The Sports Thread
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Great Britain also decimated us in the Davis Cup today, but that was expected. “We’ve taken a hell of a beating” from you guys in the last couple of days.
Will tune in to the opening ceremony now. There’s always some spectacular stuff going on there.
First weekend over, and home nation Italy has the most medals with 8. Norway only has 6, but leads the list because we have more gold. Three gold medals, as opposed to Italy’s one – Johannnes Høsflot Klæbo in the 20k with ski change, Anna Odine Strøm in ski jump and an impressive win for speedskater Sander Eitrem in the 5000 meters. Norway has traditionally performed poorly whenever the Olympics have been hosted in Italy, but this is an okay start.
Nothing for Team GB yet, but Germany has three — gold in luge, silver in the biathlon mixed relay and bronze in downhill.
Most dramatic event so far was probably US superstar Lindsay Vonn making a comeback, and then crashing brutally after only two gates in the downhill (that her compatriot Breezy Johnson won the event was little comfort to her).
The GB mixed-doubles curling team has qualified for the semifinals, but aren’t guaranteed a medal as there appears to be a third place playoff game. I’d have said that the losing semifinalists should both get bronzes, but I suppose they want to sell the tickets for the extra game.
I have much sympathy for Lindsey Vonn, but have to say it was a bit rash to take to the slopes after such a recent and major injury. I’m afraid it’s all downhill from here.
Italy currently leads with the most medals, with 16. Then Norway with 14 and the USA with 13. But again, gold decides the rank, so Norway is still – just barely – on top with seven gold, as opposed to Italy’s six. But I have to say Italy is really going above and beyond what I expected. I mean – yes, it’s home turf, and they’ve always been a good winter sports nation – but still. Germany doing very well with nine medals, out of which four are gold.
Nice to see Australia and New Zealand on the medal count — not your typical winter nations.
Shame Ragne Wiklund lost by just a few hundredths of a second for the gold in the 5000 meters speedskate.
Expectedly, the French biathlon women are in a class of their own, same as the Swedish cross-country women. Norway has a long way to go to match these. But on the men’s side, we fare slightly better.
I tuned out of curling after the Norwegian couple exited, but I understand the regular teams are in action now. What’s the status?
Looking forward to the 10ks tomorrow, in men’s cross-country and biathlon.
…oh, and I don’t follow figure skating, but I understand there has been some film music there? JAWS and INTERSTELLAR?
Good to hear, TG! It would have been awkward if Australia and New Zealand were on the medal count and the UK wasn’t. I have to admit I haven’t watched much bobsleigh or skeleton — yes, it’s fast, but it’s all rather static. Same as I don’t really have any interest in Formula One.
Norway and Italy equal at 18 medals this morning. Incredible performance by the Italians, I can’t remember them ever being this good in a winter Olympics. Let’s see if those stats change during the day today.
Dramatic cross country relay with Ebba Andersson’s fall (TWICE, actually), and stumbling around on one ski for a while there. But says something about the Swedish womens’ strength as a team when they STILL managed to take the silver.
Although I’m bummed that Lucas Pinheiro Braathen elected to ditch Norway in favour of his other country of citizenship, Brazil, it’s still kinda cool that he just took the country’s first-ever winter Olympic medal (and a gold, no less) in the grand slalom.
Italy continues to hammer it home in the Olympics, this time in the women’s grand slalom, with another gold to Brignone. 20 medals for the host nation now, and seven gold. The alpine events were about to be a complete disaster for Norway (with no medals), until Thea Louise Stjernesund fortunately took a silver in the grand slalom. Still poor overall, but better than nothing.
*Cue Ennio Morricone’s “Slalom”*
(btw, some film music-related names along the way, a Swedish skier named Elfman and of course Mikaela Shiffrin, which is almost Schifrin).
The Netherlands continue to dominate in speedskating, although very impressed by the USA’s Jordan Stolz’ two gold medals – and Olympic records – in the 500 and 1000 meters. Dutch superstar Jutta Leerdam (who’s girlfriend with that idiot Jake Paul) had to contend with silver in the 500m, though, while her compatriot Femke Kok took the gold.
