Sunday, February 25, 2018

PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics comes to a close. And the Closing Ceremony was wonderful.

Highlights:





Fireworks explode behind the Olympic flame at the start of the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Florien Choblet - Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images AsiaPac

An entertainer performs during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform at the start the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images AsiaPac


It's the Hyooman tribe from Adventure Time!

The Korean flag is carried during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac



I didn't realize that Ooo was in the Parade of Nations! Damn you. NBC, for cutting away to commercial!


Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach and Lee Hee-beom, President & CEO of PyeongChang Organizing Committee stand on the stage with Lindsey Vonn of the United States, Pita Taufatofua of Tonga and Olympic athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac

I love watching the athletes enjoy the festivities:
Flag bearer Jessica Diggins of the United States walks in the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac

Team USA walk in the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac

Figure skaters Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres of France participate during the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Team Korea and Team Republic of Korea walk in the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac

Madison Chock and Evan Bates walk with Team USA in the Parade of Athletes during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac


This is a boy band? Exactly how many people are in this band?

Band EXO perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

They've got enough people to race a short track speedskating relay final!

Band EXO perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac


Just fantastic fun.

Performers dance during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images AsiaPac

Fireworks explode near the conclusion of the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

PyeongChang 2018 mascots dance during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac

Fireworks explode behind the Olympic flame during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Florien Choblet - Pool/Getty Images AsiaPac



It's TRON!

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Dan Istitene/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac
Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac


Next up, Beijing 2022!

Entertainers perform during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Entertainers perform during the Beijing segment during the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on February 25, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Thank you, PyeongChang! It has been an exciting Olympics. Thank you, volunteers and staff, and locals for welcoming us to your home. It has been a spectacular experience.






PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Day 16

Day 16

Last day of competition and the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics are over. What a fantastic Olympics it has been!




Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra


Highlights

Curling Women's Gold Medal Match (Sweden vs South Korea)

South Korea's Team Kim (dubbed Garlic Girls by Korean Press) have made an incredible Cinderella run for gold.

Taking nicknames from their favorite breakfast foods, Kim Cho-hee 'Chocho' (Cookie), Kim Yeong-mi 'Pancake', Kim Seon-yeong 'Sunny' (Side Up Eggs), Kim Kyeong-ae 'Steak', and Kim Eun-jung 'Annie' (Yogurt Brand) faced off against Sweden's Anna Hasselborg, Sara McManus, Agnes Knochenhauer, Sofia Mabergs, and Jennie Wåhlin.

It was breakfast versus Swedish meatballs! And in the final face off, Sweden had better handle on the ice and better shots, and they take the gold after a concession from South Korea, 8-3.

Winners of the gold medal, Sweden shake hands with silver medalists, Korea following the Women's Gold Medal Game between Sweden and Korea PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images AsiaPac

The Swedes played better and took an early lead that they held and extended all the way to the end.

And a fantastic job to the home team, winning silver, South Korea's first ever curling medal.


YeongMi Kim, SeonYeong Kim, KyeongAe Kim, EunJung Kim of Korea and Chohi Kim of Korea celebrate their silver medal on the podium following the Women's Gold Medal Game between Sweden and Korea PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images AsiaPac

I was totally rooting for South Korea, because I love rooting for the underdogs. And they've had an amazing run! And the Swedes totally earned that gold in the match. They played better.

A fantastic job to both teams!

My only disappointment was the medal ceremony. I was kind of hoping that the Swedish anthem would be a song from ABBA or Ace Of Base.


Four Man Bobsled

Germany has swept gold in all three bobsled events, just as they did at Tornio 2006. With the four man bobsled gold, Germany has set a new record of being the first country to win six sliding golds at a single Winter Olympics.

German pilot Francesco Friedrich with Candy Bauer, Martin Grothkopp and Thorsten Margis clocked in four runs in 3 minutes, 15.85 seconds to win by more than a half-second. The Korean sled driven by Won Yunjong and the German sled driven by Nico Walther tied to share the silver, the second sliding medal tie in these games after they finished in 3 minutes, 16.38 seconds.

