2010 In Olympic Sports

SI Staff | Feb 6, 2012

2010 In Olympic Sports /

2010 In Olympic Sports

January - U.S. Figure Skating Championships

The most anticipated Olympic lead-up event saw the return of the most recognizable U.S. figure skater, Sasha Cohen, who came out of a three-year retirement to try to make her third Olympic team. It was not to be for the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, who had an excellent short program but faltered in the free skate, falling from second to fourth. Due to the U.S. women's struggles at the 2009 world championships, the U.S. could only take two women to Vancouver -- national champion Rachael Flatt and runner-up Mirai Nagasu (top left). The teenage duo was joined by favored men Jeremy Abbott, Evan Lysacek and Johnny Weir (top right) in earning Olympic nods.

February - Vancouver Olympics

The U.S. Alpine ski team hauled eight medals, its best Olympic performance. Lindsey Vonn, the Phelpsian focus of the 2010 Winter Games, overcame a shin injury to win downhill gold and Super-G bronze, while Julia Mancuso surprised by taking two silver medals. Bode Miller had the most fruitful Olympics of any American athlete with a medal of every color after a dreadful 2006 performance. Andrew Weibrecht broke through with Super-G bronze, his first medal in any major international race. The best non-American skiers were, not surprisingly, Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal (bottom left, gold, silver, bronze) and Germany's Maria Riesch (bottom right, two golds).

February - Vancouver Olympics

Norway's king turned in one more golden performance, while a German queen emerged in the women's competition. In his fifth (and perhaps final) Olympics, Ole Einar Bjorndalen added a gold and silver to his medal collection, giving him 11 career Olympic medals, second only to Norwegian cross-country legend Bjorn Daehlie (12) among Winter Olympic athletes. German Magdalena Neuner (top right), 13 years Bjorndalen's junior, was the female biathlon star with two golds and one silver in her first Winter Games.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Nobody could match the American "Night Train" at the Whistler Sliding Center, as Steve Holcomb piloted the first American gold-medal winning sled in 62 years. Germany's Andre Lange (bottom right) settled for silver behind Holcomb in the four-man but also won the two-man event, giving him five career Olympic medals. Canada went 1-2 in the women's event, won by Kaillie Humphries (bottom left), but the U.S. duo of Erin Pac and Elana Meyers (middle left) surprised by nabbing the bronze.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Norway added to its storied Olympic cross-country history on both the men's and women's side. Petter Northug, controversially left off the 2006 Olympic team, grabbed four medals, including the grueling 50-kilometer classic, the winter's version of the marathon where the winner gets honored at the closing ceremony. Marit Bjorgen one-upped Northug with five medals, the most of any 2010 Olympian, including two golds to improve her career Olympic medal count to seven.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Canada had high hopes of winning both curling golds, but only Kevin Martin's (left) rink delivered. The Canadian men never trailed in their gold-medal matchup against Norway, winning 6-3. The Canadian women, skipped by Cheryl Bernard, fell to Anette Norberg (right) and Sweden, who defended their title from Turin in comeback fashion, 7-6 in 11 ends. Sweden was behind 6-4 after nine.

February - Vancouver Olympics

The Olympic figure skating competition mixed controversy, brilliance and emotion. In the men's competition, American world champion Evan Lysacek (top left) edged reigning Olympic champion Russian Evgeni Plushenko despite not attempting a quadruple jump. Kim Yu-na (top right) left no doubt on the ladies' side, smashing her previous record score to win an anticipated gold. Canadian Joannie Rochette (center) inspired by winning bronze days after her mother passed away. Fellow Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (bottom right) beat out Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White to win ice dance, while China's Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo (bottom left) won their first pairs gold in their fourth Olympics.

