February 8 Olympic Journal: United States Wins First Gold Medal As Lindsay Vonn Crashes
February 8 definitely did not disappoint as an Olympic day. It was a story-generating machine. As the United States seemingly struggled to win medals, the host country, Italy, is destroying the competition.
The big stories from February 8 were Breezy Johnson winning the first United States gold medal in the downhill alpine skiing race. Lindsey Vonn crashed and was airlifted off the mountain, while Malinin powered the United States in the team figure skating event. You also need to know the name of a Norwegian cross-country skier who may win 6 gold medals: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo.
February 8 Medal Table
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| Italy | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Norway | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Austria | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Germany | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Japan | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Checzia | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Women’s Downhill
In the women’s downhill event held on February 8, there was a surprise winner and a heartbreaking moment. Johnson, a world champion, won the event. That was the United States’ first gold medal of these Olympics.
Vonn also competed in that race. Her racing at all, with a ruptured ACL, was a major story of these Olympics. She hit the fourth gate on her run today, which caused her to spin in mid-air and crash. She was airlifted off the mountain, as her Olympic career came to an end.
Ilia Malinin
After Amber Glenn faltered in the women’s long program on February 8 in the team figure skating at the Olympics today, the United States and Japan were tied for first place. That set up a battle between the “Quad God,” Ilia Malinin, and Japanese superstar Juma Yuma Kagiyama. The good thing for him is that he was facing a different Japanese skater, and he was mad.
Malinan scored 200.3 points, but he stumbled a bit. He also did a quad into a triple axel in the last minute of his program. No one can do that. However, Japanese skater Shun Sato scored a 194.86. The United States won the gold medal, and the “Quad God” delivered. It was the second consecutive gold medal for the United States.
Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo
One of the things that is great about the Olympics is that you get to appreciate athletes whom you may not have had the opportunity to appreciate. One such athlete is Høsflot Klæbo. He won the skiathlon today. That was his sixth career Olympic gold medal. He may win six gold medals in this year’s Olympics. He is a machine.
He is two golds away from tying the record in cross-country skiing, which is shared by fellow Norwegians Bjørn Dæhlie and Marit Bjørgen. Michael Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals by an athlete with 23 gold medals. It will be interesting to see if Klæbo can challenge that record. He would need to compete in another Olympics.
Italy Dominating
There is usually a home country bump to Olympic medals, but the host Italians are taking that to heart. On February 8, after two days of competition, they have 9 total medals. The next closest country has 6. There must be something to all those cheering fans and competing near your home. Expect the Italians to continue to outperform the competition.
Parting shots
On February 8, the Olympics did not disappoint. There was drama in the women’s downhill as the United States won its first gold medal, and sentimental Vonn crashed and had to be airlifted off the mountain. Meanwhile, Malinin skated a high-pressure routine. A Norwegian cross-country skier started his march to dominance, and the host Italians were destroying the competition. It is fair to wonder what February 9 will bring.
