Memorable moments from female athletes at the Winter Olympics

All in all, the Vancouver Olympics were  a roller coaster of emotion; so anticipated and anxiety-driven, filled with milestones and achievements as well as heartbreak.  In the span of two weeks, there were personal, poignant moments to cherish, along with stories of accomplishments and  disappointments. A lifetime of emotions, condensed into 14 action-packed days.

Needless to say, there were lots  of memorable moments from the Winter Games , not the least of which was Shaun (”The Animal”) White’s repeat  gold medal and his Double McTwist 1260, a whirl of somersaults and flips that ends with a blind landing.

In this post, we’d like to shine the light on the oft-overlooked female athletes and some of our fave moments that will last long after the athletes pack up and leave Vancouver.

Hannah Kearney (Women’s moguls)

Four years ago, U.S. moguls skier Hannah Kearney sat in the stands in Turin after placing a dismal 22nd in the qualifying round as Canadian Jenn Heil proudly climbed atop the podium for gold. It was a moment Kearney never wanted to repeat.

She proved that during the first weekend of the Games, when she exorcised that nightmarish performance and spoiled the party for Heil with a dominating victory on Cypress Mountain. Kearney turned her showdown with the defending Olympic champion into a blowout, posting a score of 26.63 to claim the first U.S. gold medal in Vancouver.

Joannie Rochette (Figure skating)

Twenty-four year old Joannie Rochette may not have won the gold medal in figure skating but she won the hearts of fans around the world with her incredible performance.  She competed just days after her mother, Therese, died from a sudden heart attack after arriving in Vancouver. A grieving Rochelle broke down in tears after her short program and followed  with an emotional free skate program to capture the bronze at the Pacific Coliseum.  It hardly mattered that two skaters beat Rochette, including gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea who broke a world record with a highly memorable routine.

Petra Majdic (Cross-country skiing)

If gold medals were handed out for bravery then Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic would have been a runaway winner. Majdic broke five ribs when she slipped and fell down a gully during a training run but defied medical advice and excruciating pain to battle through three races and clinch the bronze in the women’s sprint classic. She was in so much pain that she needed help just getting on to the podium to collect her medal.

Lindsey Vonn/Julia Mancuso (Women’s downhill)

Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the women’s downhill on a badly bruised shin in a 1-2 finish with American teammate and rival Julia Mancuso in the opening week of the Games.

Kallie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Helen Upperton, Shelley-Ann Brown (Women’s bobsled)

Before the Vancouver Games, Canada had never won a medal in women’s bobsled. By the time the Games  ended, the country had two -gold and silver – courtesy of new champions Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse and runners-up Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown who sent the Whistler Sliding Center into a roaring frenzy with their medal-winning final runs. That Upperton missed a medal four years ago by .05 of a second driving Moyes, whose arrival in her sled booted a broken-heart Humphries, simply added another layer of drama to the moment.

Lydia Lassila (Women’s freestyle aerials)

Australia’s Lydia Lassila has won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle aerials by beating Chinese stars Li Nina and Guo Xinxin into the silver and bronze positions respectively.

The Chinese, led by Turin silver medallist Li, had been highly expected to win the event and even perform a podium clean sweep. They currently dominate the World Cup points table, filling five of the top six berths.

But Lassila, the only non-Chinese in the world top six, wowed the judges, and the underdog, who recently battled back from a series of injuries, moved into the gold medal position.

Angela Ruggiero, U.S., Canadian & Finnish Teams  (ice hockey)

Women’s ice hockey offered a myriad of memorable moments during the Vancouver Games. From early complaints that the sport wasn’t competitive enough, to the high-stakes gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada, to the post-match celebrations, we’ll remember these female athletes.

