The Games Must Go On

Last night I stood around in the rain-snow-rain as the men's singles luge athletes took their first and second runs of the competition. The day before, an Olympic luge slider from the Republic of Georgia died on the same course when his sled careened off the track and he hit a metal poll going 90 miles an hour. The men's starting area was lowered to reduce speeds, padding was placed on certain poles and the competition continued as scheduled. The Olympic world was shaken, but only momentarily I'm afraid. I hope that this tragic death is not forgotten amid the excitement of the Olympic Games.

In the first full day of competition, the United States surged to the front of the medals race with four podium finishes: one gold, one silver and two bronze. Freestyle moguls skier Hannah Kearney stole gold from the grip of Canadian favorite Jenn Heil. Speedskater Apolo Ohno finished second in the 1500m to earn the silver medal, his sixth career Olympic medal, which ties him for first all-time for an American winter sport athlete and the most among U.S. men. Right behind Apolo in the 1500m was J.R. Celski, who returned to the ice after a lengthy recovery from a leg injury.

Click HERE for quotes from the U.S. luge athletes that I posted.

Canadian observation of the day: they have a chain restaurant called White Spot that I imagine is the Canadian equivalent to Chilis

Medal Count: USA 4, Korea 2, nine others tied with 1