Ted Ligety, the 2006 Olympic gold medalist in Alpine combined, headed to Vancouver as the No. 1 giant slalom skier. Ligety is “probably the best carver out there and the best turner in the world,” says Jon Nolting of the U.S. Ski Team.
In a theoretical head-to-head 1,500-meter speedskating competition, current world-record holder Shani Davis would beat famed 1980 Olympic gold medalist Eric Heiden by 14.4 seconds, nearly half a lap.
Debuting in the Vancouver Games, ski cross has four skiers racing head-to-head through gates down a course with steep, banked turns and various terrain ramps, or kickers, that get them airborne. A familiar name for the U.S. team will be Daron Rahlves, a three-time Olympian who retired from Alpine skiiing in 2006. Here’s what he has to say about his new sport and how it compares to his old one:
Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Competitors must ski a difficult course while managing their heart rates so their aim will be steady when they stop to shoot at targets from 50 meters.
Some skaters have decided that high-scoring quadruple jumps aren’t always worth the risk: Judges deduct points when a competitor fails to complete a quad jump, so a well-executed -- and easier -- triple jump could possibly be worth more.
Current U.S. national ice dancing champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White are in the hunt for a gold medal. Here is their show-stopping straight line lift from their free dance program.
American Bryon Wilson won the bronze medal in the men's Olympic moguls competition Sunday, dominating the air portion of the event with his back flip double twist.
Intended as a lasting architectural symbol of the Games, the Richmond Olympic Oval will host the long-track speedskating competition during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Located south of downtown, the $143-million facility sits on the banks of the Fraser River across from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond.
Whistler Mountain is the scene of the five Alpine skiing events: downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G and super combined. Men and women ski in separate races on two reshaped and contoured courses: the Dave Murray Downhill for the men and a newly designed course for the women.
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