2006 Games Conclude Sunday Feb 26 in Torino
Thanks to our US athletes in ski jumping & Nordic Combined
Olympic ski jumping ended last Monday, and the final Nordic combined event was held on Tuesday.
Our US athletes didn't bring home any hardware, but only a very few athletes come home with highest
honors in this series of events which puts a glaring spotlight on our winter sports and athletes once
every four years. Sometimes favorites win, more often they don't. For athletes from some countries,
where winter sports are closely watched by legions of fans (and heavily funded by sponsors and, in
some cases, governments), the pressure must be enormous.
Here in the US, even our most accomplished winter athletes are virtually unknown ... we're working to
change that. Those of us who know and follow US athletes in our favorite sports know the odds of an
American "hitting one out of the park" are slim in such an arena, but that doesn't lessen our appreciation
for the work, time, money, and dedication it takes to reach the Olympics. Thanks to our jumpers and NCers,
their coaches & families.
SKI JUMPING - Alan Alborn, Clint Jones, Tommy Schwall, Jimmy Denney, Anders Johnson;
NORDIC COMBINED - Todd Lodwick, Johnny Spillane, Bill Demong, Brett Camerota, Eric Camerota,
Carl Van Loan.
Lodwick 9th, Spillane 10th in NC Sprint
Two US skiers in top ten in final NC event Feb 21
results
The last Nordic Combined event of the 2006 Olympics saw Americans Todd Lodwick
& Johnny Spillane finish in the top ten, at 9th & 10th place respectively.
Bill Demong placed 25th, and Eric Camerota finished 39th.
Representing the US in earlier events were Brett Camerota and Carl Van Loan.
Austria, Finland, Norway in K125 Team
US places 14th in final ski jumping event Feb 20
results
In team jumping, the Austrians took the gold, with Finland silver and Norway bronze.
Only eight teams make the final round; the US finished 14th. The five athletes who
represented the US in three jumping events were Alan Alborn, Clint Jones, Tommy Schwall,
Jimmy Denney, & Anders Johnson.
Olympic K125 Gold to Morgenstern
Austria takes gold & silver, Norway bronze Feb 18
results
Thomas Morgenstern of Austria took the gold on the 125 meter jump at Pragelato.
His teammate Andreas Kofler captured the silver, while Norway's Lars Bystoel
took home the bronze. US jumper Alan Alborn placed 43rd. There's one remaining
ski jumping event ... the team competition on Monday, also on the K125. Representing the
US in addition to Alborn are Clint Jones, Tommy Schwall, Jimmy Denney, &
Anders Johnson.
US 7th in Olympic NC 4x5 Relay Feb 16
High winds forced rescheduling after being halted Wednesday.
results
The US Men's Nordic Combined team of Todd Lodwick, Johnny Spillane, Bill Demong, &
Carl Van Loan finished seventh Thursday in the Olympic 4x5K Team
Relay event.
Norway Takes Gold in Olympic K90
Bystoel, Hautamaeki, Ljoekelsoey take medals Feb 11
results
A pair of Norwegians sandwiched a Finn in the medal chase at Pragelato on Sunday, Feb 12.
This was the "normal hill" event, the smaller of two Olympic jumps, and the only small
hill these skiers will see all season; all other World Cup meets are held on larger jumps.
Lars Bystoelof Norway captured the gold, while Finland's Matti Hautamaeki
took the silver medal, and Bystoel's teammate Roar Ljoekelsoey claimed the bronze.
World Cup series leader Jakub Janda of the Czech Republic could only manage a tie
for 13th, and last year's World Cup winner Janne Ahonen of Finland finished sixth.
Americans Alan Alborn and Clint Jones missed the cut to the round of 30, as
did Stefan Read of Canada ... and double gold medalist from 2002, Simon Ammann
of Switzerland, and Slovenia's young superstar, Rok Benkovic. Read coach
Corby Fisher's comments about this event via link at right!
NC medals to Germany, Austria, Norway
Hettich, Gottwald, Moan win on Feb 11 - Todd Lodwick 8th
results
The first Nordic Combined event of the 2006 Olympics was held Feb 11; US finishers
included Todd Lodwick 8th, Bill Demong 15th, Johnny Spillane 30th,
& Brett Camerota finished 38th.
Olympic Jumping & NC Team Rosters Set
Read official
US team selection announcement!
The USSA has announced eleven skiers who will compete in the Nordic disciplines
of ski jumping and Nordic Combined. All four USSA regions are represented, and
seven of the athletes have been to the Olympics before. This will be the fourth
appearance for NC veteran
Todd Lodwick,
the third for Bill Demong (NC) and
Alan Alborn
(jumping). Making their second trips to the
Olympics are jumpers Clint Jones and Tommy Schwall, and NC athletes
Johnny Spillane and Carl Van Loan. First-time Olympians include jumpers
Jimmy Denney
and Anders Johnson, along with combiners
Brett & Eric Camerota.