First, the scoreboard to see which team is making a statement that they want the title:
For one such story of dominance we turn to Cross-Country skiing and the Men's Sprint Finals. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway is the favorite...he knows it...his competitors know it...it's -9C outside (15F) and he strides up to the blocks and rips off his hat and throws it down. Superman isn't cold. He spits on hats. Take that, competitors wearing your toboggans...hope you enjoy your warm ears while the Klaebo eats some snow.
The field hangs with Klaebo until they reach the final hill, which the competitors have taken to calling "Mount Klaebo." Klaebo strides over the hill like Edmund Hillary and leaves the remaining field in the dust. Gold was destined and it was achieved - Russian Ministry of Sport expected nothing less. Suk-hee year settled for the silver from the "best of the rest" Federico Pellegrino.
The women's sprint was also filled with dominance, though highly contested. Stina Nilsson of Luge Yourself held on for the Gold while Soohorang Success' Maiken Caspernan Falla finished just short for the silver. Team USA member Jessie Diggins, on team Luge Yourself, fought valiantly but came up short looking for Team USA's first ever medal in Cross-Country Skiing. In the semi-final she gave everything she had to literally finish second by the toe of her boot and secure a final spot. It was as good a finish as you will see, but it was clear all her energy was used up in the final.
Alpine Skiing finally got an event in, despite the dicey weather, and the Super Combined concluded with the expected #1 skiier Marcel Hirscher delivering the Gold for Team Mark. Hirscher sliced and diced the slalom course barely moving a flake of snow. A hero in Austria, and a hero in the Fantasy Olympics. Red White and Luge was not too disappointed with Alexis Pintaurault holding serve and getting the silver behind Hirscher.
The women's luge final didn't experience the complete surprises of the men's event - Luge Yourself clearly lived up to his name with Dajana Eitberger of Germany getting the silver, but Soohorang Success was celebrating her success as Natalie Geisenberger of Germany claimed the Gold.
The one toss up was between Suk-hee year's Summer Britcher of the US and Run DMZ's Alex Gough for bronze and Run DMZ claimed the bronze points.
Other stories of dominance:
- Chloe Kim was head and shoulders above everyone else in the halfpipe having won the gold before her final run. Team Mark was pleased.
- Stealing from the next day but what an awesome display to watch live - Sean White has one run to win gold and he makes it happen - what a competition and what a performance. Dudes were out there falling all over the place trying to do insane tricks to try and compete. Scotty James was the choice by Seoul Searching for Gold, but the Australian couldn't land the last run and ended with Bronze.
- The first Curling competition concluded with the mixed doubles pair from Canada claiming the Gold as expected - Lindsey Vonn-miting celebrates the 20 points. Suk-hee year had the Swiss mixed team that secured silver.
Not all was chalk, as there were a few huge misses:
- In Short Track, the #2 overall pick Choi Min-jeong of Incheon Closer was in the final and was edged out narrowly by Arianna Fontana of Italy for the Gold. In review judges determined Choi interfered and was disqualified, sending her off the medal stand completely. The only point getter as a result was Team Mark, whose Kim Boutin of Canada snuck onto the podium for Bronze by moving up as a result of the DQ. Incheon Closer was not happy and may have been yelling at the judges.
- In Long Track the Dutch took Gold and Silver (surprise, surprise) and another mad celebration at the Holland House is happening, but the favorite didn't come through - Lindsey Vonn-miting's Koen Verweij calls himself THE VIKING and looks like Thor, but lightning didn't strike today. His competitor in the pair fell down and with no one to race against he couldn't keep on track and finished 8th. Kjeld Nuis of Russian Ministry of Sport dominated the race and claimed the Gold instead.
I GOT SOUL BUT I'M NOT A SOLDIER
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