Winter Olympics No Video Thread

[Buzz Rules]

What a golden win by USA Ice skating.

 

[declansdad]

Vonn had a top time during the trial runs. Things happen in downhill. If her shoulder doesn’t clip the gate on this run maybe she gets that comeback finish and finds herself on or close to the medal stand.

If her doctors gave her the okay to do it, it’s her call as a competitor whether she goes or not. She earned it, and it’s her life and her body she was putting at whatever risk.

It didn't seem to be that big a clip to me, especially given it was near the top of the course. I've watched skiers recover from much harder contact with the gate. It would seem to me that a lot of her failure to recover had to do with her injury.

 

[Lesverts]

Did she? Was there an alternate on the team? Or a teammate who had qualified but couldn't compete because of the limit on number of skiers from each country?

Basic answer is that the US left their 4th best downhiller at home. Vonn was selected by right as the top ranked American. If she had withdrawn there would not be to add an additional skier. The deadline for submissions was past.

For instance, Canada has lost 2 athletes in the same event, we have others that met the qualification threshold but they cannot be put in at this point.

 

[Marrila]

I'm not the only person who thinks she shouldn't have even been there post her torn ACL. Someone else would have had an opportunity for their Olympic dream.
That said I'm sorry she was injured further today and I know she has a long road to recovery.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The whole situation with Vonn I think has to be treated differently than other athletes and the sport itself, she is certainly not the only athlete to be faced with this situation in the history of the Olympics. This is her last Olympics and pride and fame are big (why we needed a whole press conference for her first injury.....). It rubs people the wrong way because of this. Just because you have the drive to continue and do your last Olympics does not mean you have to compete. I'm sure she and her doctors talked a lot about this but IMO there really wasn't any question that she was going to try and run irrespective of any advice from her docs short of literally not being able to function, it's her last Olympics.

It's not about the athletes trying and pushing so hard, there are other athletes who have injured themselves but none have had the press focus like Vonn. You have the Canadian snowboarder who withdrew from his Big Air due to a head injury and hopes (and is really just hoping right now) that they can do a different event later on in the Olympics, even though he has more time in between competitions than Vonn would have still..

Do I fault Vonn? No but do I think we have to be all positive or "meh it's how it goes" about it? No she does IMO deserve the heat coming her way like any athlete should be treated when they make decisions such as this.

 

[DCLMP]

It didn't seem to be that big a clip to me, especially given it was near the top of the course. I've watched skiers recover from much harder contact with the gate. It would seem to me that a lot of her failure to recover had to do with her injury.

That was my thought. I remember when I tore my MCL I could run a few weeks after, but anything out of the ordinary like my dog making a sudden pull on the a leash or slipping a little in mud would cause me to have trouble regaining my balance because my knee wasn't as stable as normal. I'm surprised she was able to walk 9 days after tearing a ACL much less ski.

 

[DCLMP]

The whole situation with Vonn I think has to be treated differently than other athletes and the sport itself, she is certainly not the only athlete to be faced with this situation in the history of the Olympics. This is her last Olympics and pride and fame are big (why we needed a whole press conference for her first injury.....). It rubs people the wrong way because of this. Just because you have the drive to continue and do your last Olympics does not mean you have to compete. I'm sure she and her doctors talked a lot about this but IMO there really wasn't any question that she was going to try and run irrespective of any advice from her docs short of literally not being able to function, it's her last Olympics.

It's not about the athletes trying and pushing so hard, there are other athletes who have injured themselves but none have had the press focus like Vonn. You have the Canadian snowboarder who withdrew from his Big Air due to a head injury and hopes (and is really just hoping right now) that they can do a different event later on in the Olympics, even though he has more time in between competitions than Vonn would have still..

Do I fault Vonn? No but do I think we have to be all positive or "meh it's how it goes" about it? No she does IMO deserve the heat coming her way like any athlete should be treated when they make decisions such as this.