Who can forget the champagne, beer, at least one cigar and an attempt to drive an ice resurfacing machine after the Canadian team captured the gold medal in a 2-0 win over the U.S?  It seemed like a typical championship celebration, save for the fact the IOC and Hockey Canada felt the Canadian women’s team somehow provided a disservice to Olympic “ideals” by enjoying as they saw fit on the ice. Never mind that IOC honchos can dine with whatever wine and spirits they like, the court of public opinion forced the IOC’s complaints to go up in a cloud of smoke.

And when the president of the IOC announced to the world the sport needs to change to remain on the program, Finland’s women’s hockey team stepped up big time. Their overtime win against Sweden on Thursday had all the feel of gold. Just as the Swedes in 2006 stunned the hockey world by upsetting the Americans for the first non-U. S./Canada final in women’s Olympic hockey history, Karoliina Rantamaki’s goal 2:33 into extra time gave the Finnish team their first medal since women’s hockey’s debut Olympics in 1998.

Special Mention: Though it was certainly a memorable moment when Ruggerio won her fourth Olympic medal, her biggest contribution to the Olympic movement might still be to come: Ruggiero, who played hockey at Harvard, was elected by her peers to represent all Olympic athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. The appointment will be for eight years and allows Ruggiero to become a full-fledged member of the IOC.

In the end, it wasn’t a single nation or gender that owned the podium, but the single-minded, passionate pursuit of athletes from around the world. And along with their competitive performances,  memories saved for eternity.

How Olympic athletes pay the rent

If you’re dreaming of becoming an Olympic athlete, remember that beyond all the training, competition and glory there is a lot of financial struggle. Training for the Olympics (never mind competing) is at least a full-time (usually unpaid) job and even Olympians have to pay the rent.

A CNN Money article explains:

These world-class athletes are in the spotlight for two weeks every couple of years. But for the most part, they’re just regular people who have to make a living as teachers, fitness instructors or market researchers, all while putting in hours of grueling sports training.

For every Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn, two gold medalists who have scored multi-million dollar endorsement deals, there are hundreds more who struggle with everyday jobs.

So how do Olympic athletes survive financially?

In the United States, where many athletes begin training at an early age, training costs are often paid by their parents. Those expenses can run into tens of thousands annually for the most talented youngsters.

After high school,  colleges and universities become an athlete’s primary source of training. Often competing on scholarship, these athletes’ efforts are rewarded not only with top-notch coaching but with financial aid to complete their education.

When an athlete is selected to a national team, some funding usually becomes available from the USOC which relies on corporate sponsors and private donations. But that generally isn’t enough to cover their travel, tournament, and equipment costs.

Expenses pile up fast.  According the CNN Money article, Olympic curler Nicole Joraanstad says a single season competing just to qualify for the Olympics costs as much as $150,000.

Many athletes used to work at the Home Depot,  a company that since 2004 had been a part of the Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP), a partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee that pays athletes full-time salaries and benefits for working part-time hours. But the retailer folded OJOP in 2009, after four years as the exclusive sponsor.

The USOC also partners with staffing firms to help athletes secure flexible positions. The Adecco Group, a Zurich, Switzerland-based global staffing firm, recently renewed its contract with the U.S.O.C. through 2012.

Strong work ethics and time management skills make athletes attractive to employers, says Patricia Wilson, brand director for Adecco Group North America. “Athletes know how to succeed independently, but they [also] know the importance of being a team player,” she said.

In the early days of the modern Olympics, all the participants were amateurs. The Olympic mystique suggested that anyone could be a contender. Ordinary people dreamed of being Olympians, and the dreams spurred athletic activity all over the world.

Then the Soviet Union and its  Communist allies entered the games. Their athletes were fully supported by their governments. None ever held a job. They trained 8 hours a day, 365 days a year. They won most of the gold, silver and bronze during the 1970s and 1980s.  It was unfair and in 1986, the IOC  changed its rule book (Olympic Charter) to allow “all the world’s great male and female athletes to participate.”

Money has changed the look and feel of the Olympics. To remain competitive, athletes have to rely on their families and sponsors for expensive equipment, travel and training expenses.

