Bob Sledding 2026
We watch the Olympics all day so you don’t have to.
We’re going to start today with an utterly joyous video which most people will not likely ever see. It’s from the pairs figure skating Free Skate – which will get covered at length on NBC’s Primetime broadcast, but this is in Part 1, where the teams not really competing for a medal skate, so it may not get on the air. Except they might show just this small section because…well, it’s just too unadulterated jubilant. It’s one of the most joyous reactions I’ve seen at the end of a figure skating program. This is Ioulia Chtchetinina, who is a Russian-Swiss pairs skater who currently competes for Poland with Michał Woźniak. In fact, this is probably the most joyous I’ve seen a skater during the end of her sake while skating! It's best to make this Full Screen to see her oh-so-happy face. (Note to Ioulia Chtchetinina: Do not play poker because you have no skills for hiding your reactions.) Their program was lively and very well-done. And Ms. Chtchetinina’s utter joy at the end can’t help but make one happy, as well. The team has only been competing together for 2-1/2 years and are the three-time Polish National Champions. And note that although she may look around 12 years old, she’s 29. It’s her pure, all-encompassing happiness, though, that no doubt adds to her youth. Since this moment is unlikely to make it onto Primetime, I recorded it off the air on my mobile phone. The sound is tinny, and I didn’t frame it well but it’s the visual at the heart of it all that counts. Here are the last 40-seconds of their program, and then the joy.
And to give Ioulia Chtchetinina an encore, I figured I should post the pairs reaction waiting for their score. They won’t be medaling, but she especially is clearly pleased with the results.
And just one more from Part 1 of the Pairs Free Skate, because I’m not sure this will be included on the Primetime broadcast. It’s the last 30-seconds of the German team’s program, and they have two moves that are, at heart, typical, but they way they do them are…spectacular, as the guy just grabs her by the hand and double-twists his fearless partner over the ice and then flings her around. You’ll recognize the moments because – well, they’re seriously impressive, but also because the crowd roars.
I’m not exactly sure what it was about these Part 1 programs (others were wonderful, as well) -- these are usually the “also-rans” that pale in comparison to the top finalists who skate in Part 2. And the skill of those in Party 2 are technically and artistically better. But I’m wondering if, because these early skaters know they don’t have a chance of a medal, they’re just out there to do their best and have a great time. Whereas the top finalists know they have everything at stake. They’re superb – but don’t tend to skate with this kind of “Oh, who cares?!” abandon. In fact, the Japanese pair of Miura and Kihara were favorites, but stumbled in the short program and dropped down to fifth place -- but here, in Part 1, they gave an enthralling skate. So much so that the guy, Ryuichi Kihara, was openly weeping in tears afterwards. They were so great that their score easily put them back into medal contention, and remarkably, even a Gold is now in sight. I am sure this skate will make it onto the Primetime broadcast.
One other figure skating news. Every Winter Olympics, after the full competition is over, they have an Exhibition where all the medalists get to do whatever freewheeling performance they want. And occasionally, they’ll invite a skater who didn’t medal. They did that this year, and to his great credit, Ilia Malinin announced that he would perform in the Exhibition.
The Johannes Klaebo Adventure continues. The Norwegian cross-country skier won his fourth Gold Medal of these Games in the team 4x7.5m relay -- and his ninth Gold Medal overall, giving him the most Gold Medals by any athlete in Winter Olympics history. He’s also tied for second place with the most Gold Medal in any Olympics, whether Summer or Winter. (First place is likely out-of-reach, with U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps having 23.) Klaebo has two more races this Olympics, so he’s expected to break that tie. Worth noting is that Klaebo is only 29, so it doesn’t seem unlikely that he’ll compete in the next Winter Olympics, and perhaps even two more. (Jessie Diggins, the most-honored U.S. cross country skier will be retiring after these Games at the age of 34.)
The two-person bobsled event began today. Along with the four-person bobsled, these are among my favorite competitions, for reasons I’ll explain when we get to four-person sledding, since I like that a touch more. For now, I just have a wonderful time watching it. And all the better now that NBC is using cameras on drones which give such a great perspective to the speed and turns of the race.
And continuing with other “bob” news, in the monobob, a one-person sled event for women, American Elana Meyers Taylor won the Gold Medal. The U.S. also took the Bronze Medal in the event. This was Meyers Taylor’s sixth Olympic medal, and first Gold. Her six medals ties her with speedskater Bonnie Blair for the most medals by an American woman in the Winter Olympics. (Blair won five Gold Medals.)
Finally -- o joy! NBC actually ran one of Mary Carillo's reports on the USA Network! It was the one I linked to yesterday (that originally ran on the syndicated "Olympic Zone" program) about why there are so many great skiers from Norway. Huzzah! if you missed the link and broadcast, you can see it here.
More to come…
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