Right now, Norway is at 24, Italy at 22 (such a close race!), USA and Japan at 17. Germany doing okay at 13, out of which four are gold, but I’ve seen them better. I’m surprised Canada is so low — 9 medals, which is fine, but only one gold. Which means Great Britain is ahead of them! They took another in the snowboard cross!
It pisses me off when France wins in biathlon, which is often. And now they took the gold again, in relay. Johan Olav Botn seemed completely shocked and apathetic in his round. Jacquelin was insane, as usual.
Otherwise, in the overall tally, Norway passes 30 medals with the silver in the selfsame relay (we need 10 more medals to beat the existing record, and four more golds…but time and events are running out), ahead of Italy’s 23 and USA’s 19. Germany chugging along nicely with 17.
There was a curling match between Norway and Great Britain yesterday, which Norway just barely won. That’s quite a feat, since GB is ranked number one in the world. You’ll probably win this tournament too, but if not, you’ve already impressed. Great Britain has THREE gold medals now!
I’m mostly talking to myself here. Bit surprised that the Germans, in particular, don’t have more to say, since you’re such an excellent winter sports nation.
But it’s the Olympics, man! THE OLYMPICS! 😀
Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the men’s team sprint today, along with Einar Hedegart, and thus became the second greatest Olympian of all time, with 10 golds (impossibly long behind no. 1, of course – legendary swimmer Michael Phelps and his 23 gold medals). But he still has a way to go in terms of NUMBER of medals. He “only” has 12, so plenty ahead of him, including another Norwegian, Marit Bjørgen.
The women’s team sprint was a disaster for Norway, as we finished fourth – also after German master sprintress Coletta Rydzek. Absolute rubbish! Sweden predictably won.
Also, in the team sprint – Great Britain finishes at 5! That must be the best result for the Brits in Olympic cross-country…like, ever!
Triple win in the 50k cross-country, with Klæbo bagging his 11th gold. That means 40 medals total for Norway, and a new Olympic record for any nation. I set the bar very high for my countrymen when it comes to winter sports, and am often critical when we fail, but now I can easily put an ‘approved’ stamp on this year’s games. Also, there are a couple of events left.
Kudos to Brit Andrew Musgrave on his impressive 6th place in what will be his last Olympics.
I love the self-deprecating British attitude! 🙂
Very heavy 50k for the women today, but obviously Ebba Andersson wins. She and Frida Karlsson (DNS due to illness this time) are in a league of their own. The Swedish women are even more superior than the Norwegian men in cross-country. Very irritating for us, but at least we took the silver.
The games are nearing their end now. I’ve always found ice hockey excruciatingly boring (I can hardly even see the puck, and it’s usually just a lot of people bumping into each other), but I might tune in to the USA-Canada final, which is a classic, and then maybe a little bit of the closing ceremony.
I’m disappointed by the lack of activity here during these games, but I expect LOTS of action during this summer’s football championships!
The games are nearing their end now. I’ve always found ice hockey excruciatingly boring (I can hardly even see the puck, and it’s usually just a lot of people bumping into each other)
Actually, ‘boring’ isn’t the right word to use. It’s more chaotic. It’s like a pinball game. But can’t fault the tempo of the match so far. USA up 1 against their arch rivals Canada after round one.
I’m impressed by Norway reaching the semi finals in the ice hockey world championships just now (we’ve never come this far in the tournament before, we suck at ice hockey). To be fair, I don’t follow ice hockey at all (I have very little interest in it), but that’s something. Looks like they’re taking a beating now, however, by host nation Switzerland.
In more exciting news, the football world cup is coming up! Anyone up for that?
I’ll pick and choose some world cup games, but there are way too many teams this year. Lots of boring games I will not be watching.
Yes, and the times are gruelling. There’s one Norway match at 2 AM local time. But I’ll have to find a way somehow. It’s more pick and choose this time, though, you’re right about that.
Opening match today – Mexico vs. South Africa.
I won’t be watching, as I’m hosting a film quiz at the same time, and I hope other festival attendees will prioritize that. Both events are supposedly taking place at the same 2-story pub, don’t know how that’s going to work…fingers crossed!
But yeah, we’re off! Looking forward to catching some matches (those that are not in the middle of the night) from Sunday onwards.
Got your watching plan sorted out?
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