Friday, February 21, 2014

Norway is holding on to first place in earning Gold Medals. However, there was a far greater shake up yesterday as Germany has been passed by Canada and the USA.

The Woman's Ice Hockey was an incredible come back by Canada. The last minute goal by Canada toward the end of the Gold Medal event returned moment to the team and they dominated overtime. 

The ice skating events have proven to the youth of most of the competitors. There are many skaters on the ice at the level of the Olympics for the first time. This years ice skaters will prove to be well matured by the time 2018 rolls around.

The Women's Bobsled event was a wonderful surprise for the USA taking both silver and bronze. 

France swept the medals in Men's Ski Cross. World champion Jean-Frederic Chapuis took gold, Arnaud Bovolenta won silver and Jonathan Midol captured bronze in one of the most exciting events on the Olympic calendar. A single country sweep of medals hasn't occurred since the Summer games of 1924 in men's gymnastics.

A photo finish was necessary with incredible competition in Nordic combined. Norway put in a heroic effort that closed a 25 second gap at the finish line.

Jack de Menezes
February 21, 2014

Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska (click here) has announced that she has withdrawn from the Winter Olympics in Sochi in order to protest against the violence in her home country after the International Olympic Committee banned athletes from wearing a black armband ion tribute.

The 24-year-old, who has already finished 27th in the women’s super-G and 43rd in the giant slalom, was expected to compete in Friday’s slalom competition, but Matsotska has confirmed that she will not compete due to the IOC’s ruling following the violent and tragic clashes in Kiev.

 “We wanted to wear black armbands to mourn the people who have died in Kiev, but the IOC told us it was not allowed,” Bogdana Matsotska said. “In these conditions it is simply not possible to compete. We don't feel comfortable here and we can't compete.”...

The best of curling occurred yesterday with Sweden and Canada. The tough competitors battled to the end, but, Canada walked away with a 6-3 victory for the Olympic Gold.

The Half-Pipe still belongs to an American in the women's competition where Maddie Bowman won gold, France's Marie Martinod took silver and Ayana Onozuka of Japan won bronze. This new competition has been embraced internationally.