It's last-chance time for American stars

Women's figure skating, U.S. hockey teams go for the gold in Olympics' final week

Web posted February 16, 1998

By Dennis Sodomka
Executive Editor

NAGANO, Japan - With the Winter Olympics entering its final week, several showcase sports will take center stage.

And a U.S. team sitting on six medals will answer the questions about how good they are.

Women's figure skating has become the most-watched event in the Winter Olympics. This year it could have the most drama and the most promise for the United States.

Bringing its strongest team ever, the U.S. women have a good chance to sweep the medals, if the judges don't let global politics get in the way. Former world champion Michelle Kwan leads the way after a near-perfect performance in the national championships.

Her chief rival is Tara Lipinski, the reigning world champion. Nicole Bobek, the third American, is sitting quietly, hoping to steal the gold while everyone focuses on Kwan and Lipinski.

One of the top European medal candidates, Germany's Tanja Szewczenko, withdrew from the Olympics because she has been sick for the past week. That still leaves Maria Butyrskaya of Russia and Surya Bonaly of France to try to spoil the American party.

The women, who skate Wednesday and Friday, are the last hope for the U.S. team to avoid a figure skating shutout. Todd Eldredge, expected to battle for a gold medal, finished a disappointing fourth in the men's singles.

Both American hockey teams hope to bring home the gold, but the smart money is on the women. They are undefeated in the Olympic tournament. They have already beaten Canada 7-4 and face them again for the gold medal on Tuesday.

The professional stars on the men's team have struggled with the larger size of the Olympic rink. They have been ineffective and at times bewildered in splitting their first two games. They play Canada today before moving on to the medal round where Russia and Sweden pose major threats to the North American teams.

Alpine skiing has several races bunched up early in the week, after rain, fog and heavy snow forced multiple postponements. Local organizers hope to get in four races in two days on the Happo'one course in Hakuba before slalom events start Wednesday at the Mt. Higashidate and Mt. Yakebitai areas in Yamanouchi.

The only Alpine medal for the United States so far has been Picabo Street's gold in the women's super G.

Bobsled takes over Friday and Saturday as two strong U.S. four-man teams hope to break a 42-year Olympic medal dry spell. Both drivers, Brian Shimer and Jim Herberich, have had strong World Cup seasons but they struggled in the two-man competition last week.

Speed skaters will try to avoid being shut out for only the third time since the Winter Olympics began in 1924. They have four events this week after several near-misses in the first week. Chris Witty is has the best shot at a medal, in the women's 1,500 meters Monday and 1,000 meters Thursday.

Short-track speed skating also competes this week.

The Nordic events of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon will not bring any medals for Americans, but one interesting event should be the team ski jumping on Tuesday. The Japanese hope to win their first gold medal ever in this event after winning medals in the individual jumps.

The 16-day sports festival wraps up Sunday with the men's gold medal hockey game and closing ceremonies.

So far the American team has gold medals from Street and Jonny Moseley in moguls skiing; a silver and a bronze in doubles luge, and two bronzes in snowboard halfpipe. To reach their goal of matching the 13 medals from Lillehammer in 1994, the Americans need to medal in figure skating, hockey and bobsled. Then they need some unexpected help from sports like Alpine skiing, speed skating or short-track speed skating.

U.S. Olympic officials want a strong showing leading to Salt Lake City in 2002, where they hope the home field advantage will lead to a medal bonanza.