The Opening Ceremony was high tech and despite the lack of spectators (the athletes filled the stadium) it had the feel of an attended opening ceremony. NBC did a decent job broadcasting the opening ceremony and did not have too many commercials. I DVR'ed the Opening Ceremony at 6:30 am on February 4 and watched most of it, I then watched the prime time version because the live version ran over the time slot. I had missed the torch relay and handoff. Now I want to look at the first 10 days of the games so far..
The USA has won 15 medals through the first 10 days of the games with 7 gold, 6 silver and 2 bronze. The USA might get to 26 total medals with a few more good days like February 13 with 3 medals. The USA should equal or pass 8 gold medals that I had predicted. Norway leads the medal count with 21 total medals, 9 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze. I predicted 39 medals for Norway so they are on that path.
The Russian Olympic Committee has 18 total medals and are on their way to the 27 total medals I predicted. Canada has 15 total medals so fat but just 1 gold, and may not get to 28 total medals I had predicted.
The highlights of the games so far has been Americans Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor winning gold and silver in women's Monobob and Chloe Kim winning gold on women's Snowboard Halfpipe. Chloe Kim put away the field after her first run that was incredible. Also the USA winning a Figure Skating team silver medal and Nathan Chen winning gold in men's singles. Chen's short program in the team competition set the table for his performance in men's singles with nearly flawless short and free skate programs. Vincent Zhou was very good, except for a few mistakes in the team competition but got Covid and had to withdraw from the men's singles competition and the games itself. Karen Chen was steady for the USA in women's team competition but the USA scored 10's in Ice Dance and men's singles. Other great moments so far - Ryan Cochran Siegle in men's Alpine skiing Super G and Madison Hubbell/Zach Donohue winning bronze in Ice Dance and Lindsey Jacobellis waiting 16 years to win her first gold medal in women's Snowboard Cross and then Jacobellis wins gold with Nick Baumgartner in Mixed Team Snowboard Cross. Also Erin Jackson of the USA winning the first long track speed skating medal in an individual event for the USA women since 2002 by winning gold in long track women's 500M. Other great highlights the USA's Julia Marino winning silver in women's Snowboard Slopestyle and Jaelin Kauf winning silver in women's Freestyle skiing moguls.
There were several disappointments so far these games. As great as Mikaela Shiffrin is as an Alpine skier, I was surprised to see Shiffrin ski out of the women's Alpine skiing Super G and Downhill. It was sad to see Mikaela Shiffrin sitting in the snow with her head down. Mikaela Shiffrin will bounce back. the GOAT of Snowboarding Shaun White gave it his all but came up short in men's Snowboard Halfpipe White scored an 85 and I thought that score would medal but Ayumu Hirano of Japan dazzled with his high flying tricks to win gold with a 96. Also several Americans I thought would medal did not so far, Jamie Anderson, Red Gerard and Madison Chock/Evan Bates in Ice Dance. Also except for Erin Jackson speed skating has been a disappointment.
Looking forward to the last week of the games!
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