Ester Ledecka was the most unexpected surprise of these Games. She is a snowboarder, but she won a gold medal in Alpine Skiing, Women's Super G, the event Mikaela Shiffrin was supposed to compete in but didn't. It was the event Lindsey Vonn was supposed to medal in, but Vonn finished off the podium. Shiffrin even went so far as to let Ledecka borrow her skis! When she finished the course she said, how did that happen?!
Alpine Skiing: Women's Super G
1. Ester Ledecka, Czech Republic, 1:21.11
2. Anna Veith, Austria, +.01
3. Tina Weirather, Liechtenstein, +.11
Four years ago in Sochi, Nick Goepper seemed to be on top of the world. He was part of a U.S. medal sweep, only the third in U.S. Winter Olympic history with Gus Kenworthy and Josh Christensen. Last month Goepper revealed that that in 2014 and 2015, he suffered from issues with drinking, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The issues were so serious that he went to rehab in the fall of 2015. Goepper finished in 7th place in the X Games last month. Goepper couldn't believe that he had come to these Olympics and had the result that he did. He made it all the way to a silver medal in Slopestyle. Goepper said that his teammate Gus Kenworthy is a great example for him.
Snowboarding: Men's Slopestyle
1. Oystein Braaten, Norway, 95.0
2. Nick Goepper, U.S.A., 93.60
3. Alex Beaulieu Marchand, Canada, 92.40
It was theirs to lose and theirs to win and when it came down to it, there just wasn't anyone better than Virtue and Moir. The Canadian ice dancers have been in a partnership for two decades, some of these other teams were in diapers. Virtue and Moir almost gave up after Sochi in 2014, coming in second to Meryl Davis and Charlie White (who were their training partners at the time). They came back on the circuit in 2016 with a renewed spirit and a passion that was unrivaled. There was no other choice in the end. But I'll tell you what, the other medalists were amazing! Papadakis and Cizeron are the future of ice dance, and I will look for them to take gold in four years time. Their free dance to Moonlight Sonata was flawless. The Shibutani's have so much to be proud of, their free skate to Paradise was captivating, I literally could not take my eyes off the screen. I loved how the music and the skate and their expression all tied together, and just gave us this message of hope. It was truly inspirational.
Figure Skating: Ice Dance
1. Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir, Canada, free dance: 122.40, overall: 206.07
2. Gabrielle Papadakis & Guillaume Cizeron, France, free dance: 123.35 (1), overall: 205.28
3. Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani, U.S.A., free dance: 114.86 (3), overall: 192.59
4. Madison Hubbell & Zachary Donohue, U.S.A., free dance: 109.94 (5), overall: 187.69
Lindsey Vonn wrapped up her Olympics doing what she set out to do. She walked away with another Olympic medal. Vonn's final Olympic appearance was laced with some frustration but her poise and experience in the Downhill earned her a bronze.
Alpine Skiing: Women's Downhill
1. Sofia Goggia, Italy, 1:39.22
2. Ragnhild Mowinckel, Norway, +.09
3. Lindsey Vonn, U.S.A., +.47
Elana Meyers Taylor is a natural born athlete. She was offered scholarships to four different colleges for four different sports! She once played for U.S.A. rugby. When she took up bobsledding in 2007, she had never owned a winter coat before. Yet now, here we are, 11 years later and three Olympics later, and Taylor has won three medals, 1 bronze and 2 silver.
Bobsled: Women's (2)
1. Germany, 3:22.45, Mariama Jamenka and Lisa Buckwitz
2. U.S.A, +.07, Elana Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs
3. Canada, +44, Kaillie Humphries and Phylicia George
Girl power! This Olympics was all about first for the U.S. women and women everywhere. Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won the first ever medal in Women's Cross Country and it was a gold at that. Diggins was even selected to be flag bearer for the U.S. team at the closing ceremonies.
