If bullock cart racing gets added to the Olympics, I may have to quit watching. I’ve accepted snowboarding, but pulling a tractor with your teeth? There must be a limit.

The United States could only send one giant slalom snowboarder to this year’s Olympics, and Tyler Jewell won the contested spot. At times, Tyler Jewell has lived in a tent, showered at the YMCA and eaten his meals at a hospital to be able to afford following his snowboard dreams. But Tyler finished 9th in the Olympics, so you probably won’t hear anything about him.

This is the side of the Olympics that many of us forget about– the many athletes who have put their lives on hold, just to compete in the Olympics, even when they know they have very little chance of winning. Why do they do it? Is it just for personal glory? Do they do it for love of country? I don’t know, but I’d rather see a profile on Tyler Jewell than a lot of the nonsense that gets media airtime.

Okay, so americans and snowboard giant slalom apparently don’t mix– at least not well enough to bring home a medal. But there’s a neat story here, anyway. The winners of gold and silver are Swiss brothers Philipp (gold) and Simon (silver) Schoch.

Siegfried Grabner, of Austria, won the bronze.

I’m loathe to even mention this, as I really don’t like all the brouhaha, but I said I would comment after watching, so I will share a few observations.

1. I think the media truly is making more of this than it is.

That being said…

2. After watching the interview with them, I would say there are a lot of hurt feelings and hurt pride on both sides. I think Shani Davis was truly hurt and offended when Chad snubbed him after the 1000, and I think that may have contributed to the infamous “interview”. At the time that it happened, my husband actually said he would probably act like that if his teammates ignored him after the race. So, looks like he was right. On the other hand, I think Hedrick was really offended that Shani Davis made the decision to sit out the team pursuit without even giving him a chance to plead his case or talk to him about it.

3. They’ve both had their say. It’s time to move on. It would be nice if the skating federation had any teeth and could make them sit down in a room together and hash it out. I don’t think it’s good for speedskating, and I don’t think it’s good for America’s image.

They both look a bit like spoiled children, spatting on the playground. “He took my rock, and he won’t give it back.” “Oh, yeah, well he kicked dust on my shoes.”

At the beginning of the Olympics, I was thrilled any time they talked to Chad Hedrick. Now, it just makes me uncomfortable because I don’t like all the controversy. Of course, chances are the media will not let this lie, so Chad is going to have to develop a really good, convincing “no comment” and quit yapping everytime they yank his chain. (I single out Chad here because he still has races remaining, and he is more talkative than Davis.) Does he want to be remembered as the guy who won a bunch of medals or the guy who had a feud with Shani Davis? What kind of Olympic legacy is that?

I was so pleased to see Sasha Cohen skate a clean program. In the past I always enjoyed figure skating. Now, with the emphasis on bigger jumps, a lot of times it just makes me nervous. I remember when it was really rare to see someone fall. Now, it’s increasingly rare to see someone skate a program without a fall. Maybe that’s more exciting, but it definitely makes me more nervous. All of the Americans are in the top seven, which is just great. Hopefully, Sasha will be able to hold it together in the long program and hold off Irina Slutskaya, currently in second, and Shizuka Arakawa, in third. Of course, this is the Olympics, so there’s no guarantee that the short program reflects who will be the overall winners, especially under the new system.

The Americans have not fared well in this Olympic’s aerials competition. Jeret “Speedy” Peterson was the only U.S. man to qualify for the finals. Now, neither of the women from the United States have qualified. Emily Cook was hoping for a comeback, after an accident injured her feet, and doctors told her she would never walk normally again. She finished 19th today. Jana Lindsey also failed to qualify.

On the other hand, there will be more than one comeback kid in the finals. Alisa Camplin qualified for the finals, placing 10th. Jacqui Cooper, also of Australia, missed the last Olympics because of a knee injury. She finished first in today’s qualifying round.

Germany (21) 9 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze (biathlon, Nordic combined, luge, speedskating, cross country, bobsled)
USA (18) 7 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze (snowboard, speed skating, downhill, freestyle, short track, ice dancing, hockey, bobsled)
Norway (18) 2 gold, 8 silver, 8 bronze (biathlon, xcountry, freestyle, nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboarding, downhill)
Austria (16) 8 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze (downhill, Nordic combined, luge, ski jumping)
Russia (15) 7 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze (biathlon, xcountry, figure skating, luge, speed skating, ice dancing)
Canada (14) 3 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze (freestyle, speed skating, x country, short track, figure skating, skeleton, snowboard, bobsled, hockey)
Italy (9) 4 gold, 5 bronze (xcountry, luge, speed skating, bobsled)
Switzerland (8) 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze (downhill, figure skating, skeleton, snowboard, bobsled)
South Korea(7) 3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (short track, speed skating)
Sweden (6) 2 gold, 2 Sivler, 2 bronze (x country, downhill, biathlon, hockey)
France (6) 3 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze (downhill, freestyle, biathlon, snowboarding)
China (7) 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze (figure skating, short track, speed skating)
Netherlands (6) 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze (speed skating)
Finland (5) 2 silver, 3 bronze (ski jumping, snowboarding, x country, freestyle, nordic combined)
Estonia (3) 3 gold (xcountry)
Croatia (2) 1 gold, 1 silver (downhill)
Czech Republic (2) 2 silver (x country)
Ukraine (2) 2 bronze (biathlon, ice dancing)
Australia (1) 1 gold (freestyle)
Bulgaria (1) 1 silver (short track)
Great Britain (1) 1 silver (skeleton)
Slovakia (1) 1 silver (snowboarding)
Latvia(1) 1 bronze (luge)

