[GT] February 16

[trackercowe]

Good on Georgia for getting third first Olympic medal! Even if they're Russian athletes.

I still find it hard to believe Denmark has only medaled once ever at the winter games. How is that possible for a wealthy winter nation?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

I know it's hard to say, but other countries are not getting better at women's hockey. It doesn't look like the exposure at the Olympics is helping. It's become softball the Summer Games. It's great to have a guaranteed medal every games, but they may as well bring two teams from Canada and US.

I really hope you didnt jinx it

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I really hope you didnt jinx it

Nah I don't think the Swiss has a shot, nor a single scoring chance at the end of the game.

[dino7c]

It was still a 2-1 game
Got away with a penalty late
Had one dman on the ice in the last minute..WTF coaches?

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

It was still a 2-1 game

It still was completely one-sided. It's been US/Canada final 6/7 times. The only exception was the shocking Sweden upset twenty years ago against the US. I wonder if there's any other sport where the same two countries have medaled every games.

Thursday's game will be fun, but the final was never really in question.

[RandyHolt]

Nordic combined has become just a Norway/Germany event the past few Olympics (since the 2010 games at least). This year still to be determined but certain countries are just really good at certain events. Norway with ski jumping.

The difference is that they play all these games in hockey for just one medal, where in the other events like Ski Jumping or Nordic combined they keep creating more and more medals.

If we wanted to have women's hockey not be dominated by Canada and the USA, you could have the normal games, then create more hockey events like they do in other sports. Do 2 ten minute periods with only 4 skaters and I bet there would be a lot more upsets along the way.

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by RandyHolt

Nordic combined has become just a Norway/Germany event the past few Olympics (since the 2010 games at least). This year still to be determined but certain countries are just really good at certain events. Norway with ski jumping.

The difference is that they play all these games in hockey for just one medal, where in the other events like Ski Jumping or Nordic combined they keep creating more and more medals.

If we wanted to have women's hockey not be dominated by Canada and the USA, you could have the normal games, then create more hockey events like they do in other sports. Do 2 ten minute periods with only 4 skaters and I bet there would be a lot more upsets along the way.

It would be cool if the Olympics did a 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 mini hockey tournament.

[RandyHolt]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

It would be cool if the Olympics did a 3 vs 3 or 4 vs 4 mini hockey tournament.

I'd personally love to see a 3 vs. 3 or 4 vs. 4 on both the men's and women's side. Short games ideally too.

I didn't watch it but Basketball has a 3 on 3 in the summer Olympics so maybe they could steal the best ideas from that and come up with something.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I don't understand why they wear the big baggy snowsuits for these freestyle events. I know it may mostly be part of the "culture"... but for ease of movement, and to better show off their form, you'd think they'd wear something more form-fitting.

There's at least 3 big reasons:

1. Sponsorship is huge for the sport and the athletes. Brands are even more prominent at most events because they don't wear nation-based kit

2. It's practical and necessary. You can't train for hours in the elements throughout winter, including riding chairlifts all day. And the logistics of wearing tights for competition would actually be really complicated. Alpine skiers have one run per session; they wear a parka and bring a bag up the start, and a volunteer brings it down to the bottom. Whereas freestyle events is multiple runs....up/down/up/down/up/down to don on/off/on/off/on/off would just be a mess.

3. Related to the above, crashing in tights would hurt way more, and they crash more frequently than most other sports. A lot of athletes wear various forms of protection, but outerwear is a surprisingly effective first layer of defence. Build that into form-fitting apparel and you'll sacrifice some of the mobility.

In aerials they wear a happy medium of more form-fitting euro style outerwear. Maybe that creeps in at some point, but I don't think it would make a huge difference...and honestly it would probably just look a bit weird to the judges and may serve to expose flaws

[DoubleK]

The men's slalom was a bloodbath.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Gu stood behind Hunter Hess calling out Trump and the problems in America right now. I respect her for that. She comes across as a great advocate for the games.

Plus, seeing all the MAGA incels continually melt down because she's an attractive athlete that chose to represent her mother's side of the country (and ironically reap the benefits of capitalism) is always a plus.

These bots are acting like she sold state secrets. It's sports lol.