I agree she is 41, last Olympics and she went for it. Pretty gutsy in my opinion. She's the only one that has to live with the consequences. I don't get the internet outrage, because no one is affected by this except her. Her questionable decision was public where as most of don't have to worry about anyone knowing about our risky life choices.

 

[soccerdad72]

It didn't seem to be that big a clip to me, especially given it was near the top of the course. I've watched skiers recover from much harder contact with the gate. It would seem to me that a lot of her failure to recover had to do with her injury.

I don’t know - I’ve never hurtled down a mountain at 70 miles an hour, but I would think maybe a little clip might mess me up.

 

[soccerdad72]

This is an incredible graphic

 

[Suger Mag]

Oh my.... talk about a dream team....

 

[Suger Mag]

other Woman's Alpine team match ups have been announced. Some amazing athletes representing Team USA.

 

[RedAngie]

Currently watching the slalom part of the men’s combined. When I was a kid I thought it was illegal to come in contact with those flexible poles. They’re all disqualified!!!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Backflips on ice is crazy amazing to see

 

[Suger Mag]

Backflips on ice is crazy amazing to see

I remember Surya Bonaly doing that in Nagano and getting in trouble as it was not a 'legal move".... and she landed on one blade

 

[RedAngie]

I remember Surya Bonaly doing that in Nagano and getting in trouble as it was not a 'legal move".... and she landed on one blade


View attachment 1046536

Yes, I remember that and was surprised that the US guy did it.

I take it that such flips are legal now.

 

[mikeuno]

Looking forward to hockey!

 

[seshat0120]

Yes, I remember that and was surprised that the US guy did it.

I take it that such flips are legal now.

The ISU officially reversed it's ban on backflips in June 2024, allowing them in competition starting with the 2024-2025 season. The move, which was banned for nearly 50 years due to safety concerns after Terry Kubicka perform it in 1976, is no longer considered an illegal move. While no longer penalized with a deduction, backflips are not assigned a technical point value; they are typically included as part of a choreographic sequence to boost artistic scores.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I remember Surya Bonaly doing that in Nagano and getting in trouble as it was not a 'legal move".... and she landed on one blade


View attachment 1046536

Yes I did read about that and can understand why it was not considered a legal move for a long time, so much can go wrong but it takes bravado to do it for sure!

 

[disneyseniors]

I enjoy the skating, but the judging over the past 20 years had so much controversy and bribery that I only watch for the enjoyment. The winners may not be the best performance these days.

You must not have watched 25 years ago or so. The Russian judges Always gave very low scores to American skaters even though the other countries gave them High scores. It was very noticeable. That was when you saw the judges give their individual scores after every event. It was so obvious that they would not give Americans any recognition at all. It soured me on watching the olympics for a while. It seems so much more fair now and I'm glad of that because skating is my favorite Olympic sport. Things are much better now with fair scoring.

 

[Lesverts]

You must not have watched 25 years ago or so. The Russian judges Always gave very low scores to American skaters even though the other countries gave them High scores. It was very noticeable. That was when you saw the judges give their individual scores after every event. It was so obvious that they would not give Americans any recognition at all. It soured me on watching the olympics for a while. It seems so much more fair now and I'm glad of that because skating is my favorite Olympic sport. Things are much better now with fair scoring.

The most noticeable scoring controversies involved Canadians to be honest. Americans won medals regularly and golds at that. Against Russians. Canadians were blocked from podiums because of the old horse trading that use to happen. I remember watching the ice dance at Salt Lake and seeing the Canadian pair skate an amazing free dance, until the very end when the final movement had a problem. Commentator just went, and there is the excuse to keep them off the podium. It was always hilarious that Canadians medaled and won championships at Worlds and Grand Prix final only to skate the same at the Olympics and not medal.

As for judging now. Most of the biggest controversies have been in the park events of skiing and snowboarding. People connected with the X Games being completely dumbfounded by some of the results at every Olympics since park events were added.