American men, women curlers finally break through
USA's Jason Smith delivers the stone in a men's curling match against France at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Feb. 19, 2010) Credit: AP
The U.S. men curlers have their first Olympic victory, beating France, 4-3, on Friday after four straight losses.
Could a lineup switch and cheers from NFL star Vernon Davis have been the difference? Regular skip John Shuster was benched for the match because of his poor shot-making. Alternate Chris Plys was promoted to the skip spot and vice skip Jason Smith threw last rock.
The U.S. foursome tied it with two in the ninth after France scored a deuce in the seventh for a 3-1 lead. Smith's final throw gave the Americans three stones in the house, and France couldn't get closest at the end.
The American women scored their first win, beating Russia, 6-4. U.S. skip Debbie McCormick was feeling the pressure after an 0-3 start. The women won with a deuce in the final end.
Pics send Lago home
American halfpipe bronze medalist Scotty Lago is heading home from the Olympics after risque pictures of him showed up on the Internet. Lago was at a party wearing a Team USA T-shirt when someone snapped a photo of a woman kneeling below Lago's waist to kiss his medal. He apologized to officials at the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and voluntarily decided to return home.
Swiss bobsledder hurt
Swiss brakeman Juerg Egger was injured in a bobsled crash. Egger, the pushman for Switzerland-3 pilot Daniel Schmid, was hurt when their two-man sled overturned during a practice session Friday at the Whistler Sliding Center. Egger was strapped to a support board and taken away by ambulance. There was not immediate word on his condition. Earlier, Swiss-1 driver Beat Hefti, a gold-medal favorite, withdrew because of a concussion sustained in a crash on Wednesday.
2nd gold for Bjoergen
Marit Bjoergen of Norway won the women's 15-kilometer pursuit to become the first double gold medalist of the Vancouver Olympics. Anna Haag of Sweden won the silver medal in a tight battle to the finish with prerace favorite Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland who won bronze. - AP
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