The History Of The Winter Olympic Games And Some Memorable US Athletes

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February 27, 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympic games are gearing up to start soon

here, being held in Vancouver, Canada. The Winter Olympics take place every 4 years and have been happening since the very first one happened in 1924 in France. These games are much smaller than the Summer Olympics as there are not as many athletic events to compete in that require snow or ice. Since the first winter games started some events have {been around|existed such as different types of skating events, skiing races and bobsledding. The US has hosted the winter games 4 times, more than any other country. Athletes train hard year round using Olympic plates and different training equipment. A lot of athletes also are sponsored by companies and have to promote them at events like a treadmill sale.There are many moments things that happened with American athletes at the Winter Olympics and this article will describe a couple of those times.

The Olympics in Squaw Valley was the first to start many new sports for the Olympics. Because this area was not very developed, there was a huge urgency to build, hotels, shops and even roads to prepare for the Olympics. This was also the first time that a separate athlete’s village was constructed and the first time computers were used for the results. The beginning of agreat perfomance at the opening and closing ceremonies also happened at Squaw Valley with Walt Disney producing those events in 1960.

In 1976, the figure skater, Dorothy Hamill became called USA’s sweetheart after taking home the gold medal in the Olympics. Her trademark spin became known as the Hamill Camel and many girls wanted her her short haircut and bought the doll fashioned after her. Lake Placid hosted the winter games for the second time in 1980 and it had some issues surrounding it with the threat of it being boycotted but it went on as hoped. Eric Heiden set the world and Olympic records in all five events in speed skating which made him a star. The other great event in 1980 was referred to as “The miracle on Ice” when the American hockey team defeated the favored Soviet team.

The 1994 games in Lillehammer, Norway were full of scandal for American figure skaters, Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. The most famous scandal was when the ex-husband of Tonya Harding assaulted Kerrigan by hitting her leg with a metal pipe attempting to force her out from the competition against Harding. Although injured, Kerrigan skated but Oksana Baiul of the Ukraine won the gold medal.

The 2010 Olympic games is to be held in Vancouver which will make it the largest metropolitan city to have the winter games. Most of the events will be around the city while the skiing events will be held at Whistler. Short track speed skater, Apollo Ohno will return for his third Olympics and will attempt to beat Eric Heiden’s record of 5 medals won. Other Americans to look for are Lindsay Vonn in Alpine skiing and the fan favorite, Shawn White, aka “The Flying Tomato” in snowboarding.

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