Team USA may not have the craziest medal count at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, but it does have a few meaningful ones. Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins added a first to the U.S. trophy case, winning gold in cross-country skiing’s team sprint. It’s the first time that the U.S. has medaled in cross-country skiing since Bill Koch did it in 1976, when he won silver — the only other cross-country skiing medal in U.S. history.
I remember watching the games in 1976 on Armed Forces TV in Wurzburg and saw part of Koch’s second place and it was described a bit like the Miracle on Ice. Amazing and incredible.
So in tribute to the wonderful, amazing win of Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins – you get the tout, victory lap with US flag and well, my readers know our National Anthem. No kneeling at the anthem unless you are praying for repentance in the USA!
Might be another victory lap if the men’s curling team wins gold. They beat two fine teams – Switzerland and GB – to place third in the round robin behind Sweden and Canada. That means the USA will play for a medal against Canada (second place) and Sweden will play the winner of GB and the Swiss. Winners play for gold and the consolation match is for bronze.
And we have (in the round robin) beaten Canada already! 9-7!
The women’s curlers did great but fell short on today/yesterday or whatever – if they had beaten Sweden (also number 1) today they would have played Japan for fourth place but ended up in 8th place – a four way tie and the tiebreakers pushed the USA down to 8th. Still very respectable!
YAY USA Curling – Men and Women!
Thank you so much for the great article, it was fluent and to the point. Cheers.