Team USA earned its first gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on Saturday and there are more opportunities for our athletes to reach the medal stand. Here are 7 things you need to watch for Sunday, Feb. 11.
1. Mikaela Shiffrin Pyeongchang Debut in Giant Slalom Canceled Due to High Winds
Mikaela Shiffrin's debut at the Pyeongchang Winter Games was canceled about three hours before it was scheduled to begin Monday because of strong winds. It was the second Alpine skiing race called off at the Olympics. It now will be held on Thursday (Wednesday night in the United States.)
Shiffrin became a breakout American star at the Sochi Olympics, where she became the youngest-ever Olympic slalom champion at age 18. She’s looking to add a lot more hardware this time.
Now 22, Shiffrin has committed to skiing both the giant slalom and the slalom In Pyeongchang, and she might add the other three individual women’s races. Last year, Shiffrin became the first woman to win three consecutive slalom world titles in 78 years.
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She’ll look to better her fifth-place finish in the giant slalom at the 2014 Olympics. She won a silver medal in the giant slalom in the 2017 World Championships.
Lindsey Vonn, another standout American skier, will not compete in the giant slalom.
Up first for Shiffrin: the slalom to be held on Wednesday (Tuesday night in the United States.)
2. Team USA Takes Home Bronze in Team Figure Skating
America’s attempt at a gold medal in the figure skating team event came up short as the team finished with the Bronze medal. The team’s chances took a hit when one of its stars, Nathan Chen, fell during his Olympic debut on Friday. Adam Rippon represented the U.S. in the men’s free skate, one of three programs in the Team Event. Rippon had a fluid and steady routine, but his score was hurt by not hitting a quad.
Canada took home the gold and the Olympic Athletes from Russia took home the silver.
3. Team USA Earns Medal in Men's Luge
Massachusetts' Chris Mazdzer put together two phenomenal runs to climb from fourth to third in runs 3 and 4 to win the silver medal in men’s singles luge -- the first men’s singles luge medal in U.S. history. He ended a 54-year drought for Team USA.
Mazdzer, who describes himself as a goofball who knows how to flip the switch to serious when he needs, beamed after crossing the finish line. The highest an American had finished in men's luge singles before today was fourth.
"It's 16 years in the making," Mazdzer told NBC's Lewis Johnson after winning silver. "I've had a rough last two years, and it just shows: Don't ever give up. Whenever you lose, keep fighting. "
Watch the event replay here.
4. USA’s Bergsma Fades in 1500-Meter Speed Skating
Heather Bergsma once again faded in the 1500-meter speed skating race, finishing eighth at the Pyeongchang Games on Monday.
Taking the gold was the Netherlands’ Ireen Wust. Miho Takagi of Japan won silver, Marrit Leenstra, also of the Netherlands, took the bronze.
Bergsma’s teammate, Brittany Bowe, was fifth.
Four years ago in Sochi, Bergsma entered the 1500-meter as a medal favorite — but she struggled there too, finishing seventh. Bergsma beat Wust and Takagi at the 2017 World Championships. Wust had already won a silver medal in Pyeongchang, in the 3000-meter race.
Watch the race as part of NBC 7’s primetime coverage Monday night at 5 p.m. PT.
5. Hendrickson Broke Barriers by Jumping
Until 2014, ski jumping was a men’s-only event. Nordic combined still is.
You name it, the women heard it. Excuse after excuse until 2008. That’s when now-retired U.S. ski jumper Lindsey Van and a group of women from five countries -- including Hendrickson -- sued the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the right to compete in the 2010 Olympics.
The lawsuit failed but public outcry forced the IOC’s hand and women were awarded one ski jumping event.
U.S. ski jumper Sarah Hendrickson made history in Sochi, becoming the first woman to ski jump in the Olympics. On Sunday, she competed in the individual normal hill.
Finals in the event get underway Monday at 4:50 a.m. PT. Watch the event at this link.
6. Fastest Color?
The Norwegian speed skating team abandoned their traditional red suits for blue ones this Olympics after a report by Norwegian scientists that blue is the fastest color.
While Norwegian speed skater Sindre Henriksen had his doubts about the claim, Norway's early results show evidence that there may be some truth to the science. On Day 3 of the Games, Norway's Sverre Lunde Pedersen won the bronze medal in the men's 5000m. The medal is only Norway's second in speed skating since 2006.
If the Norwegians continue to land on the podium we may see more speed skaters dressed in blue come 2022.
[NATL] Flags, Fireworks and a Tiger Puppet: the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Photos
7. And the Gold Goes to...
Here’s a quick run-down of all the medal events:
Women’s Alpine Skiing, Giant Slalom Run: Watch live as part of NBC’s the Olympic coverage beginning Sunday at 4 p.m. PT or on digital platforms Sunday at 8:45 p.m. PT at this link.
Biathlon, Women’s 10k: Watch live on NBC Sports on Monday at 2:10 a.m. PT or on digital platforms at this link
Biathlon, Men’s 12.5 km: Watch live on digital platforms Monday at 4 a.m. PT at this link or catch it on NBC Sports’ broadcast at 9:15 a.m. PT.
Men’s Freestyle Skiing, Moguls: Watch live on digital platforms Monday at 4 a.m. PT at this link or catch it on NBC’s broadcast coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET.
