Fischer finished the 10km sprint in 26 minutes 11.6 seconds. His closest rival, Silver Medalist Halvard Hanevold of Norway, was 8.2 seconds behind.

Fischer elevated (Source: International Olympic Committee)

Brash American Biathlete, Jay Hakkinen, who earlier predicted a medal for the U.S. had to put his foot in his mouth when his missed all 5 prone shots and skied 6 penalty laps instead of the required 5.

Like the Nordic Combined, Biathlon is a two-component sport. The Biathletes have to trek across a 10km course on skis while stopping intermittently to shoot at targets. The sport has its roots in winter hunting, where the hunter had to trek through snow to hunt for prey.

The shooting component of Bianthlon
(Source: International Olympic Committee)

Read: Favorites falter as Germany wins second biathlon gold

Post from: EveryJoe

Photo Finish for Fischer (GER)

I’ll start.

Torino2006.org
CBC.ca
NBCOlympics.com
Olympic.ca

Post from: EveryJoe

UNOFFICIAL – Linking of 2006 Torino Photo and Video URL’s

Olympic Videos at Google Video (Source: Google)

You can watch events ranging from Alpine Skiing to Figure Skating to Snowboarding to Speed Skating.

Post from: EveryJoe

Olympic Events @ Google Video

Eight Olympic cross-country skiers, including two Americans and one former gold medalist, were suspended for five days after they were found to have excessive hemoglobin levels — the first hint of scandal at the Turin Games.

The suspensions, announced Thursday by the International Ski Federation, last five days from the day the tests were administered. The U.S. Ski Association said the tests were taken Wednesday, meaning the athletes will be barred from competition until at least Monday.

That would keep the skiers out of the first cross-country events of the Olympics — the men’s and women’s pursuit on Sunday.

What cracks me up is the final quote:

Jim Galanes, a coach for suspended American athlete Kikkan Randall, said there’s no chance the cross-country skier was involved with illegal doping.

“There is absolutely no likelihood of that,” said Galanes, the head Nordic ski coach at Alaska Pacific University. “I can guarantee it.”

Sure you can, sure you can.

source: Eight XC skiers suspended for excessive hemoglobin

Post from: EveryJoe

Is a Blood Doping Scandal Brewing in Turin?

Hi! My name is YC. I am the Chief Resident Technocrat from the Technocrat Soapbox. I would like to thank Mr. Jeremy Wright for the opportunity to blog on the 2006 Winter Olympics.

An avid Snowboarder myself living in California, I will definitely be keeping my eyes glued to the TV for Snowboarding and Skiing events. I am also very interested in Bobsleding and Figure Skating.

Incidentally, I found some very interesting pre-Olympics videos at Google Video. I have no doubt that, in the days to come, we will get to see some recorded events as well.

Post from: EveryJoe

Winter Olympics at Google Video

If you’re a bit on the slow side like me, then allow me to help you out-

The “real” Italian name of the city is “Torino”. The American butchered version is “Turin”.

Normally it’s the other way around, with Americans having to add an extra vowel for some reason. But not here. It’s “Turino”.

If anyone is left doubting, then take a look at the official site, which is torino2006.org

Update: Me in all my brilliance messed it up. It’s Torino, not Turino…

Post from: EveryJoe

Turin or Torino? Allow me to help you out