February - Vancouver Olympics

All of Canada was focused on the moguls competition at Cypress Mountain, hoping for its first home gold at an Olympic Games. American Hannah Kearney (top right) spoiled Jenn Heil's bid on the first day of competition, but Alexandre Bilodeau (top left) became a national hero the next night with his gold-medal run. Ski cross (bottom right), making its Olympic debut, had reversed results for the host country. Ashleigh McIvor grabbed gold, but favorite Chris Del Bosco crashed out in the men's final. Aerials saw American Jeret "Speedy" Peterson land his patented "Hurricane" jump for a redeeming silver after getting kicked out of the 2006 Turin Games. Belarusian Aleksei Grishin and Austrlian Lydia Lassila were the surprise winners.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Canada claimed its most prized medals of the Games, hockey golds, by thwarting its neighbors to the south. The Canadian women dominated their final, beating the U.S. 2-0 for their third straight Olympic title. Sidney Crosby and Co. had a tougher time against Ryan Miller (top right) and the Americans. Zach Parise scored with 25 seconds left to send it to overtime at 2-2, but Crosby answered with the golden goal 7 minutes into sudden death. Ensuing celebrations poured into the streets across the country.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a training-run crash on the day of the opening ceremony. The luge competition went on at safer speeds with Germany again outclassing the field. Germans Felix Loch (top left) and Tatjana Huefner (right) won in singles. Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger slid to doubles gold.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Perhaps no American story was more uplifting than that of the Nordic combined team. In a sport America had never medaled in Olympic competition, Bill Demong, Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Brett Camerota combined for four medals. The team won silver, Demong (top right) won individual gold and Spillane (bottom left, coming in second to Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis) won two individual silvers. Dare find a greater finish to an Olympics than Demong's, who won his event Feb. 25, proposed to his girlfriend that night and was named American flag bearer for the closing ceremony Feb. 28.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Apolo Ohno skated into history with three more medals (one silver, two bronzes) to become the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian ever (eight total). It was likely Ohno's final Games, but with his farewell came the entrance of two new American medalists. Katherine Reutter won silver chasing Chinese star Wang Meng (two golds, one silver), while J.R. Celski (bottom right) shared in Ohno's spotlight with two bronzes of his own. Charles Hamelin (bottom left) was the biggest Canadian presence, taking two golds.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Amy Williams became Britain's first solo Winter Olympic gold medalist in 30 years while wearing a controversial helmet with aerodynamic ridges. Canadian Jon Montgomery jumped from second to first in his fourth and final run and paraded through the streets of Whistler, pitcher of beer in hand, celebrating his improbable victory.

February - Vancouver Olympics

A Harry Potter sequel took place in Whistler. Swiss whiz Simon Ammann first gained fame by winning double gold at the 2002 Olympics as a Potter doppelganger. Eight years later he repeated the feat, this time a bit more grizzled than the young wizard, with the longest jumps on both the normal and large hills.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Shaun White didn't need it to win, but he broke out the Double McTwist 1260 anyway on a victory lap after clinching his second straight gold medal. For the first time since 1998, however, the Americans didn't sweep halfpipe gold. Australian Torah Bright (bottom left) busted the streak, pushing past champs Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark to silver and bronze, respectively. Trends became apparent in snowboard cross, where Lindsey Jacobellis (top right) again came up short (not even making the final this time) and Seth Wescott (bottom right) won his second straight gold.

February - Vancouver Olympics

Some of the most bizarre scenes of the Olympics happened at the Richmond Olympic Oval, including an ice resurfacing machine (don't call them Zambonis) malfunction and Dutch star Sven Kramer's (bottom) lane-switch disqualification in the 10,000 meters. American Shani Davis (top left) and Czech Martina Sablikova (center left) faced far less adversity, each winning expected golds.

March - FIS World Cup

Vancouver star Lindsey Vonn wrapped up her third straight overall World Cup title (and crystal globe that comes with it) one month after the Olympics. She's currently leading the overall World Cup standings for 2010-11, aiming to become the second woman to win four straight overall championships.

March - World Figure Skating Championships

World championships directly following an Olympics can be misleading, as some stars skip the event and others simply aren't in top form. Olympic champion Kim Yu-na wasn't at her best and settled for silver behind rival Mao Asada (left). Evan Lysacek and Evgeni Plushenko didn't compete, opening the door for Vancouver bronze medalist Daisuke Takahashi (right) to become the first men's world champion from Japan.

April - Samaranch Dies At 89

Juan Antonio Samaranch was the International Olympic Committee president from 1980 to 2001, presiding over nine Olympics as the Games experienced unprecedented growth. Samaranch retired as the second-longest serving president in the history of the IOC. Only Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the modern Olympics, was in office longer, serving for 29 years (1896-1925).

