Road to Torino

With just 2 days to go in the Winter Games, Team USA enjoyed a medal bonanza today along with some history to savor with our first ever Olympic medal in the sport of curling.

The first medal of the day was gold and went to America's Julia Mancuso in giant slalom -- an unexpected victory for an Alpine ski team that hasn't lived up to expectations. Mancuso's gold is just the 2nd Alpine medal for the U.S. ski team at these Games, following Ted Ligety's gold-medal slalom performance in week 1.

Next up, receiving the 2nd medal of the day, was America's men's curling team. They put away Great Britain 8-6 in the bronze-medal match. This was not only the 22nd medal of the Olympics for Team USA, it's also a historic one, on at least two counts: It's the first Olympic medal won by any U.S. curling team; and team member Scott Baird, who already was the oldest athlete in Winter Olympic history, now becomes the oldest medalist in Winter Olympic history! Baird is 54 -- way to go, Gramps!

Finally, U.S. speedskater Chad Hedrick earned his 3rd medal of these games with his silver-medal effort in the 10,000-meters long track event. He was sandwiched by a pair of Dutch skaters who won gold and bronze. The silver gives him a full set of medals to bring home from Torino. Hedrick won the first American gold medal of the Games back on day 1 with his 5,000-meters victory and earlier this week earned bronze in the 1500-meters.

Well done, USA!

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• #6 Comment from deborahmartin3
  3/3/06 3:47 AM | Permalink

  thankfully the appropriate winners will appear on the wheaties box - for a minute i was convinced that the cereal company would go with "crybaby chad" and "chip on my shoulder shani" in order to capitalize on the sensational publicity these two disappointments have received.  the saying goes, "there is no such thing as bad publicity" and the media (all too aware of this) did everything possible to escalate discord between two skaters trying to accomplish their olympic goals.  overly enthusiastic texans in their "chad goggles" preached misguided sermons about "team spirit/patriotism" while overly protective chicago fans refusing to acknowledge rudeness when they see it with their own two eyes threw out the race card.  given this climate what transpired was completely predictable.  perhaps the olympics should start awarding medals for "poorest sport", biggest loudmouth" or "rudest interview" and chad would reach his goal of 5 medals and shani would pick up on or two more as well.  read their websites to see exactly what they plan to do for the inner city youths of their respective cities, or what charities they support.  myself i was unable to locate any such information, probably because it does not exist as the two of them are only out for the two of them.  more likely they'll patch it up and join forces for the next olympics, as misery loves company.  in the meantime, i think we'll be stocking up on apollo and joey wheaties boxes, and be proud to have a REAL hero at the breakfast table.
• #5 Comment from siamesewarriors
  2/25/06 5:58 AM | Permalink

  WHEN I SAW PETERSON AT THE PARTY AFTER THE MEDALS BEING HANDED OUT......
  
  I SAID TO MYSELF THAT HE WAS GRITTING HIS TEETH AND TRYING TO BE A GOOD SPORT.........
  
  LIKE A TIMEBOMB WAITING TO EXPLODE........AND IF IT WERE ME.....I WOULD HAVE JUST CALLED IT A NIGHT AND GREIVED ALONE IN MY ROOM....
  
  BUT THEN LATER THAT NIGHT, HE JUST POPPED HIS CORK AND HIS EMOTIONS AND FISTS FLEW.......
  
  THIS WASNT ABOUT A BRAWL OUT ON THE STREET........
  
  IT WAS ABOUT THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF LOSING THE GOLD MEDAL........
  
  
• #4 Comment from redbear50010
  2/24/06 11:24 PM | Permalink

  I read the story of Speedy Peterson being asked to leave Italy for fighting. I agree with this form of disapinary action, But what I concider more embarassing for the USA is the rediculas Feud between Hedrick and Davis. Seeing two members of the USA team go at each other for trivial things is very disquieting. The problems they have with each other should have been kept behind closed doors and not put out there in the public eye. They should have been happy for each others wins. If there is a problem between the two dont embarass your teammates by letting the world see how petty we can be.
• #3 Comment from bdien
  2/24/06 8:40 PM | Permalink

  Peterson sent home for fighting and drinking.
  Wonder what the Austrians are going to do with their alpine skiers after coach's apt  was found loaded with blood washing equipment and drug gear?
• #2 Comment from mepesacreta
  2/24/06 4:34 PM | Permalink

  I guess who ever said Michelle who, now will be asking Sahsa who, please, recogniaze NICHELLE KWAN, is and always be the best Figure Skating Athlete in the USA. By the way I so believe that Sasha do not deserve Silver but Bronze, but anyway I am not the judge. Regarding Chad he has the whole collection, it is good for the USA and for Spring , Texas, and a good American that fight for his team not like other that are not a team but selfish. Julia Mancuso victory is great, is easy to talk when we are watching their efforts in our living room.