The German team of Nico Walther, Kevin Kuske, Alexander Rödiger, and Eric Franke adds a shared silver to the German medal haul, making up for a terrible Sochi 2014 experience, when Germany failed to medal.

Yunjong Won, Junglin Jun, Seo Youngwoo and Donghyun Kim of Korea celebrate after they finish their final run during the 4-man Boblseigh PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images AsiaPac

And Won Yun-jong, Jun Jung-lin, Seo Young-woo, and Kim Dong-hyun deliver South Korea the silver, its second sliding sports medal ever!

Switzerland's Rico Peter, Thomas Amrhein, Simon Friedli, and Michael Kuonen had the third fastest time. But there is a stupid rule in the Olympics that prevents them from getting a well earned bronze.

Rico Peter, Thomas Amrhein, Simon Friedli and Michael Kuonen of Switzerland make a final run during the 4-man Boblseigh Heats PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac

Since there is a tie at silver, there is no bronze awarded! And if there's a tie at gold, there's no silver awarded! The second place finished gets bronze instead!



Ice Hockey Gold Medal Match (Germany vs OAR)

Tied at 3-3, the game went into overtime. A power play gave the OAR the edge to score one more goal and claim the gold.

Patrick Hager #50 of Germany and Sergei Andronov #11 of Olympic Athlete from Russia face off at Men's Gold Medal Game PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images AsiaPac

At the medal ceremony, the Olympics anthem was played while Russians tried to sing their national anthem. Russia is "banned" from participating in the Games for its state sponsored doping, most notably when it hosted Sochi 2014. The Russian athletes invited to participate have been competing under the neutral Olympics flag, designated as the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR). All medals they won are NOT counted under Russia.

The last time Russia won hockey gold was at Albertville 1992, when they were the Unified Team after the break up of the Soviet Union.

Germany put in a stellar performance to take silver. It is a fantastic showing for a nation no one counted on to even make the podium. But they have surprised everyone and earned a spot to play for gold. The silver win is a great win.

Canada won bronze after playing Czech Republic.


Cross-country Skiing Women's 30km Mass Start Classic

Marit Bjoergen is the Queen of the Winter Olympics!


Marit Bjoergen of Norway is lifted by Heidi Weng of Norway, Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway and Ragnhild Haga of Norway after winning the Ladies' 30km Mass Start Classic PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Marit Bjoergen won the Women's Cross-country Skiing 30km Mass Start. She clocked in at 1 hour, 22 minutes and 17.6 seconds — more than 1 minute, 49 seconds ahead of silver medalist Krista Parkakoski from Finland. Sweden's Stina Nilsson won bronze.

Marit Bjoergen had time to stop and pick up a Norway flag to wave triumphantly as she crossed the finish line.

Marit Bjoergen had such a large lead in the race, that in the last 7km, the skier following her, Austria's Teresa Stadlober lost sight of her and took a wrong turn! By the time she realized this and corrected herself, it was too late. She had been in second place but accidentally took a wrong turn and finished ninth.

Marit Bjoergen is the only athlete to win five medals in the Pyeongchang Games. She now has a record 15 Olympic medals in the Winter Games overall, making her the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time!

This win also gave Norway its 14th medal overall in cross-country in Pyeongchang. This breaks the Olympic record of 13 set by the then-Soviet Union at Calgary 1988. Norway is now the most successful Winter Olympics nation. It has won a record 39 medals and tied Germany with 14 golds apiece.


And so ends a dramatic and fantastic PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. We witnessed some great and surprising performances and the heartbreak of some tough losses. To witness champions coming from all over the world and getting along is inspiring. This Olympics is historical for many reasons.

I am glad to see the IOC still banning Russia from being represented at the Games for state sponsored doping. The IOC still has a very long way to go to keep the Games clean and keep doping nations out! Champions don't cheat! Dopers are losers!