April - Merritt Suspended

Drug tests re-entered track and field news when LaShawn Merritt, the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 400 meters, tested positive for a banned steroid he claimed came from the male enhancement product ExtenZe. Merritt was suspended 21 months, backdated to October 2009 and expiring in July 2011. His status for the 2012 Olympics is in question due to an IOC rule potentially preventing athletes who serve suspensions of six months or more from competing in the following Olympic Games.

July - Finch Retires

Jennie Finch, perhaps the most recognizable softball player in U.S. history, retired at age 29 in July to spend time with her husband, minor-league pitcher Casey Daigle, and 4-year-old son Ace. Finch pitched for two U.S. Olympic teams, winning gold in 2004 and silver in 2008, and gained baseball fame with her ability to strike out MLB hitters, as well as her good looks.

July - Semenya Returns

South African teen Caster Semenya burst onto the track scene by running away with the 800-meter world title in 2009. Just as quickly, she was taken off the track and engulfed in a gender-testing controversy. Going nearly one year between competitions, Semenya was allowed to run again in July, winning two minor races in Finland during an otherwise lost year.

July - Tour de France

As usual, the Tour de France wasn't short on headlines in 2010. Alberto Contador won his third Tour at age 29, sparking debate as to whether he can eventually reach Lance Armstrong's record seven wins. Coincidentally, Armstrong announced it would be his final tour (for the second time). The Texan was thought to be a contender for the podium but fell out of favor early and finished 23rd. Many now consider second-place finisher Andy Schleck (bottom right) the deserving champion for two reasons. 1) Contador controversially attacked and passed Schleck, who was donning the yellow jersey at the time, while Schleck was having problems with his bike chain in Stage 15. Some say it's poor sportsmanship to make such a move. 2) In September, it was announced that Contador tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol during the Tour. On February 6, 2012, the CAS found Alberto Contador guilty of using the banned substance clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour de France. Contador received a two-year ban, back-dating to when he tested positive, and was stripped of his 2010 Tour de France title.

August - Gatlin Returns

2004 Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin raced for the first time in four years coming off a doping suspension. Like Semenya, he began working his way back by winning at low-tier meets. While Gatlin has been surpassed by other sprinters in his absence, he holds hope of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games.

August - Gay Beats Bolt

Usain Bolt finally found competition in 2010. It came from American Tyson Gay. Gay, world No. 1 pre-Bolt but befallen by injuries in 2008, finally worked his way back into peak shape while Bolt admittedly lost a step in 2010. They met for the only time this past season on Aug. 6 in Stockholm, where Gay dusted Bolt, 9.84 to 9.97, in a 100-meter race. It marked Bolt's first loss in two years -- and perhaps the turning point of the world's fastest rivalry.

August - Youth Olympic Games

The Olympic movement broadened in 2010, debuting the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. More than 3,000 athletes, aged 14 to 18, from over 200 countries competed in the first Games.

August - Pan Pacific Championships

Ryan Lochte dethroned Michael Phelps as the world's best swimmer in 2010, highlighted by Phelps-like domination at the year's two biggest meets, the Pan Pacific Championships in August and the short-course world championships in December. Lochte won six golds at each meet. Many have been quick to point out that Lochte is merely the world's best right now . Phelps will have a strong say going toward 2012.

October - Commonwealth Games

Many were concerned about India's ability to host the Commonwealth Games, and rightfully so. The event, threatened by cancellation, was more newsworthy for its problems and controversies than its athletes' successes. Venues and accommodations weren't in acceptable condition. Attendance was meager. Monkeys were deployed as guards. All that, and a dog ran onto the track during competition at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

October - World Gymnastics Championships

Kohei Uchimura (top left) confirmed his place atop men's gymnastics, and Alicia Sacramone (bottom right) made a golden comeback, but both were upstaged by a Russian teen. Aliya Mustafina (center), 16, took home five medals from Rotterdam, Netherlands, including all-around and team gold. The handful haul marked the most medals won by a single gymnast at a world championships since 2001.

November - New York Marathon

This year's 26.2-mile race will be remembered for one man who didn't finish and another who was beaten by Subway Jared. Marathon world-record holder Haile Gebrselassie dropped out mid-race and immediately announced his retirement (only to reconsider via Twitter days later). Freed Chilean miner Edison Pena was an inspiration by just running, let alone finishing, after being stuck under ground for 69 days. The winners were Edna Kiplagat and Gebre Gebremariam.

Published Feb 6, 2012

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