Cross Country: Women's Team Sprint
1. U.S.A., Kikken Randall and Jessie Diggins, 15:56.47
2. Sweden, Charlotte Kalla and Stina Milsson, +.19
3. Norway, Marit Bjorgen and Maiken Casperson Falla, +2.97
The U.S. women ended another drought, this one in speed skating where the women had not medaled since 2002 and the men had not medaled since 2010! Heather Bergsma who skated in the women's team pursuit said this had been a disappointing games for them and, she was, "super happy that they were able to salvage a medal".
Speedskating: Women's Team Pursuit
1. Japan, 2:53.89
2. Netherlands, +1.59
3. U.S.A., Heather Bergsma, Brittany Bowe, Mia Manganello, Carljin Schoutens, +2:59.27
For the first and almost certainly last time, Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn competed against each other in the Olympics. Most gave Shiffrin the edge in this U.S. team head to head. Shiffrin didn't get the gold she was expected to, but she did pick up a silver, bringing her total at this games to 2 medals-- a gold and a silver. Vonn, who was competing in what most say will be her last games, hooked a tip in slalom and skied out. Shiffrin said winning two medals in a game was "insane" and Vonn joked that she'd never have to ski slalom again.
Alpine Skiing: Women's Combined
1. Michelle Gisin, Switzerland, 2:20.90
2. Mikaela Shiffrin, U.S.A., +.97
3. Wendy Holdener, Switzerland, +1.44
David Wise almost missed qualifying for the finals in the Men's Freeski Halfpipe, the defending champion fell on a run and had to play it safe on another. When he got to the finals, he gave it all he had, didn't play it safe, and wiped out on a couple of runs. When it mattered though, Wise came up BIG and landed his third and final run. His run featured double corks spun in four different directions, something the judges look at when determining scores. Alex Ferreira finished in second place and was easily the most consistent competitor of the day earning three scores in the 90's. Finally, at only the age of 16, Nico Porteous earned a bronze, able to calm his nerves before his runs with the help of his sports psychologist.
Men's Freeski Halfpipe
1. David Wise, U.S.A., 97.20
2. Alex Ferreira, U.S.A., 96.40
3. Nico Porteous, New Zealand, 94.80
Big Air made it's Olympic debut in Pyeong Chang, and it did not disappoint. The total score is based on the best two out of three runs scores combined. Anna Gasser from Austria was consistent throughout all her runs and was in second place behind Jamie Anderson who won a gold already earlier in these games. Anna knew the score she needed going in and decided to take the risk and go big on her final run. It paid off, and vaulted her to first place.
Snowboarding: Women's Big Air
1. Anna Gasser, Austria, 89+96= 185
2. Jamie Anderson, U.S.A., 90+87.25= 177..25
3. Zoi Sadowki Synott, New Zealand, 65.50+92= 157.50
Considered to be perhaps the marquee event at the Winter Olympics-- Women's Figure Skating did not disappoint in terms of technical abilities, artistry, and drama! Despite strong showings at nationals and worlds the U.S. women did not make it to the podium. The real competition was between two athletes from Russia, Alina Zagitova and Yevgenia Medvedeva, who are training partners and even friends but when they are on the ice, all they think about is doing their best and winning. Zagitova's gold medal was only the second for Russia in Women's Figure Skating which in prior years had been overshadowed by Men's and Pair's. Both ladies suggest that they are honored to represent their coaches, figure skating, and that they truly love their sport. With all the young Russian girls at home watching, will Zagitova and Medvedeva be back in four years, only time and dedication will tell.
Figure Skating: Women's Final
1. Alina Zagitova, Olympic Athletes from Russia, 239.57
2. Yevgenia Medvedeva, Olympic Athletes from Russia, 238.26
3. Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada, 231.02
4. Satoko Miyahara, Japan, 222.38
5. Carolina Kostner, Italy, 212.44
6. Kaori Sakamoto, Japan, 209.71
7. Dabin Choi, Korea, 199.26
8. Maria Sotskova, Olympic Athletes from Russia, 198.10
9. Bradie Tennell, U.S.A., 192.35
10. Mirai Nagasu, U.S.A., 186.54
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