The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics have come and gone. Usually, the United States does very well in the Olympic Games, except this time, the USA had some struggles. The men and women’s curling teams were a huge let down. Our men and women’s hockey teams got beaten by Canada. And the men’s hockey bronze medal game was an embarrassment. In Team USA speedskating, usually we dominate, but at Sochi, we had a terrible performance. In alpine racing, Team USA had a very poor performance. And in figure skating, the USA had their worst performance since 1936. So in the sports you expect Team USA to do well, the team had a very bad experience. And it showed in the medal count, as Russia won the overall medal count and the most gold medals.
But, there were a few bright spots! And there were a few surprises in the Sochi Winter Olympics. Some people called these Olympics the “No-Name Olympics” as average people without name recognition saved the Olympics for Team USA. This post is going to feature the top Winter Olympians from the 2014 Games. Here are my top Olympians from North America!
Steven Holcomb
Steven Holcomb salvaged the final weekend for Team USA by winning a bronze medal in the four-man bobsleigh. Steven also won a bronze medal in the two-man bobsleigh. Steven snapped a 62 year streak by winning two medals in bobsleigh in the same games.
Mikaela Shiffrin
Mikaela Shiffrin is from Colorado and is the Missy Franklin of the Winter Olympics. She won the gold medal in the Women’s Slalom. And she is the youngest ever winner of an Olympic slalom gold medal. You are going to see and hear more from Mikaela Shiffrin!
Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy, Nick Goepper
Joss Christensen, Gus Kenworthy, and Nick Goepper swept the Men’s Freestyle Slopestyle Olympic event! And these three guys have become household names. One of the best moments for Team USA during the 2014 Olympics!
David Wise
David Wise won the gold medal in the Men’s Halfpipe. David is only 23 years-old and is already a father to a 2 year-old daughter and is married. David attends church regularly and his passion is to become a pastor.
Maddie Bowman
Maddie Bowman won the gold medal in the Women’s Ski Halfpipe. Maddie is only 20 years-old and yes, you are going to see and hear more from Maddie Bowman in the future!
Kaitlyn Farrington
Kaitlyn Farrington rose through the ranks and won the gold medal in the Women’s Half-Pipe. And that is a major upset! Not bad for a 24 year-old young lady who was raised on a cattle ranch in Idaho.
Elana Meyers
Georgia native Elana Meyers won a silver medal in Women’s Bodsledding, and she is the first U.S. women’s bobsledder to win multiple Olympic medals. Great job!
Meryl Davis, Charlie White
Meryl Davis and Charlie White both salvaged the figure skating sports by winning a gold medal in Ice Dancing. Yep, you will be hearing more about these two, and I predict that ice dancing will grow into a popular sport.
Ted Ligety
Ted Ligety salvaged the alpine skiing sports by winning gold in the Alpine Skiing Men’s Giant Slalom. The conditions were tough at Sochi, but Ted is the first American man to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing.
Team Canada
If one thing Team Canada did right, it dominated the Olympic sports our neighbors to the north are known for, hockey and curling. Both the men and women’s hockey and curling teams won gold! Plus the four-man bobsleigh won gold! Canada knows their winter sports.
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Categories: Interesting Stuff, Sports Talk Stuff