Yet amid the controversies that always plague the Games, it was wonderful to see athletes from all over the world display what the human spirit and human body is capable of, and how inspiring it was to watch them overcome the challenges and win a place on the podium. Anything can happen at the Olympics. And they did!


Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek of Italy perform during the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada perform during the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford of Canada perform during the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition PyeongChang 2018 February 25, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 24, 2018 - Source: Getty Images AsiaPac



But most of all, it was a monumental event to see Korean athletes from the North and South walk and play side by side. It is a signal of hope that someday, maybe there might be a better future for a possible reunified or at least peaceful Korea. It shows that underneath the politics and propaganda are real people. And by seeing real people working together, there is hope for better relations and a peaceful future.

The Closing Ceremony end the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, and the torch will be passed on to Beijing 2022. Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.


Saturday, February 24, 2018

PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Day 15

Day 15

What a dramatic Day 15 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

Highlights:

Men's Snowboard Big Air

In the Olympics debut of a sport where the snowboarders jump off a tall hill and are scored by the tricks they do in the air, Sebastien Toutant scored a 174.25, the best total points in two out of three runs. He wins gold, the eleventh gold for Canada at these PyeongChang Games.

Sebastien Toutant of Canada competes during the Men's Big Air PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images AsiaPac

Kyle Mack of the United States took silver with a score of 168.75. He sat on his final third run, unable to put together a higher score to take that top spot. But a fantastic effort in a dangerous sport were crashes are common.

Kyle Mack of the United States competes during the Men's Big Air Final PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

Billy Morgan of Great Britain earned bronze as the crowd cheered for the amazing feats and moaned at the hard crashes.


Billy Morgan of Great Britain competes during the Men's Big Air PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

It was a spectacular debut of a new sport at the Winter Olympics, one that was a crowd pleaser and definitely pushes the limits of human ability and sensibilities!


(L-R) Silver medalist Kyle Mack of the United States, gold medalist Sebastien Toutant of Canada and bronze medalist Billy Morgan of Great Britain celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Men's Big Air PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images AsiaPac



Alpine Skiing Team Event

It is the debut of Alpine Skiing Team Skiing Event. The event has 16 countries seeded for a bracket-style tournament. Each team has four racers--two men and two women--competing in 1-on-1, side-by-side parallel runs. First to cross the finish with fastest time wins.

Each race victory is worth one point. If the score ends up at 2 each in a tie, then the lower combined time of each team's fastest man and fastest woman will decide the winner.

Katharina Gallhuber (L) of Austria and Wendy Holdener of Switzerland compete during the Alpine Team Event PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images AsiaPac

The tie breaker was used in the bronze match between Norway and France tying 2 race victories each. The combined fastest time of each team's fastest man and fastest woman gave Norway the edge and the first bronze in the debut of the event.

And in the gold medal match, Switzerland was up 2-1 in the final race between Swiss ski racer Daniel Yule and Austrian Marco Schwarz. It started fast and furious out of the gate, but halfway down, Marco Schwarz skied out along the side-by-side parallel slalom course.

Daniel Yule (L) of Switzerland and Marco Schwarz of Austria compete during the Alpine Team Event PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images AsiaPac


Switzerland finishes the race alone and takes the gold. And Austria takes silver.

Gold medalists were Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern, Daniel Yule, Luca Aerni, Wendy Holdener, and Denise Feierabend.

Gold medallists Switzerland with (L-R) Ramon Zenhaeusern, Daniel Yule, Luca Aerni, Wendy Holdener and Denise Feierabend celebrate during the victory ceremony for the Alpine Team Event PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images AsiaPac

Austria's silver medalists were Marco Schwarz, Michael Matt, Manuel Feller, Katharina Liensberger, Katharina Gallhuber, and Stephanie Brunner.

