The United States leads the medal count at the Sochi Olympics in Russia with 23, while Russia has 22, as does the Netherlands. Ted Ligety won the giant slalom at the Sochi Games with a dominating performance Wednesday, becoming the first American man to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing. Leading after the first run, Ligety sped down the Rosa Khutor course in a two-leg combined time of 2 minutes, 45.29 seconds. Ligetys first gold came in combined at the 2006 Turin Games as a 21-year old, before he had ever won a World Cup race. The only other American to win two Olympic golds in Alpine skiing was Andrea Mead Lawrence, who took both the slalom and giant slalom at the 1952 Oslo Games. Bode Miller will skip the last Alpine race at the Sochi Olympics, the slalom, after tweaking his surgically repaired left knee during Wednesdays giant slalom. Miller finished 20th in the giant slalom with a two-run time of 2 minutes, 47.82 seconds, more than 2½ seconds slower than gold medalist Ligety. Given that hell be 40 during the 2018 Winter Games, the GS might have been Millers last Olympic race. Miller owns a U.S.-record six Olympic Alpine medals, including a bronze in the super-G last weekend that made him the oldest ski racer to win a Winter Games medal. He said Wednesday that his knee bothered him after that race, and its been swollen during the Sochi Olympics. He missed all of last season while coming back from a knee operation. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse of Canada have rallied to win their second straight Olympic womens bobsledding gold medal. Humphries and Moyse edged Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams of the United States by 0.10 seconds after four runs that ended Wednesday night. The Canadians entered Wednesday trailing by about a quarter-second. Meyers and Williams had the lead after two runs, but skids cost them time in Runs 3 and 4, and ultimately cost the Americans gold. Williams becomes the fifth Olympian to medal in different events at the Summer and Winter Games. She has gold and silver medals from three Olympic appearances as a sprinter. The Americans also took bronze, with Jamie Greubel and Aja Evans. Its the first time two U.S. sleds have medaled in womens bobsledding. Dustin Brown banged in a go-ahead goal late in the first period and the United States went on to dominate the Czech Republic 5 to 2 Wednesday, earning a spot in the Olympic hockey semifinals for the second straight time. The U.S. will play Canada on Friday for a spot in the gold-medal game. The Canadians beat Latvia 2 to 1. James van Riemsdyk gave the Americans a lead 1:39 into the game. They lost it a few minutes later when one of their defenseman, Ryan McDonagh tried to clear the puck away from the front of the crease and it went off the left skate of Ryan Suter and got past Jonathan Quick. Blues captain David Backes had another goal and an assist, while Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk had an assist. An Illinois lawmaker says Olympic athletes who win medals shouldnt have to pay state tax on their awards. State Senator Julie Morrison is sponsor of legislation approved by a Senate committee Wednesday that would waive the tax. Morrison is a Democrat from the Chicago suburb of Deerfield who says she represents many of Illinois Olympic athletes. She says Olympic athletes proudly represent Illinois and the U.S. and we should honor them for their commitment. Morrison says exempting Illinois taxes on the prizes is one small way to show our appreciation. Olympians who win a gold medal also receive $25,000. Silver medalists win $15,000, while bronze medalists earn $10,000. The legislation also applies to Para-Olympians. It could be considered by the full Senate as early as Thursday.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 15:16:23 +0000
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