Welcome to Sochi!

Hello fellow Olympiphiles,

I am back for another session of covering the Olympic Games.  This time the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.  Now there has already been tons of controversy over these games due to Russia's stance on many topics and other reasons, but I am not going to go into those, because for me that is not what the Olympics are about.  Granted, I agree with many who wanted to boycott Sochi over their policy on Homosexuality, but this is one big machine that can not be stopped quite so easily.  I hope those athletes who are gay trumpet it loud and proud in the faces of the Russian government.  Also, the US State Department has issued warnings to any citizens wishing to travel to Sochi to see the Olympic games due to the recent terrorist attacks that have occurred near that area.  Hopefully these games will be as safe and uneventful in that respect as recent games have been. Anyways, politics aside, here is the news leading up to these Olympic games.

Lindsey Vonn is out.  Lindsey Vonn who has had massive problems with her knees over the last few years has been forced to withdraw from these Olympics after injuring herself yet again only a couple weeks ago.

Lolo Jones is close to clinching a spot on the 2014 team.  How? you might say, since she was a hurdler in the Summer Olympics.  Lolo gave up track and field and has been training since the last Olympics to be a pusher on the Bobsled team.  There are 5 pushers up for 3 slots on the team and its up to the coaches discretion who will be picked.  There is likely to be controversy either way since many view Lolo as a spotlight hog and that they will only pick her for the publicity, but I think if she has put in her time and proved herself then she should be there just as much as anyone else.

Austrian Ski Jumper Thomas Morgenstern is injured after a crash during a training run.  He flipped and fell backwards on his head resulting in a serious head injury and a damaged lung.  He won medals both in the Turin Olympics and the Vancouver Olympics.  Hopefully he will recover in time for these Olympic Games.

One of my favorite Olympians, Shaun White, looks to qualify for the Olympic Team this weekend in both Slopestyle Snowboarding and Half-Pipe.  If you have the time next weekend, the Half-Pipe finals will be broadcast on Saturday NBC from 9:00 -10:00 CST and the Slopestyle final will be on Sunday 2:00 - 3:00 PM CST.  I am getting somewhat conflicting info on that so be sure to check your TV schedule if you are so inclined.

Figure Skater Gracie Gold from my home sweet home, Chicago, is hoping to live up to her last name and win that color medal when she gets to the Olympics this year.  First she has to earn 1 of 3 spots available by competing in the US Figure Skating Championships.  So far so good. A solid short skate put her 15 points ahead of the nearest competition.  You can watch the championships this weekend on NBC from 2-5PM CST tomorrow and again at 7-10PM CST, and also on Sunday 2-4PM CST.  In other figure skating news, Evan Lysacek is injured as has withdrawn from the Olympics.  Other Olympic hopefuls include 2 time US Champ Ashley Wagner, US Bronze medalist Agnes Zawadzki, 2 time US Champ and 2010 Olympian Mirai Nagasu on the women's side, and reigning US Champ Max Aaron, 3 time US Champ and 2010 Olympian Jeremy Abbott, 2012 US Silver medalist Adam Rippon on the Men's side.  Also, 2 time World Champs and 2010 Olympic Silver Medalist ice dancers Charlie White and Meryl Davis will also compete for a spot.  Also, adorable ice dance siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani will be trying to a spot.  They also enjoying making videos, look the up on Youtube under the name ShibSibs.

I watched some of the Short Track Speedskating US trials last weekend, and I have to say that I am looking forward to the US team competing in Sochi.  Short track is one of my favorite sports in the Winter Olympics.

Ok, that about wraps up my info for today.  I will continue to post updates leading up to the Games and then during the games I will give you a rundown everyday of the days events and cool stories.  YAY OLYMPICS!