Silver medallists Austria with Marco Schwarz, Michael Matt, Manuel Feller, Katharina Liensberger, Katharina Gallhuber and Stephanie Brunner celebrate during the victory ceremony for the Alpine Team Event PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images AsiaPac

Norway's bronze medal team consisted of Jonathan Nordbotten, Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen, Sebastian Foss-Solevaag, Maren Skjoeld, Kristin Lysdahl, and Nina Haver-Loeseth

Bronze medallists Norway (L-R) Jonathan Nordbotten, Leif Kristian Nestvold-Haugen, Sebastian Foss-Solevaag, Maren Skjoeld, Kristin Lysdahl and Nina Haver-Loeseth celebrate during the victory ceremony for the Alpine Team Event PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Tom Pennington/Getty Images AsiaPac



Women's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom

Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic won a gold medal in the snowboarding parallel giant slalom on Saturday, and made history by becoming the first woman to win gold in two sports at a single Winter Olympics. She won the skiing super-G a week ago.

Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic competes during the Ladies' Parallel Giant Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images AsiaPac

Germany's Selina Joerg took silver. And another German, Ramona Hofmeister, claimed bronze, by beating OAR’s Alena Zavarzina.

Ester Ledecka is the first woman to win gold in two different sports at the same Winter Olympics. She is the second woman to medal in two different sports at the same Winter Olympics.

Jorien ter Mors of the Netherlands won gold in the 1000m long-track speedskating, and then she earned a bronze in the chaotic and thrilling 3000m relay in short-track. Her team set a new world record, winning the B Final. Then when second finisher China and third finisher Canada were disqualified in the A Final, third place Italy got bumped up to silver, and the record setting B Final Dutch team were elevated to third place, granting Jorien ter Mors her bronze, her second medal at the same Olympics, from a different sport.

Ester Ledecka is the third athlete, male or female, to win gold in two sports at the same Winter Olympics--her gold in Alpine Skiing Super G and gold in Snowboarding Parallel Giant Slalom. The first athlete to earn gold in two sports at the same Winter Games was Norway's Thorleif Haug at Chamonix 1924, with two golds in cross-country skiing (18km and 50km) and the gold in Nordic combined. The second athlete to win gold in two sports at the same Winter Olympics is another Norwegian, Johan Grøttumsbråten, who took gold in cross-country skiing (18km) and gold in Nordic combined at St Moritz 1928.


Men's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom

Switzerland's Nevin Galmarini, the 2014 Olympic silver medalist, takes the gold.

And Lee Sang-Ho of South Korea captured the host nation's first-ever Winter Olympic medal on snow with the silver. It was a fantastic race.

Sang-ho Lee of Korea competes during the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

I quite enjoyed watching Lee Sang-Ho make his Olympics debut run, with the crowd cheering him on in all his races. He is nicknamed affectionately as the "Napa Cabbage Boy," because when he was a small child, he learned to snowboard on a frozen cabbage patch that was turned into a sledding slope. And this cabbage patch kid gave his cheering home crowd a fantastic run that ended with a silver medal.

Slovenia's Zan Kosir outraced Sylvain Dufour of France in the small final to win bronze. It's Zan Kosir's third Olympic medal after earning bronze in the Parallel Giant Slalom and silver in Parallel Slalom at Sochi 2014.


(L-R) Silver medalist Sang-ho Lee of Korea, gold medalist Nevin Galmarini of Switzerland and bronze medalist Zan Kosir of Slovenia pose during the victory ceremony for the Men's Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac


Curling Men's Gold Medal Game (United States vs Sweden)

History was also made as the US won its first ever gold in men's curling, leaving Sweden the silver.

John Shuster scored the United States a 10-7 victory on Saturday for only the second curling medal in U.S. history, a bronze from Torino 2006. John Shuster was a part of that bronze team. But his lackluster performance at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 led to him being denied a spot on a team picked in 2014 and was specifically being trained for Pyeongchang 2018.

John Shuster gathered Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, who were also rejected, and with alternate Joe Polo, plus Tyler George (who didn't apply for the high performance team training) and formed their own team, "The Rejects". They trained, got healthy, and go on a hard path for the next four years. They won a bronze medal at the worlds, two national titles and then finished first in the U.S. Olympic trials, beating out the high performance trained team and earned a spot at PyeongChang 2018.

