14 Days

Only two weeks left in the countdown to Vancouver!

Condolences to figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, whose father was buried yesterday. Kerrigan's father, Daniel Kerrigan, apparently died following a struggle with his son, Mark Kerrigan on Sunday. The family claims the death was unrelated to the struggle. Nancy won the bronze medal at the 1992 Albertville Olympics and the silver medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics.

A Chinese newspaper reported that Russian officials are expecting their athletes to win at least 14 gold medals at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Russia won 8 gold medals at the previous Winter Games in Turin in 2006 and 6 gold medals in Salt Lake City in 2002. This seems to me like a useless statement. The Sochi Olympics are four years away. Also, clearly, all medal contenders are going to try for medals. Not just for their country, but for themselves. I'm not sure the added pressure from a statement like this helps anything.

British Olympian Phil Harries first competed at the Olympics in the 400m hurdle event at the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. 14 years later, he returned to the Olympics, but this time the Winter Olympics in 2002 as a member of one of Great Britain's bobsled teams.