Winter athletes may have the hardest time  since their sports are more popular outside of the United States. What’s worse is that the United States won’t host an Olympic winter or summer event for some time, pushing U.S. athletes further out of the spotlight. Athletes may fade from attention in off-Olympic years, but they still have to support themselves.

Most nations support their Olympic athletes  financially, but the U.S. government gives zero money to its athletes. All the host cities in the world except those in the USA have supported their host Winter and Summer Olympics with billions of dollars. Many countries also reward their medalists with money for landing on the podium.

The USOC does offer “medal bonuses” (currently $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for Silver, and $10,000 for Bronze) and while the bonuses are a nice way to reward athletes for a big accomplishment, very few will ever enjoy the steady income that comes with a corporate sponsorship, making what they endure to compete all the more impressive.

Regardless of who foots the bill, the true test of an Olympian is their passion and how hard they train. Money cannot buy the drive and persistence of an Olympian.

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FREE DOWNLOAD: Women & the Winter Olympics Reference Guide

The Winter Games kick off in Vancouver Friday, February 12th and we’re stoked to see our fave female athletes compete in events like skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, luge, bobsled and more.

For all the deets on who’s competing when, along with notes on athletes to watch, Olympic trivia and more, download our FREE Women & the Winter Olympics Reference Guide.

Enjoy, and check back for lots of Olympic news and info over the next two weeks.

Related Posts:

Vancouver 101: Figure Skating
Vancouver 101: Bobsled, Luge, Skeleton
Vancouver 101: Speaking  Canadian

2009 Salute to Women in Sports

Other WomenTalkSports posts of “Best of ‘09″:

• From Because I Played Sports, Best of ‘09: Forming a community, WomenTalkSports.com

• From One Sport Voice, The “Best” of 2009 and the State of Girls & Women in Sports

• From WakeGirls.com, Best of ‘09 – A Year for Women in Wake

Fans can design Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic helmet

As the Winter Olympics draw close, we can’t wait to bring you all the exciting promotions and activities being planned to support the Games and all the athletes.

One of our fave winter athletes is skier Lindsey Vonn. Now NBCOlympics.com invites fans to join in the Countdown to Vancouver and participate in the “Design Lindsey’s Helmet” contest, beginning November 23. Vonn, one of the most successful alpine skiers in U.S. history, is challenging fans to convince her that their artwork is what she wants to feature on her helmet while soaring down the slopes during the upcoming 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

“This is your chance to be with me in Vancouver,” said Vonn.  “Whether you’re an aspiring graphic designer or just someone who likes to doodle all day, it doesn’t matter if you snow plow down the bunny slopes, tree-ski in waist deep powder, or just hang in the lodge, I want to see your designs.”

To enter the contest, fans as young as 13 years old can log on to NBCOlympics.com/lindseys-helmet/ and enter original artwork by December 21. A team of judges will narrow the submissions down to a final three designs, which will be showcased on NBCOlympics.com the first week of January. Fans will then have the opportunity to log on and vote to help Lindsey decide on the winning design.

The voting closes on January 11 with the winner to be announced in late January. The grand prize winner for the “Design Lindsey’s Helmet” contest will be awarded a trip for two to Vail, one of the world’s top ski resorts. Prizes also include a pair of Head skis and bindings and a Uvex helmet and goggles.

“Now that the World Cup season has started, I’m getting very excited for the Olympics,” said Vonn.  “I really wanted to do something that allowed my fans to share in my Vancouver experience, and this is what I came up with.  I’m looking forward to seeing what people create for my helmet.”

Vonn is coming off a second place finish in the opening Audi FIS World Cup slalom last weekend in Levi, Finland. She is continuing to train at Vail’s Golden Peak in anticipation of the Aspen Winternational World Cup coming up Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28-29. Friday (Nov. 20) she will takes questions from kids in a live Webcast from 5:00-6:00 p.m. MT at LindseyIsEpic.com.

