Simon Amman hasn't retired yet? O.O   Is he, like, aiming to do two SLC Olympics?

Sarah Sjöström who has not competed since August will take a longer break from competitions during 2025. However she is still aiming for her 6th olympics.

Just wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone here! Been enjoying the predictions. I'm not great at these, but always love to read other people's opinions. 

Sunday December 29th, 2024   Preliminary Round Day 4 Schedule   Group A Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5)   (CET 20:30) United States vs Finland Period-by-Period: December 29th 2024, h. 14:30, Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa   (CET 01:30 - 30.12.) Canada vs Germany Period-by-Period: December 29th 2024, h. 19:30, Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa   Group B Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5)   (CET 18:00) Switzerland vs Sweden Period-by-Period: December 29th 2024, h. 12:00, TD Place, Ottawa   (CET 23:00) Czechia vs Slovakia Period-by-Period: December 29th 2024, h. 17:00, TD Place, Ottawa

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS   Latvia   1 - 5  United States Period-by-Period: 0-1, 0-3, 1-1 December 28th 2024, h. 15:30, Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa  

DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS   Kazakhstan   2 - 14  Czechia Period-by-Period: 1-4, 0-8, 1-2 December 28th 2024, h. 13:00, TD Place, Ottawa  

Saturday December 28th, 2024   Preliminary Round Day 3 Results   Group A Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5)   Latvia   1 - 5  United States Period-by-Period: 0-1, 0-3, 1-1 December 28th 2024, h. 15:30, Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa                          Group A Provisional Standing After Day 3         Nation P W(OTW) L(OTL) GF GA +/- Pt. United States 2 2(0) 0(0) 15 5 +10 6 Canada 2 1(0) 1(1) 6 3 +3 4 Finland 2 1(0) 1(0) 3 5 -2 3 Latvia 2 1(1) 1(0) 4 7 -3 2 Germany 2 0(0) 2(0) 5 13 -8 0   Group B Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5)   Kazakhstan   2 - 14  Czechia Period-by-Period: 1-4, 0-8, 1-2 December 28th 2024, h. 13:00, TD Place, Ottawa a Group B Provisional Standing After Day 3 a Nation P W(OTW) L(OTL) GF GA +/- Pt. Czechia 2 2(0) 0(0) 19 3 +16 6 Sweden 2 2(0) 0(0) 13 3 +10 6 Slovakia 2 1(0) 1(0) 4 6 -2 3 Switzerland 2 0(0) 2(0) 2 7 -5 0 Kazakhstan 2 0(0) 2(0) 3 22 -19 0   Nations Qualified for the Quarterfinals (Partial)   Czechia Sweden United States

We never beat Canada in the WJC so yeah that would be a major upset... we were mega close in that goddamned quarterfinal when Bedard "Bellinghamed" us in the last overtime minute. I doubt we will be any closer of that in the next decade.   won in all its history only 3 matches in world juniors preliminary Round and never over a top tier nation so this win over Canada in CAN is certainly one of the biggest upsets of this sport comparable to - QF in Salt Lake or - Katowice madness or Squaw Valley MOI

But if we would have done it, no one would call it a surprise :(

so...   my 2 cents for this year (unfortunately, I couldn't pick anybody in the last couple of categories because of a lack of time )...   BEST MALE ATHLETE for sportsmen in Olympic sports   #1:  Leon Marchand (Swimming) #2:  Harry Lavreysen (Track Cycling) #3:  Tadej Pogacar (Road Cycling) #4:  Marco Odermatt (Alpine Skiing) #5:  Jannik Sinner (Tennis) #6:  Armand Duplantis (Athletics)     BEST FEMALE ATHLETE for sportswomen in Olympic sports   #1:  Summer McIntosh (Swimming) #2:  Simone Biles (Artistic Gymnastics) #3:  Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Athletics) #4:  Lisa Carrington (Sprint Canoeing) #5:  Beatrice Chebet (Athletics) #6:  Imane Khelif /  Raygun (IOC Circus Farce)    BEST NON-OLYMPIC ATHLETE for athletes in Non-Olympic sports and disciplines   #1:  Shoei Ohtani (Baseball) #2:  Naoya Inoue (Boxing) #3:  Oleksandr Usyk (Boxing) #4:  Patrick Mahomes (American Football) #5:  Jasprit Bumrah (Cricket) #6:  /  Ilia Topuria (Mixed Martial Arts)     BEST PARALYMPIC ATHLETE for athletes with a disability   #1:  Jiang Yuyan (Swimming) #2:  Stefano Raimondi (Swimming) #3:  Catherine Debrunner (Athletics) #4:  Ilhar Boki (Swimming) #5:  Sun Gang (Fencing) #6:  Saysunee Jana (Fencing)     BEST YOUTH ATHLETE for athletes up to 18 years old (born after January 1st, 2006) (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  Kaylia Nemour (Artistic Gymnastics) #2:  Huang Yuting (Shooting) #3:  Viviana Marton (Taekwondo) #4:  Tara Babulfath (Judo) #5:  Metodej Jilek (Inline & Ice Speedskating) #6:  Sorato Anraku (Sport Climbing)     BEST MEN'S TEAM for national men's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  United States (Basketball) #2:  Denmark (Handball) #3:  Spain (Football) #4:  India (Cricket) #5:  South Africa (Rugby XV) #6:  Australia Pursuit Team (Track Cycling)     BEST WOMEN'S TEAM for national women's teams or groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  Italy (Volleyball) #2:  United States (Basketball) #3:  Netherlands (Field Hockey) #4:  Norway (Handball) #5:  Japan (Softball) #6:  Canada (Ice Hockey)     BEST DOUBLES/PAIR OR MIXED TEAM for doubles and pairs or mixed teams and groups (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  Ruggero Tita & Caterina Banti (Sailing) #2:  David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig (Beach Volleyball) #3:  Ana Patricia & Duda Lisboa (Beach Volleyball) #4:  Fintan McCarty & Paul Donovan (Rowing) #5:  women's 4*100m Medley Relay Team (Swimming) #6:  France Mixed Team (Judo)     BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR for the most improved athlete (aged 19 or over) or national team (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  Adriana Ruano (Shooting) #2:  Daniel Wiffen (Swimming) #3:  Jasmine Paolini (Tennis) #4:  women's Field Hockey Team #5:  Eleanor Harvey (Fencing) #6:  men's Epee Team (Fencing)     COMEBACK OF THE YEAR for athletes or national teams who made a comeback performance in 2024 (including Olympic, Non-Olympic and Paralympic sports)   #1:  Lisa Vittozzi (Biathlon) #2:  Kristof Milak (Swimming) #3:  Steeve Guerdat (Equestrian) #4:  Tom Daley (Diving) #5:  Sunisa Lee (Artistic Gymnastics) #6:  Therese Johaug (Cross Country Skiing)