Women’s bobsled

Gold Sandra Kiriasis, Anja Schneiderheinze Germany
Silver Shauna Rohbock, Valerie Fleming United States
Bronze Gerda Weissensteiner, Jennifer Isacco Italy

Nordic Combined, Sprint

Gold Felix Gottwald Austria
Silver Magnus Moan Norway
Bronze Georg Hettich Germany

Biathlon, Men’s 4×7.5km Relay

Gold Germany
Silver Russia
Bronze France

This morning when I was writing about this race, I just knew this was what was going to happen. After a week of talking about grudge match and talking as though Chad and Shani were the only two in the race, who wins the gold medal? ITALY! Congratulations to all the winners.

Gold Enrico Fabris Italy
Silver Shani Davis United States
Bronze Chad Hedrick United States

There are some big events that will be aired on the Olympics tonight. And, yes, American Idol will be on at the same time. So, here’s what you’ll be missing if you choose to watch American Idol.

The 1500m speedskating “grudge” match between Chad Hedrick and Shani Davis. Here’s hoping all the hype doesn’t cost them both a medal chance. I may be rooting for Joey Cheek.

Ladies figure skating short program. This may determine who wins the gold. Will any of the ladies establish an insurmountable lead?

Women’s bobsledding. There are two American teams in the hunt.

Freestyle skiing– aerials. The qualifying rounds have been delayed twice for weather reasons. Will they finally compete today?

The men and women took 4 out of 6 available medals in today’s alpine events: women’s super G and men’s giant slalom.

Michaela Dorfmeister and Alexandra Meissnitzer took gold and bronze in the super G.

Benjamin Raich and Hermann Maier took gold and bronze in the giant slalom.

It’s so interesting to me when there’s a sport that is so dominated by one country. Austria has 9 out of the 21 alpine medals that have been awarded. Croatia is the country behind them in the alpine medal count, and they’ve won 3. That’s dominance.

Clearly, there were those of us (including myself) who voted our hearts, not who we really think will win the medal count. While not impossible, it’s highly unlikely the U.S. will win the medal count, and yet, I voted for them. And Italy and China? Really? Austria’s made a real comeback today, so that’s becoming an increasingly smart vote. Thanks to all who voted. Sometimes it’s fun just to vote for the country you love– even if you know they’re more than a long shot.

Which country do you think will win the medal count?
Norway: 16% (85)
Germany: 18% (93)
United States: 30% (157)
Russia: 7% (35)
Canada: 20% (107)
Austria: 0% (2)
South Korea: 2% (10)
Switzerland: 1% (5)
China: 1% (7)
Italy: 2% (8)
Other: 4% (22)
Total Votes : 531

Germany (18) 7 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze (biathlon, Nordic combined, luge, speedskating, cross country, bobsled)
Norway (17) 2 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze (biathlon, xcountry, freestyle, nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboarding, downhill)
Austria (15) 7 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze (downhill, Nordic combined, luge, ski jumping)
USA (15) 7 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze (snowboard, speed skating, downhill, freestyle, short track, ice dancing, hockey)
Russia (14) 7 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze (biathlon, xcountry, figure skating, luge, speed skating, ice dancing)
Canada (14) 3 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze (freestyle, speed skating, x country, short track, figure skating, skeleton, snowboard, bobsled, hockey)
Switzerland (8) 2 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze (downhill, figure skating, skeleton, snowboard, bobsled)
South Korea(7) 3 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze (short track, speed skating)
Italy (7) 3 gold, 4 bronze (xcountry, luge, speed skating)
Sweden (6) 2 gold, 2 Sivler, 2 bronze (x country, downhill, biathlon, hockey)
China (7) 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze (figure skating, short track, speed skating)
France (6) 3 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze (downhill, freestyle, biathlon, snowboarding)
Netherlands (6) 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze (speed skating)
Finland (5) 2 silver, 3 bronze (ski jumping, snowboarding, x country, freestyle, nordic combined)
Estonia (3) 3 gold (xcountry)
Croatia (2) 1 gold, 1 silver (downhill)
Czech Republic (2) 2 silver (x country)
Ukraine (2) 2 bronze (biathlon, ice dancing)
Australia (1) 1 gold (freestyle)
Bulgaria (1) 1 silver (short track)
Great Britain (1) 1 silver (skeleton)
Slovakia (1) 1 silver (snowboarding)
Latvia(1) 1 bronze (luge)

The Russians chalked up another gold when Tatyana Navka and Roman Kostomarov won the ice dancing competition. But Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, of the United States, brought home a silver, the first ice dancing medal for the United States since 1976, and only the second ice dancing medal ever. It is also, thus far, America’s only figure skating medal. Tanith, it may be recalled, was granted U.S. citizenship by the passage of a special law, in order to allow her to compete in this Olympics.

The bronze medal went to Yelena Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov of Ukraine.

The Kerrs, who skated to the music of the Porridge Men, finished 10th.

The USA will be bringing home a bronze in women’s hockey. It’s not the gold, but, as someone wrote in a comment on this blog– it’s no piece of lettuce. Contratulations, USA! The US women’s team defeated Finland 4-0 today in the bronze medal match.

And in an update: Canada (of course) took the gold, and Sweden took the silver.