For Norway, the country's collapse at the Olympics has prompted fevered news coverage, and speculation that the team’s coaches, and ski technicians, could lose their jobs after the games.
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Every skier’s dream. Cross country skiing on it’s biggest stage.
Photo Gallery: Olympic Men’s Relay
BrainspiralFebruary 17, 2014
Some of our favorite photos from the second half of the men's 4 x 10-kilometer relay on Sunday at the Sochi Olympics, including Sweden's Marcus Hellner literally jumping out of his skis and Russia's Alexander Legkov tebowing after the finish.
No Targets, Or Solution, In Sight for Biathlon As Fog Descends on Sochi Mountains
Chelsea LittleFebruary 17, 2014
Fog has already delayed the men's mass start biathlon competition several times, throwing athletes, coaches, and fans for a loop. It is currently scheduled for 3:30 p.m. local time, although conditions at the venue have not improved at all over the course of the morning. While athletes and journalists can joke about the delays and fog, the decision-making process is no laughing matter for race officials.
Sweden won both the women's and men's relays at the Olympics for the first time since 1972 and the men defended their 2010 title with a miraculous first leg from Lars Nelson and dominant performances from Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, and Marcus Hellner, respectively.
When Andy Newell collapsed during the first leg of today's Olympic relay, the U.S. team had to switch their perspective. No problem, said Noah Hoffman: "you have to be ready to roll with anything and take what’s given to you." The Americans ultimately finished 11th, one spot ahead of a Canadian team that had benched Devon Kershaw and Alex Harvey.
Andy Newell skied fast and relaxed through eight kilometers of the Olympic relay's scramble leg, but suffered a figurative collapse in the final meters and lost over a minute of time. After tagging off to Erik Bjornsen, he more literally collapsed and was brought immediately back to the athlete village by team doctor Larry Gall. Here's what we know so far about his condition.
For U.S. Biathletes, No Wax Truck Is No Problem in Sochi
Nathaniel HerzFebruary 16, 2014
The U.S. biathlon team grinds their skis in Sochi in a ramshackle orange shipping container cluttered with machinery and coiled extension cords—with a couple of full beer cans propping up their jury-rigged waxing bench.
Photo Gallery: Olympic Women’s Relay, From Start to Finish
BrainspiralFebruary 16, 2014
Photos from a bright and warm day at the Laura cross-country venue, where Sweden picked up a sensational win and a strong and spirited cheering section helped the U.S. women through a tough race.
Both Susan Dunklee and Megan Imrie turned 28 years old this week - but how do you celebrate a birthday at the Olympics, when you are still training and recovering for a few of the most important races of your life, maybe even one that night? With a little creativity, and help from your friends.
Canadians 14th in Women’s Olympic Relay: ‘We Need to Work on the Strength of our Women’s Team’
Alex KochonFebruary 15, 2014
It was a rough day for Canada in the women's 4 x 5 k relay after Perianne Jones got popped on the first leg. With a strung-out pack, the gap to 13th became difficult to overcome and the Canadians finished 14th.
Medal hopefuls to start the day, the U.S. women had to reconcile with ninth place in Saturday's Olympic 4 x 5 k relay, a result they said didn't reflect their best day but one which indicated they were still very much a team, united in success as well as on off-days.
As Norway blew the wax and muddled their way through their worst women's relay in recent memory, Sweden was making a different kind of history. Charlotte Kalla took over as anchor leg with a 25 second deficit to the two leaders, but skied a sensational race to win the team's first gold since 1960.
‘Fighting Spirit’ Takes Dreissigacker to Career-Best 23rd, Leads North Americans in Olympic 15 k
Chelsea LittleFebruary 14, 2014
Disappointed with her sprint result and frustrated to sit out the pursuit, Hannah Dreissigacker "made a plan" and executed to achieve the best finish of her career, by 30 places -- at the Olympics, no less. The first-time Olympian led all North Americans with a 23rd-place finish. Megan Imrie of Canada placed 30th.
Dasha Domracheva relied on super-fast skiing and the confidence of a gold medal already in the bag to earn her second of these Olympics -- a first for Belarus in any Winter Games. Selina Gasparin shot clean for the first time in her career to take home Switzerland's first biathlon medal with silver, and Belarus had an unprecedented two on the podium with Nadezhda Skardino in third.
Devon Kershaw said he felt better skiing Friday than previously at this Olympics, but it was hard to tell with too much grip on a klister day in extremely soft and warm conditions. Kershaw placed 35th, his teammate Ivan Babikov finished 39th, Graeme Killick was 65th and Alex Harvey did not finish.
Today's Olympic 15 k saw a podium made of exclusively of skiers that had suffered injuries over the past year, led by Switzerland's Dario Cologna, just three months removed from ankle surgery.
Reactions from the U.S. men's team after a hot and slushy 15 k classic race at the Olympics. Noah Hoffman: "I mean, I love hanging out in this weather, it feels like springtime." But for racing!?
A New Niskanen Stuns Ski World with Fourth in Olympic 15 k, 0.2 Seconds From Bronze
Chelsea LittleFebruary 14, 2014
We've heard about disappointment - but what about amazing, unexpected success? 22-year-old Iivo Niskanen of Finland almost held onto bronze in the Olympic men's 15 k classic. "In my 26-year career in coaching, the best thing is to see a star be born," coach Magnar Dalen told FasterSkier.
Petter Northug of Norway, who was a World Champion last season over the same distance, will not start today's 15 k individual race - and neither will Alexander Legkov and Maxim Vylegzhanin of Russia, Johannes Duerr of Austria, or Maurice Manificat of France. Norwegian and Russian coaches chat about the reasoning.
On Thursday, two days after a disappointing result in the Olympic sprint, U.S. skier Kikkan Randall talked about how she'd been buoyed by her fans, her attitude in the days after the race, and her preparation for the rest of the events at the games.