Sochi Winter Olympic Medal Roundup: USA Tied For 1st Place
There's less than one week of competition left, but as it stands right now the USA doing really well. In fact, the Americans are tied with arch-rival and host country Russia for the most Winter Olympic medals with 18. The medal breakdown for America is: five gold, four silver and nine bronze. Russia counters with five gold, a whopping seven silver and six bronze.
Unfortunately for Team USA, they flopped in several high profile events including Men's Halfpipe Snowboarding, Men's and Women's Speed Skating, and Women's Snowboard Cross. Shaun White had the opportunity to become one of the most dominant winter olympic athletes ever, but missed the podium all together in the pipe. White was a two-time defending gold medalist in the event. Ironically, White's teammate and rival Danny Davis placed 10th as the U.S. men failed to metal in the event for the first time since it's inception in 1998.
Lindsey Jacobellis, the world's most dominant snowboard cross racer for the past decade, failed to reach the final race for the the second straight winter olympic games. While racing in the semifinals Jacobellis fell and lost her first place spot. She couldn't recover and wound up in the small final (consolation race.) After winning the small final Jacobellis finished in seventh place. Her best Olympic finish was second in the 2006 Turin Games.
The biggest letdown comes courtesy of Team USA's speed skating squad. Heather Richardson, Brittany Bowe, and Shani Davis were among the team's medal contenders. With a series of falls and perhaps a faulty Under Armour-designed speed skating suit, no American has finished among the top 5 in their respective races.
It hasn't been all bad though: Bode Miller and Andrew Weibracht both medaled in the super-G ski race. Miller became the oldest Alpine skier to win an Olympic medal when he tied for third. Weibracht nearly won gold and walked away a silver medalist.
Team USA also won it's first two-man bobsled medal in a half-century thanks to the "Steves." Steven Holcomb and Steven Langton finished in third place.
Russia has dominated the luge, skeleton and bobsled competitions to such a degree that a Canadian coach accused them of cheating.
Are you satisfied with Team USA's winter olympic performance? Let me know in the comments section below.