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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 21, 2013 15:24:13 GMT -8
Well isn't THIS just 'peachy'... Russian rebels in Syria 'pose threat to Olympics'by Nicolas Miletitch / Yahoo News / Sept 21, 2013 Despite the security measures which the Russian government is taking to protect the Olympic venue, Shvedov told AFP that "Sochi is quite vulnerable... to an attack by groups trained in urban battles in Syria."
In July, fears of an attack intensified when Islamist warlord Doku Umarov called on militants to stage attacks against the February Games.
In a video, he said jihadists must "exert maximum efforts" to prevent the high-profile international event from going ahead in Sochi, a city nestled between the Black Sea and the Caucasus mountains.Read it all: news.yahoo.com/russian-rebels-syria-pose-threat-olympics-020438411.html
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 29, 2013 15:49:22 GMT -8
100 DAYS UNTIL SOCHI!!! The Today Show had some Olympic segments this morning - here's one that has Eddy Alvarez at about the :40 mark, preceded by a very short Shani Davis appearance: VIDEO: www.today.com/video/today/53403379#53403374
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 4, 2013 19:23:58 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 19, 2013 22:16:07 GMT -8
...and the official bummer news. No women's relay for U.S. speedskatersBy Jared S. Hopkins, Tribune reporter 8:01 pm, November 18, 2013 For the first time since short-track speed skating became an Olympic medal sport in 1992, the U.S. will not have a team in the women’s relay.Read it all: my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78241431/
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Post by sk8erfan on Nov 22, 2013 4:52:00 GMT -8
The official quota list has been posted. Here's the link to the ISU PDF.
Here's the quota table in a bit of a simpler format (in my opinion):
Click on the table to make it bigger or look at the Google doc to see the table.
You can look at the Google doc with my calculations if you want more details about exactly where each country was ranked. I also explained how to do the calculations on the last tab of the document for those who are interested. docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtsFreQytkM3dDd5LVd4RkpDVkZGdGNSMWtiQUF5d1E&usp=drive_web#gid=5
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Post by sk8er on Nov 23, 2013 12:15:41 GMT -8
Ahem. Missing Ms. Baver....
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Post by mtnme on Nov 25, 2013 14:23:09 GMT -8
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Post by sk8er on Nov 26, 2013 19:19:48 GMT -8
Oh my....thanks mtme. I told Ted today: we've gotta get cable. I can't miss the Olympics!
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Post by sk8erfan on Dec 4, 2013 12:59:43 GMT -8
Here's a nice article and J.R. Celski, Eddy Alvarez, Jordan Malone, Jeff Simon and Chris Creveling about their start in inline skating and their transitions to Short Track:
From inline to ice, U.S. short track team shares bond
They are just two of a group of five American short track skaters that know each other from their inline days.
The crew that knew each other is: J.R. Celski, Eddy Alvarez, Chris Creveling, Jordan Malone and Jeff Simon. All of the skaters, at some point, have been a part of the U.S. short track relay team, which finished first in the overall World Cup standings this season for the first time in history.
www.nbcolympics.com/news/inline-ice-us-short-track-team-shares-bond
I didn't realize that 5/6 skaters on the Men's World Cup team started out as inline skaters and that most of the speed skaters in America (according to Chris) started as inline skaters. I also know that Jessica Smith started as an inline skater.
It's different then in Canada where most speed skaters started out in figure skating, hockey or just went straight into speed skating and picked short or long track at some point. I do know of a few Canadian skaters that have done inline skating or still do it in the "off season" but it's not like in the US.
I just find it interesting to see how the skaters got their starts and how it differs from country to country.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Dec 9, 2013 12:00:56 GMT -8
I didn't realize that 5/6 skaters on the Men's World Cup team started out as inline skaters and that most of the speed skaters in America (according to Chris) started as inline skaters. I also know that Jessica Smith started as an inline skater. That is pretty cool - 5 of 6. I wonder if inline is ever a starting point for Chinese/Korean ST skaters, but I would guess that their progression is more like that of Canada's - ice from the beginning...
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 21, 2014 17:24:49 GMT -8
A secret weapon, perhaps? This actually looks pretty awesome - it'll be interesting to see if the 'high-tech' improvements really work! Will Team USA's High-Tech Speedskating Suit Pay Off In Gold?by Ted Robbins / NPR.org / January 16, 2014 4:32 PM A years-in-the-making, top-secret engineering and design project for a superaerodynamic suit to be worn by U.S. speedskaters at next month's Winter Olympics was finally unveiled Thursday.
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin and sporting goods company Under Armour released photos of the suit they're calling "Mach 39." It has been kept so tightly under wraps that the sport's governing body wouldn't even allow it to be worn at the Olympic trials in Salt Lake City.
Read it all: www.npr.org/2014/01/16/263063477/will-team-usas-high-tech-speedskating-suit-pay-off-in-gold
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Post by intntl on Jan 22, 2014 9:14:31 GMT -8
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Post by sk8er on Jan 22, 2014 17:29:02 GMT -8
Sigh. I read an article within the last year about psychologists testing the effects of color. Black is perceived as aggressive. Red as sexual. This skin suit looks like it was designed for Seal Team 6. I just hope the skaters get some technological assist here.
As for Tucker Fredericks I think he was wise to see that his family might be a distraction this time. The threat is certainly there. Hopefully Putin is as big a SOB as he thinks he is.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 23, 2014 10:28:14 GMT -8
Yes, I've seen that - it's so sad that this is happening to the world's athletes and their families. I heard that some of the threat messages that were sent directly to various countries were determined to be hoaxes, but the overall situation still seems VERY serious. I do remember the concern about the SLC Olympics in 2002, just after the 9-11 attacks. No incidents - let's just pray the Russians can have the same success!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 23, 2014 10:32:12 GMT -8
I'm not sure how this works... but if you scroll down, you'll see that Eddy Alvarez is one of the participants (under 'Facebook and Instagram Takeover). If anyone figures it out, let us know!
Team USA's Digital Send-Off For Sochi By U.S. Olympic Committee | Jan. 22, 2014, 1 p.m. (ET)
Team USA’s Digital Send-Off for Sochi will take place on Thursday, Jan. 23. Fans are encouraged to share good luck messages using #GoTeamUSA and athletes will be on deck to answer questions and thank fans for their support. Please see the below schedule for ways to interact with athletes throughout the day.
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