February 10 Olympic Journal: Big Game for United States Women’s Hockey, Big Curling Match and the Quad God
February 10 was spectacular at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. There was action all over the place, on multiple networks, and at times overlapping. For instance, Ilia Malinin skated at the same time as the American women played Canada in women’s ice hockey.
On February 10, there were surprise medals for the United States in downhill and cross-country skiing, the US lost its mixed curling match with Sweden, Canada and the United States faced off in Women’s ice hockey in pool play, and Ilia Malinin skated the short program. How many medals do you think the United States will end up winning?
February 10 Olympic Medal Table
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Norway | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Germany | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Sweden | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Switzwerland | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| United States | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Austria | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Italy | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Figure Skating
Ilia Malinin skated in the short program. That was a big story, but it may not have been the biggest American story. All three American men skated well. However, Maxim Naumov’s story is heartwarming. His parents, both Olympic figure skaters, were killed when the US Airways plane collided with a United States Army Blackhawk helicopter about a year ago in Washington DC.
He carries a picture of them with him and keeps it in the kiss-and-cry room.As fore Malinin, who is a student at George Mason University, France’s Adam Siao Him Fa scored a personal best 102.55 points. However, the Quad God delivered a 108.16.
That put him into first place; however, it left room for Japan’s Juma Kagiama. He beat the Quad God in the short program element of the team event. On February 10, he stepped out of a triple axel. He scored 103.7 to finish in second place. That set up a battle in the long program.
Skiing
There was disappointment and two surprise medals in skiing for the United States. In Cross Country, Ben Ogden won a silver medal for the United States in the sprint event. It was the first medal for the US in 50 years in cross-country skiing.
It is worth noting that the event was won by a Norwegian, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, his second gold medal in as many events.In the women’s downhill combined, which combines a downhill race with a slalom race. Breezy Johnson, who teamed with Mikaela Shiffrin, got the fastest time in the downhill portion.
Shiffrin, however, was unable to ski fast enough in the slalom portion of the race, and the team finished fourth. However, teammates Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan won the bronze medal in the event.
Curling Disappointment
In the gold medal match of the mixed curling event, the American pair of Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse lost to Sweden’s brother-sister team of Rasmus and Isabella Wranå, 6-5. Despite not winning, it is important to note that this was an unexpected medal for the United States. There is no doubt that the Cories united America. It was nice to see their curling club full of people watching the match.
United States Women’s Hockey Against Canada
The American women faced off against rival Canada in a pool-play hockey game. The game was not that meaningful as far as the medal round was concerned, but any time these two rivals get together. The United States won this game, its seventh in a row against Canada, 3-2. Caroline Harvey scored for the United States in the first period.
The United States built a 2-0 lead when Hanna Blika scored near the end of the first period. In the second period, first Kirsten Simms scored, and then Hanna Bilka scored her second goal for the United States. In the third period, Laila Edwards scored to give the United States a 5-0 lead.
That was how the game ended, for a resounding American victory. They are now in the driver’s seat of the group. Canada was without their best player. She will likely play in a medal-round matchup between the rivals.
Parting Shots
February 10 was a very appealing day at the Olympics, especially for the Americans. For the United States, there were some great moments and some disappointing ones. The United States spanked rival Canada in women’s ice hockey and won surprise medals in skiing. Ilia Malinin delivered, but skier Mikala Shiffrin fell just short. February 11 should be even better.
