newjerseynewsroom.com

United States leads in medal count

BY BRAD NOLAN

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

N.J. AT THE GAMES

VANCOUVER — It was another great day for the United States in Vancouver, Canada on Monday. Team USA maintained its lead at the 21st Winter Olympics and doubled its medal count from four to eight including a second Gold. Nineteen other nations join the US having earned a medal. The US leads the way with two Golds, two Silvers, and four Bronzes.

The nearest threat to the US's dominance at the top of the podium is Germany in a strong second with one Gold, three Silvers and one Bronze.

American Snowboard Cross Olympian Seth Wescott brought home the second gold for the United States on Monday. Snowboard Cross is the newest sport in the Winter Olympics, being added to the program just four years ago in the Winter Games in Torino.

MEDALS COUNT (CLICK)

Wescott came into this race defending the title as reigning Gold medalist from the Torino games but was no way the favorite to win Monday's race. Half way through the race it didn't look good for the two-time Gold medalist, he was nowhere near the front, in fact he was in last. In classic underdog style Wescott came from last place in this four boarder race to win the Gold. He finished ahead of teammate and five-time Winter X Games champion Nate Holland who wrecked early in the race.

The race that is known as the face of the Winter Olympic games finally took place at Whistler on Monday. The Men's Downhill Skiing was able to finally take place after days of delays due to poor track conditions and spring like weather. Monday's race was well worth the wait. A new world record was set during the Downhill. Not a speed record for an athlete or a highest jump, but the shortest amount of time between the Gold medal winner's finishing time and the Bronze in the over fifty year history of the event. Just eight-one thousandths of a second separated first from third and Gold from Bronze. American Bode Miller ended up being on the losing end of this blink of an eye separation, earning a Bronze medal for the United States.

"The fact that those others guys beat me to the hundredth of a second doesn't bother me," Miller told the Associated Press on Monday.

The United States has only won two other Gold medals in this event since it was added to the 1948 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Lindsey Vonn finally has something to be happy about on the slopes. Vonn, who was recovering from a shin injury, completed a practice run Monday with the fastest time. A severe bruise that developed right where the boot ends on her leg, came from an injury that she has sustained in Switzerland, forced her to stay off the slopes for nearly two weeks and even kept her from walking for a few days. Vonn, who became one of the faces of the American athletes competing in the Vancouver Games, is now eligible to skip a practice session that is scheduled before she is expected to race on Wednesday.

New Jersey's outspoken figure skater Johnny Weir pledged to remove the fur from his costume after a threat forced him to change his lodging arrangements. With that he announced that he would be attempting a quadruple toe loop during his upcoming program. Any of the various four revolution jumps are very rare in competition due to their difficulty and complexity. In fact one of the four turn jumps, the quad axel, has never been successfully landed in competition. Weir, who lists Lyndhurst as his home, told the Associated Press that he's not favored to win so why not.

The American Men's Hockey team will get its start Tuesday afternoon when they take on the Swiss, while the Woman's team will play the Russians later in the day. Also on the schedule for Tuesday is the start of Men's and Woman's Curling and Ladies Snowboard Cross. Six Gold medals will be up for grabs on Tuesday in the Woman's 10km Pursuit Biathlon, the Ladies Snowboard Cross, Men's 12.5km Pursuit Biathlon, the Men's Alpine Skiing Super Combined Salom, Woman's Luge Singles, and the Woman's 500m Speed Skating. For specific times and channels please check TV listings.