Feb. 21 Olympic Preview

While all of today's focus will be on the big three hockey games, there are six medals being given out. The new event added to the Olympics, Ski Cross or Skier X if you watch the X Games, makes its debut with the men's event. The American medal lead could shrink today with Ted Ligety and Bode Miller being the only two good chances at medals while Germany's better sports including bobsled and biathlon could produce medals and could give Germany a shot a chasing down the Americans.


Biathlon: Men's 15k Mass Start
The Norwegian team will look to have a day like Thursday when Emil Hegle Svendsen and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen took home medals. Bjoerndalen, the Michael Jordan of biathlon, has had an average Olympics and with only two events, including today, left he will look to become the most decorated biathlete of all-time.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Michael Greis (Germany)
Top American Hopeful: Tim Burke
Top Canadian Hopeful: Jean-Philippe Leguellec
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Ole Einar Bjoerndalen (Norway)
Silver: Simon Eder (Austria)
Bronze: Simon Fourcade (France)


Biathlon: Women's 12.5k Mass Start
The German team has a very good shot at sweeping the podium today. Four of the top six in the World Cup standings in this disclipine are German and two-time Vancouver medalist Magdalena Neuner is not one of them, she is 16th. With seven different medalists in the three women's biathlon events, anyone could take home the gold today.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Anna-Carin Olofsson-Zidek (Sweden)
Top American Hopeful: None
Top Canadian Hopeful: Zina Kocher
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Andrea Henkel (Germany)
Silver: Magdalena Neuner (Germany)
Bronze: Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek (Sweden)

Alpine Skiing: Men's Super Combined
The first two skiing events for the men have witnessed the Bode Miller Redemption Tour visit Whistler Mountain twice already with a silver in the Super G and bronze in the downhill. Norway' Aksel Lund Svindal has also been in tip-top shape with a gold in the Super G and silver in the downhill. Svindal and Miller will be in contention today as well. Skiers that have had a disappointing performance so far like Didier Cuche, Carlo Janka and Benjamin Raich will look to win their first medals today.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Ted Ligety (USA)
Top American Hopefuls: Bode Miller, Ted Ligety, Andrew Weibrecht
Top Canadian Hopeful: Ryan Semple
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Carlo Janka (Switzerland)
Silver: Bode Miller (USA)
Bronze: Aksel Lund Svindal (Norway)

Freestyle Skiing: Men's Ski Cross
The newest winter event is the same as snowboard cross but with skis. Fans of the X Games see this event every year as Skier X. This shows the influence events like the X Games have on the Olympics by getting all of the snowboarding events and now Skier X into the Olympic program. The favorites in this race are Michael Schmid of Switzerland and Andreas Matt of Austria. Look for Canadian, Chris Del Bosco to contend as well as Americans Daron Rahlves and Casey Puckett.
Top American Hopeful: Daron Rahlves and Casey Puckett
Top Canadian Hopeful: Chris Del Bosco
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Chris Del Bosco (Canada)
Silver: Michael Schmid (Switzerland)
Bronze: Casey Puckett (USA)

Speed Skating: Women's 1500 meters
O, Canada has real chance of being played tonight at the women's 1500 meters medal ceremony. Kristina Groves and 1000m gold medalist Christine Nesbitt are 1-2 in the World Cup standings and will no doubt be motivated by the home crowd at the Richmond Olympic Oval. The other loud and the brightest part of the crowd, the Dutch will be supporting Ireen Wust who has a chance of medaling. Also in the hint will be, 3000m gold medalist Martina Sablikova.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Cindy Klassen (Canada)
Top American Hopeful: Jennifer Rodriguez
Top Canadian Hopefuls: Christine Nesbitt and Kristina Groves
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Kristina Groves (Canada)
Silver: Christine Nesbitt (Canada)
Bronze: Martina Sablikova (Czech Republic)

2-Man Bobsled
Both German sleds are on top of the standings after the first two runs from yesterday. Defending gold medalist Andre Lange is first and Thomas Florshuetz is second and look for it to keep the same order at the top as it has for three of the four sliding events. Steve Holcomb in USA 1 is prepping for the four-man race and is fourth right now after two runs.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist Driver: Andre Lange (Germany I)
Top American Hopeful: Steve Holcomb (USA I)
Top Canadian Hopeful: Pierre Lueders (Canada II)
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Germany I (Andre Lange/Kevin Kuske)
Silver: Germany II (Thomas Florshuetz/Richard Adjei)
Bronze: USA I (Steve Holcomb/Curtis Tomasevicz)