February 18, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – It was an absolutely great day for racing on Wednesday at the Whistler Olympic Park – temps
Here are a collection of quotes from the day…..
Torin Koos (USA)…..” Obviously, I didn’t make the top 30 and that’s the objective. I am disappointed, not getting it done on the big day…..today I just didn’t have the pop. I feel like I didn’t attack the downhills…..all we can do is take what we had here and move on.”
The USA’s Andy Newell had a fall on the course during the qualifications, which scrubbed lotsa speed, here he speaks of his fall…”I tried to ski conservatively on this course, but it’s a tricky thing. I just found some ice….it’s happened on this course before. It happens all the time.”
Ola Vigen Hattestad (NOR) one of the big guns in the sprints finished a disappointing fourth (for him) told us, “I’m really happy the Norwegians had a very good day – a gold for Marit, and Petter Northug won the bronze. But for me a medal is what I came today, so of course I am disappointed. for myself.” He also was quoted as saying…”the Russians were so good today, we had no chance.”
Gold medalist Marit Bjoergen (NOR), a Trondheim native said after her 1.4km sprint win…”I am very satisfied with my races today. I saw in the end that nobody was behind me and I thought ‘this is my chance’, I had a very good day today.”
22-year-old Simi Hamilton, an Aspen native, skiing at his first Olympics, did very well and had some upbeat comments. ” It was fun. I think I heard the crowd for all of the 1.6 kilometers out there”….and on learning each day, “We’re learning things out there everyday, and I’m sure I’ll still be learning things while sprinting when I’m 30 years old.”
Following her race the defending Olympic gold medalist from Torino, Chandra Crawford (CAN) was quoted as saying….”I gave it my all in that race, trying to hang with the big dogs but it was a hard race today, and classic is certainly not my forte…”
Bronze medalist Petra Majdic (SLO), must certainly get the courage award after a gutsy ski, despite a fall that had shaken her badly. It seemed clear to me that she was skiing in pain, and was carried out of the finishing area.
Onward.