orangeman

Gogolev in first (obviously very early, but he qualifies for the long program).

Congratulations SWEDEN!

The Swedish lady curler looks like a character Kate McKinnon would play on SNL of a stereotypical curler.

The duality of sport.

Just thinking about things (since NOTHING is going on right now and work is boring). Not jinxing anything, but Kim Boutin has a great chance at tying Oleksiak and De Grasse for most medals by a Canadian here in Italy. She stands at 5 now, and has shots in the 500 and the women's relay. She could also tie or surpass Hamelin and Klassen as the most decorated Winter Olympians. I guess you don't get chatter unless you have a gold (and she could still get one). Dubois also has a chance to do the same, but not getting out of the heats in the 1000 today hurt those chances. Something to keep an eye on, anyway.

If it was just about speed and skill, Canada could win all the events, with multiple medals in some events. But it's not just about speed and skill. Look what happened to the Koreans today in the semis. Sometimes lady luck just kicks you in the teeth. Canada coming through on all their short track potential would be the outlier, so predictors may just choose one or two races for them to miss to be realistic. The most medals any country has ever won at one Olympics in short track is 10, all the way back in 2006. It's much more competitive now, so to expect a country to win 9-11 medals is pretty wild. It's entirely possible, and my fingers are getting cramped from being crossed so much. But as results come in, we have to be realistic.

I'm satisfied with where Canada is with medals. I was hopeful for a curling bronze, but Maltais and Oldham coming through on their mid-long-shots make up for it. Canada could have won gold today, but they could have just as easily not have medaled at all, so a silver is perfectly fine right now. They're looking good in moguls and figure skating, too. Some disappointing results besides medals in ski jumping and x-country skiing. Thursday is make or break. Some really good shots at medals, including some golds. We'll see how the curling teams are going, and it's the first game for the men's hockey team, too. I know because of the slow schedule for Canada we're getting antsy, but it'll all be worth it when the medals start to flood in later. I hope.

Stop stealing our thing! 4th is OUR THING!

Wow, GB walks away with no medal after that start.

It's part of the sport, you see it every meet. Korea isn't the first, and they won't be the last. In the famous race where Steven Bardbury won gold for Australia, the Canadian skater wasn't involved in the pushing and shoving at the front, but was taken out by them when they fell. You can't just go on reputation. Canada was favoured to win today, but they didn't even while completing the race cleanly. It's all part of the race, that's why it's a strategy to get to the front asap to avoid all this. As I said in a previous post, I would be pissed if it was Canada, so I get it. But it's part of the sport. Koreans have gone down and taken out other innocent skaters in the past, too.

St-Germain had a pretty strong run in the Slalom (7th) to bring her team to 13th overall.

Schwinghammer into the final!

According to the official results page, she has qualified.

They said the whole team was there.

They took so long to present these medals, now I have to go to work.

It's really not that shocking. Italy was Canada's biggest threat here with a healthy Fontana on the team in their own country. Canada didn't really challenge in that final, but if they did it could have caused a crash or DQ. Get one medal under your belt and move forward. And great result for Belgium!

I look at it positively. Just completing the race and getting on the podium will give all the Canadians confidence moving forward. It's way to early to panic, but I really hope this isn't another Beijing situation where golds are elusive.

Seems like the mixed relay is made for the home team. France gold in 2030?

Silver is ok. But gold was wanted. Starting order determined this one.

Silver is ok.

Going with Rousell instead of Dubois in the final. Interesting.

It sucks for Korea, but they weren't in a qualifying position when the crash happened. That's why you try to get out in front. I'd be pissed if it was Canada, though.

Good for Belgium! Great awareness by the Korean skater to tag up there.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand breath.

My response to most of your predictions today: