A bunch of lunch bucket players who have received no love from the press that usually salivates over the NHL players getting an Olympic medal. It was great.

Women’s hockey - it happens, I hate shoot outs to decide games but that’s the way it is. I was just happy to see other teams becoming more competitive. It has been Canada / US dominant for too long and the sport needs to grow if it is to continue.

Curling is a different question. Hard to fathom what happened. The women’s team had been dominant in the year preceding the games ( 33 - 3 ), I guess the fishbowl got to them. Men’s curling is just inexplicable.

Again, curling is becoming a much improved sport worldwide and that is good. The medals aren’t a foregone conclusion anymore, for the better.

No fetal position.

I disagree personally. KHL is a strong professional league, Germany has a decent league, etc. Gionta to play for the B's now after the olympics. Where do you draw the line?

The womens was great again, although I too hate the shootout, wish the finals and semis would have a deeper OT.

[sine]

Men's hockey was not very good this year. Not has bad as the....ummmmm....."amateur" days but the obvious bet was still with the Russians.

Agree, Women's hockey was great.

[72gmc]

Marit Bjørgen was incredible but not immortal, which made her effort even better. That last race, the women's 30km, was a tour de force.

And Jess Diggins got 7th!

I’ve seen Marit’s smile a lot—why shouldn’t she smile with all those results—but that 30k finish was the first time I’ve seen her struggle to hold back tears as she crossed the line.

I laughed at the glimpse of the course workers bowing to her in the last 1.5k.

[ides1056]

Just want to give a shout out to my neighbor's son, Matt Whitcomb, who coaches the womens' cross country ski team. That was epic. And to Zach Caldwell, who makes the skis go fast. Chapeau!