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A18 SPORTS
Saturday 10 February 2018
U.S. speedskaters eager to put Sochi debacle behind them

By BETH HARRIS the rest of the U.S. team
PYEONGCHANG, South practiced in skin suits made
Korea (AP) — Perhaps no by Under Armour — the
team has more to prove at same company respon-
the Pyeongchang Olym- sible for their suits in Sochi.
pics than the U.S. speeds- The polyurethane material
katers. is thinner and stretch was
Limited to one medal four built in to allow freedom of
years ago, they are ea- movement in the shoulders.
ger to bounce back and The sleeves and legs have
show why their sport has slightly different material
produced the most med- that helps air flow over the
als for the U.S. in the Winter skaters’ arms and legs.
Games. Four years ago, the ma-
Going 0 for 12 in long track terial was thicker and the
and 1 for 8 in short track in seam pattern didn’t allow
Sochi was a "disaster," long for easy movement.
track skater Mitch Whit- “We’re confident that
more said. these things perform well
It's certainly a memory the and these guys have done
Americans haven't forgot- some amazing times in
ten, either. these suits, so we know
"The thought is definitely in they’re battle-tested as
the back of my mind, you well,” Domer said. “It’s the
don't want that to happen Shani Davis of the United States, far right, trains during a speed skating training session prior to the fastest (suits) we’ve ever
again," Brittany Bowe said. 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. tested.”
"You just have to bring it Associated Press Mentally, the Americans
back to, 'Have I done ev- feel confident in the suits
erything I can to prepare ly weird," Joey Mantia said. used it to reproduce those er. they’ve been wearing for
myself the best way I can?' "There was just a weird vibe conditions at the Pettit Na- Five-time Olympian Shani over a year.
I can answer that, yes." in the village among our tional Ice Center in Milwau- Davis tweeted that the “Long track is a huge men-
That's quite a change from team." kee, where the long track process in which luger Erin tal sport, if you believe in
2014, when the Americans This time, things are com- Olympic trials and a pre- Hamlin beat him out in a what you’re racing in, that’s
debuted a high-tech skin pletely different. Olympic camp were held. coin flip as the U.S. flag a big step in the right direc-
suit they thought would "Basically, our entire staff “We felt this was the best bearer for Friday’s open- tion,” Mantia said. “We’re
lead to more gold, silver has handed us all the tools strategy to ensure we have ing ceremony was handled all really happy with what
and bronze. we need to get medals," peak performance at the “dishonorably.” The final the suits are and that’s
Instead, it was an unquali- said Mantia, a favorite for right time,” said Shane vote by their fellow athletes not going to be a factor in
fied failure. Skaters com- gold in the mass start event. Domer, sports science di- ended in a 4-4 tie, leading these games.” Short track
plained the suit was too "It's just up to us now. There's rector for US Speedskating. to the coin flip. skater J.R. Celski was on the
tight and they were stuck no more blaming it on any- They will find out starting Davis’ tweet included a 5,000 relay that earned a sil-
dealing with sizing issues one else." Saturday when long track mention of Black History ver medal on the last night
on the day of their races. Last year, the Americans begins with the wom- Month, raising the question of competition in Sochi to
To compound their woes, traveled to the Gang- en’s 3,000 meters. Short of whether he thought race prevent a shutout for the
the Americans trained out- neung Oval, where they track starts with the men’s played a role in the deci- U.S. He’s back again, and
doors at altitude leading will race this week, and 1,500-meter final, along sion. Davis is black, Hamlin so is Mantia, who initially
up to the games when the measured ice temperature with qualifying in other is white.Davis didn’t talk re-evaluated whether he
venue in Sochi was indoors and thickness and air con- events. with reporters after prac- wanted to continue skating
at sea level. ditions. They took that in- The U.S. team isn’t totally tice Friday. While attention after the debacle.
"The team morale was real- formation back home and free of distraction, howev- was diverted by the tweet, q

Team USA says ski jumper Larson

is 100,00th male Olympian

By JIM ARMSTRONG the games, calculated that normal hill final. Kevin Bick-
PYEONGCHANG, South Larson reached the historic ner, Michael Glasder and
Korea (AP) — Making his milestone by competing in Will Rhoads also qualified.
Olympic debut at the age Thursday’s qualifying at the It’s the first time since the
of 19, American ski jumper Pyeongchang Olympics. 1998 Nagano Olympics
Casey Larson never fig- “It’s pretty cool,” said Lar- that four ski jumpers from
ured he would be making son, who finished 46th in the United States qualified
any historic records at the qualifying. “I can add that for the medal round.
Pyeongchang Games. But to my Olympic checklist. I He calculated that go-
Larson has become the hope I can get some pub- ing into the Pyeongchang
100,000th man to compete licity about it. Games, 99,983 men had
Casey Larson, of the United States, jumps during the men's nor- at the Olympics, according For my goals here, it is to competed at the games so
mal hill individual ski jumping trial round for qualification ahead to historian Bill Mallon. make my best jump.” Lar- that the 17th male debu-
of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Mallon, a former profes- son was one of four ath- tant in action on Thursday
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018.
Associated Press sional golfer and a leading letes from the United States would be the history maker.
authority on the history of to qualify for Saturday’s q