Day 7: Everything is Practice...Until the Olympics

 Maxim Naumov of the US competed in Figure Skating and finished 20th, but he proudly honored his former Olympian parents, who tragically died in the Washington DC plane crash last year. A maxim that Maxim said his parents repeated to him was that "Everything is Practice, until the Olympics."  Those rings that weigh above the competition every four years bring out the best to compete, and the bring the pressure that goes with the moment.  

Ilia Malinin seemed to have unending confidence and bravado, embracing every interview and, until now, embracing every moment in his career - he's won basically everything for three years. But all of that was practice - this was the moment, the stage, the chance for coronation as Olympic Champion. It was hard to watch as he completely mentally lapsed on trick after trick - for someone who spins for a living it seemed like the room was spinning out of control for him.

  

It was also hard not to immediately think of Simone Biles, crowned "The GOAT," even wearing a necklace championing the moniker, much like Ilia embraced the "Quad god" title with shirts, etc. Both have now had moments under the brightest lights where the pressure of the moment was too much, those rings hanging overhead and on every wall tighten around them, humanity entered the picture.  Nothing is ever completely a "sure thing" in sports.

Condolences to Blades of Glory-ish. No medal for Malinin in this event. No medals for any of us from the men's final.

Speaking of tensions on the ice, we had juicy curling allegations flying, where the Canadian curling team came under fire for some illegal touching of the granite.

Tempers flared, Sweden asked the officials to watch closely. Kennedy exploded, flinging curses across the ice.  It will be interesting to see if they are able to adjust, or get swept away in the distractions.  

Around the Games:

• Cross-Country - KLAEBO GOLD again, 3rd of the games, now tying the all time winter mark with 8, Schrimscetti Skis is very pleased with this pick. Hedegart managed a Bronze for Blades of Glory-ish.
  
  
• Biathlon - the dude with the girlfriend story got another Bronze! Guess he's not too distracted. None of the favorites hit today though, no medals awarded to us.
  
  
• Snowboard - the men's halfpipe final is arguably the most entertaining event at the Winter Olympics. This was truly an epic battle, scores were so high that the competitors were forced into having to push tricks so late into the run that they had to land after the end of the halfpipe to try and get some extra points, but couldn't pull it off. None of us had the medal winners, but it's worth a watch! 
  
  In women's Snowboard cross, Josie Baff did take home the Gold for Im-Pasta-Bowl Odds.
  
  
• Skeleton - Matt Weston wins the GOLD for Schrimscetti Skis, Silver to Axel Jungk of My Verona, and Bronze to Christopher Grotheer of Im-Pasta-Bowl Odds.
  
  
• Speed Skating - Men's 10k, no winners from our teams.

Ice Ice Penne did NOT have their name called today, so that means, for now, there's a change at the top of the leaderboard! No wire-to-wire victory this year:

Congrats to the Schrimscetti Skis on taking over the top of the podium!  

Hope you all feel golden love tomorrow on Valentine's Day!