Erin Hamlin is a three-time Olympian and the first female American luger to medal at any Winter Olympics, as well as the first American of either gender to medal in singles competition. Hamlin, a New York state native, came to Sochi to make amends for disappointment in Vancouver in 2010, when she … [Read more...]
You can literally see the inequality
Last weekish I wrote about my astonishment that there isn't a 4-women bobsled event and how this speaks to the inequality that still remains in the Olympics in spite of visible and highly touted progress (i.e., the much-belated inclusion of women's ski jumping) because of the lack of equality in the … [Read more...]
The Game Doesn’t Stop After A Bad Call: CAN Hockey beats USA 3-2 in 1st Round
Before we launch into that, let us pause for a moment to contemplate exactly how bad that call was. It was probably top three in the worst call pantheon I have personally witnessed. What makes it particularly egregious is that the referee knows she blew the whistle. It was her own … [Read more...]
Historic day finally realized at Olympic Games for women ski jumpers #Sochi2014
Lindsey Van competes in the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.Photo by Sarah Brunson/USSA KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia - Try as she might, Jessica Jerome couldn't convince her eyes and her mind that Tuesday night's inaugural Olympic women's ski jumping event was just another competition on the … [Read more...]
Who Wins Tomorrow? (USA vs. CAN Hockey)
The fact that the U.S. has looked the stronger team coming in means nothing in this rivalry. As I’ve noted many times, at this point the match-up is 95% psychological and the teams are looking for that 5% separation any place they can find it. Pierre got one thing right (if you managed … [Read more...]
Women’s Ski Jumping USA President, Parents of USA Ski Jumpers Reflect before Olympic Debut
Before the women ski jumpers make history in their event at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, leaders at Women's Ski Jumping USA and parents of the US team members reflected on the fight for inclusion: “I think our battle to get the women into ski jumping became much more than ski jumping. It … [Read more...]
The weight game
The Americans were blowing out the competition. Again. That’s what often happens in international women’s hockey. As much I love the U.S.-Canada rivalry, I also love the sport and part of me wonders if it wouldn’t be worthwhile to, say loan Angela Ruggiero to Switzerland or Germany … [Read more...]
Olympic Overhaul: What would it look like?
Before the Sochi Games started, former American luger, Samantha Retrosi wrote a piece for The Nation titled, Why the Olympics are a Lot Like 'The Hunger Games'. Long time readers of this blog are probably familiar with my disappointment in the Olympics for a number of reasons, which means that … [Read more...]
Exhaustion on the slopes Sochi-style
The women's cross-country skiathlon finish line. Photograph: Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty ImagesWhen I saw this photograph at first on The Guardian website, I thought there had been a terrible tragedy. But no, it's just the aftermath of the Cross-country skiathlon.It took a while to work out what that … [Read more...]
Best & Worst Dressed At Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony
Olympic athletes walked down the world’s greatest runway last night, at the Sochi 2014 Opening Ceremony. The Parade of Nations has competitors marching proudly on behalf of their countries, while facing off on the style front. From high-end fashion houses like Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani … [Read more...]