Fans can follow the Vancouver Bound Vonn all season long at usskiteam.com, or get insider news through the Team’s new Fan Club.

USSA picks Athletes of the Year – Good news if your name is Lindsey

With the 2009  season coming to a close, a number of athletes will be honored for their excellence as recipients of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s Athlete of the Year Awards at the annual awards presentation Friday in Park City.

Drumroll, please.

A trio of Lindseys top the podium this year. World Championship gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn and ski-jumper Lindsey Van will be joined by World Cup snowboardcross champion Lindsey Jacobellis in receiving awards for their athletic success for the 2009 season.

Vonn Does It Again
Lindsey Vonn, who rewrote U.S. women’s alpine skiing history in 2009, is being honored for the second year in a row with the 2009 Alpine Athlete of the Year Award.

Vonn exceeded all expectations this year when she not only repeated her wins of the World Cup overall and downhill titles, but also took the title in super G and swept the speed events as she won the gold in downhill and super G at World Championships.

In late February, Vonn raised the bar further for U.S. women when she broke Tamara McKinney’s record of 18 World Cup wins, which was established in the 1980s. Vonn finished the season with a total of 22 career World Cup wins.

A nine-year member of the women’s U.S. Ski Team, Vonn is a native of Minnesota who got her start at tiny Buck Hill outside of Minneapolis. From Buck Hill to the U.S. Ski Team, Vonn has made it to the World Cup podium a staggering 47 times.

Van Makes History, Named Jumping Athlete of the Year
Lindsey Van, who put her name in the history books of women’s ski jumping in the 2009 season, was named the Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year.

Van, who has amassed 38 Continental Cup podiums during her athletic career, made history in the international women’s ski jumping world as she won gold during the first World Championship ski jumping event in which women competed.

In addition, the 24-year-old jumper won the 13th U.S. title of her ski jumping career. She is currently part of a lawsuit challenging the Olympic organizing committee to include women’s ski-jumping in the next Winter Games.

Jacobellis Dominates Snowboarding Again
Following her 2008 win of the award, Lindsey Jacobellis was once again named the USSA Snowboarding Athlete of the Year. Jacobellis had her best season to date as she won the World Cup snowboardcross title for the second time in her career World Cup snowboardcross title with five wins across a six-month schedule.

Jacobellis also repeated her X Games SBX gold, bringing her grand total to five wins throughout her career. Jacobellis then marked another U.S. title before finishing out the season with enough success on the World Cup to make her the most winningest athlete, male or female, in snowboardcross World Cup history.

Other award winners include Tod Lodwick as Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year and cross country trailblazer Kikkan Randall, who has been named USSA’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

In addition, Jeff Archibald was named 2009 Snowboarding International Coach of the Year. Archibald has been a key leader for the success of the men’s and women’s snowboarscross team this season, Athletes who worked with Archibald, including Jacobellis, excelled as no other snowboardcross team has in U.S. history. Three athletes Archibald coached finished the season at the top of SBX World Cup standings.

The 2009 Snowboarding Club of the Year was Stratton Mountain School which opened its doors in 1972 and has since produced over 29 Olympians and many national team athletes. SMS is renowned for the success of athletes that leave its snowboarding program, including World Cup SBX champion Lindsey Jacobellis, Ellery Hollingsworth and Louie Vito.

The USSA awards winners will receive their honors the evening of May 15 at USSA Congress 2008 in Park City with the top athlete being selected for the organizaton’s highest athlete honor, the Beck Award. Congrats to all.

2009 Laureus World Sports Awards nominees announced

I love awards. Gold stickers and glitter stars too.

So it was great to see that a sparkling collection of the world’s greatest sports stars have been nominated for the 10th Laureus World Sports Awards, following a ballot by the world’s media.

The Laureus World Sports Awards is recognized as a premier event in the international sporting calendar honoring the greatest sportsmen and women across all sports each year. A panel of leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters from 112 countries announced the Laureus nominees for 2008-09, which includes six athletes in each category.

