VANCOUVER, British Columbia --- Asian women dominated the last three women's world championships. Now comes the really big show.
South Korea's Kim Yu-na and Japan's Mao Asada and Miki Ando enter tonight's short program at the Vancouver Olympics carrying the great expectations of their nations on their fragile shoulders.
Nothing less than gold will do.
Current world champion Kim is favored. Her chief rival is Asada, the 2008 world champ and the rare female who can land a triple axel. Ando, the 2007 world winner, has had a strong season and Olympic experience.
Kim is coached by Brian Orser , the two-time Olympic silver-medalist, who says his pupil "knows there's pressure and it's understandable. She knows she has a huge fan base in South Korea and a growing one around the world. They adore her and want her to do well. She's been able to sort of acknowledge that."
BOBSLED CHANGES: Officials will shave ice in several tricky curves on the super-fast Olympic track, hoping the changes will make it easier to navigate.
After four-man bobsleds from Croatia and Latvia crashed during supplemental training Monday, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation postponed the remainder of the practice session. The decision was made after a meeting with representatives from 11 sliding nations near the 13th turn, the track's toughest section, close to the spot where Canada's Lyndon Rush crashed in the two-man event.
The plan is to shave an inch or more of ice in that curve, dubbed "50-50" -- as in chance of making it through -- and in a few other areas. Coaches say the changes are considered relatively minor.
By shaving a bit of ice, which is not uncommon on newer tracks like this one, four-man teams will have more room to maneuver and drivers will have more margin for error.
COME TOGETHER: If it wasn't already clear from all the fans filling the streets in Vancouver or all those maple leaf flags flying, Canadians are really excited about the 2010 Games. A new poll by The Canadian Press/Harris Decima shows 77 percent of Canadians think the Olympics are helping unite the country with 58 percent saying the games will be remembered as one of the country's greatest achievements.
FURIOUS COACH: Canadian-bred Chinese curling coach Dan Rafael is so furious with what he calls a lack of passion by his players he said he plans to quit coaching this group once his contract is up.
Rafael watched the reigning world champions lose 7-4 in a shortened nine-end match to Russia on Monday.
His hands trembling because he was so angry, Rafael suggested the team should be broken up after about seven years together.
"They have no passion for the game. It's their job. They just take everything for granted," Rafael said. "... They looked pretty amused. They think it's funny for whatever reason -- you're at the Olympics. I'm furious."
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