Check out some of the nominees:

Sportswoman of the Year

Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) – athletics
Yelena Isinbayeva (RUS) – athletics
Lorena Ochoa (MEX) – golf
Stephanie Rice (AUS) – swimming
Lindsey Vonn (USA) – skiing
Venus Williams (USA) – tennis

Breakthrough of the Year

Rebecca Adlington (UK) – swimming
Novak Djokovic (Srb) – tennis
Ana Ivanovic (Srb) – tennis
Anthony Kim (USA) – golf
Sebastian Vettel (GER) – Formula One
Zou Kai (CHN) – gymnastics

The organizers of the Laureus Awards ceremony say the gala event will be scaled back to focus on the Sport for Good Foundation. The economy strikes again. Bad news for gala goers, good for the foundation. Winners will instead receive their awards individually at a series of presentations in May and June. Good luck to all!!

Speed Queen: Q & A with World Champion Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn  made history winning her second World Championships gold Monday at the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Val d’Isere. Vonn talked to journalists about her day and the accomplishment.

Your goal was to get one gold medal, now you have two.
It’s incredible. I was just looking for one gold medal and got that in the super G. I was looking for a medal in the super combined and it didn’t work out so it made me hungrier

Just like the super G, I raced with my heart. I raced well. I had good tactics, especially on the bottom where girls were losing time.

I’m so happy. It’s been an incredible World Championships for me. I hope things continue to go well.

Is it hard for you to be in the same company as great heroes like Andrea Mead Lawrence, Gretchen Fraser and others?
It’s really weird. I just feel honored to be with those great ski legends. I don’t picture myself among such great skiers. I’m still just trying to ski my best everyday. I feel like I’m breaking a lot of records, but I’m just out doing my job and I love what I’m doing. I’ll just keep working hard to do as well as I can.

The downhill is really your event, isn’t it?
Downhill is my favorite event, it always has been since I met Picabo Street. She always inspired me. For some reason I’ve always been drawn to the speed, the adrenaline, the rush of it all. It’s an amazing discipline. I’ve always wanted to win at a big event and I feel like it’s a big breakthrough for me. I was able to do it despite being nervous. My husband and I really worked through it. I’m going to take what I learned today to the Olympics and hopefully I’ll be able to do well there.

Read more

Female Athlete of the Year

December 9, 2008  – The year-end lists continue.

Polls are now open for the 2008 United States Sports Academy (USSA) Athletes of the Year awards presented by USAToday and NBC Sports. The USSA Athlete of the Year ballot is the culmination of the Academy’s year long Athlete of the Month program, which recognizes the accomplishments of men and women in any sport around the globe.

Who’s on the ballot this year?

Rebecca Adlington (United Kingdom – Swimming)
Kirsty Coventry (Zimbabwe – Swimming)
Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia – Track and Field)
Yalena Isinbayeva (Russian Federation – Track and Field)
Guo Jingjing (China – Diving)
Nastia Liukin (United States – Gymnastics)
Lorena Ochoa (Mexico – Golf)
Candace Parker (United States – Basketball)
Paula Radcliffe (United Kingdom – Marathon)
Lindsey Vonn (United States – Skiing)
Chrissie Wellington (United Kingdom – Triathlon)
Serena Williams(United States – Tennis)

Cast your ballot at http://vote.ussa.edu/aoy.

Women’s downhill called off in Lake Louise

December 6, 2008 – Today’s women’s World Cup downhill in Lake Louise was called off because heavy snowfalls meant the visibility was too poor to compete.

Organizers twice delayed the start of the second downhill of the season and finally called it off with no sign of a reprieve.

It was not immediately clear whether the race would be rescheduled for a later date in Lake Louise or elsewhere.

American World Cup holder Lindsey Vonn won the first downhill of the winter in Lake Louise on Friday.

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