But they ran into serious trouble in Pyeongchang, and were on the verge of being eliminated if they lost to defending Olympics champions Canada. They defeat Canada and earned a spot in the gold match against number one seeded Sweden.

John Shuster, Tyler George,Matt Hamilton, John Landsteiner, and Joe Polo of the US win gold.

A small mixup occurred when the men were accidentally given the women's gold medals. Only John Polo had the right medal. The situation was immediately remedied with the right medals. Although John Shuster said that a gold medal is a gold medal. So true!

Gold medalists the United States react during the victory ceremony following the Curling Men's Gold Medal game PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images AsiaPac


Sweden's Niklas Edin, Oskar Eriksson, Rasmus Wranå, Christoffer Sundgren, and Henrik Leek take silver.

Silver medalists Sweden react during the victory ceremony following the Curling Men's Gold Medal game PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images AsiaPac



Benoît Schwarz, Claudio Pätz, Peter de Cruz, Valentin Tanner, Dominik Märki of Switzerland take bronze. Switzerland won the bronze by defeating Canada.

Bronze medalists Switzerland react during the victory ceremony following the Curling Men's Gold Medal game PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images AsiaPac



Curling Women's Bronze Medal Game (Japan vs United Kingdom)

Satsuki Fujisawa, Chinami Yoshida, Yumi Suzuki, Yurika Yoshida, and Mari Motohashi of Japan won the bronze match against Great Britain's Eve Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams, Lauren Gray, and Kelly Schafer.


Winners of the Bronze medal, Japan shake hands with Great Britain after the Curling Womens' bronze Medal match between Great Britain and Japan PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images AsiaPac

This bronze is Japan's first ever Olympic medal in curling, and they become the first Asian nation to medal in Olympic curling.

South Korea will face off Sweden later in the gold medal match.


Cross-Country Skiing Men's 50km Mass Start Classic

Ristomatti Hakola of Finland, Lucas Boegl of Germany, Francesco De Fabiani of Italy, Andrew Musgrave of Great Britain, Emil Iversen of Norway compete during the Men's 50km Mass Start Classic PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images AsiaPac

Iivo Niskanen has captured Finland's first gold medal of the Pyeongchang Games, clocking in the marathon event at 2 hours, 8 minutes, 22.1 seconds.

Iivo Niskanen beat out Russian Alexander Bolshunov with a strong sprint to the finish in the 50km mass start. In the last 11km of the marathon, Alexander Bolshunov and Iivo Niskanen broke away and made a two man race to the gold. At the last kilometer, Iivo Niskanen kicks up the speed and Alexander Bolshunov could not match. He finished more than 18 seconds after Iivo Niskanen to take silver for the OAR. Another OAR, Andrey Larkov, took the bronze.

(L-R) Silver medalist Alexander Bolshunov of Olympic Athlete from Russia, gold medalist Iivo Niskanen of Finland and bronze medalist Andrey Larkov of Olympic Athlete from Russia celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Men's 50km Mass Start Classic PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

It's the first time in 11 races that Norway has failed to medal in a cross-country race here. Norwegian ski star, three time gold medalist Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, decided to skip the final men's race of the Olympic Games. He returned home to Norway despite having a chance to become the only Olympian at the Pyeongchang Games to win four gold medals.


Ice Hockey Men's Bronze Medal Game (Canada vs Czech)

Two time defending champions Canada took the bronze medal at the Pyeongchang Games by beating the Czech Republic 6-4.

Kevin Poulin #31 of Canada defends the net against a shot by Martin Ruzicka #27 of the Czech Republic in the first period during the Men's Bronze Medal Game PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images AsiaPac

A surprise, outstanding performance by Germany got them a shot at the gold medal in the final match later against OAR.


Speed Skating Women's Mass Start Final

Any time you put a bunch of people on the ice and have them race, you're going to get glorious crashes.

Ivanie Blondin of Canada, Ayano Sato of Japan and Annouk Van Der Weijden of the Netherlands collide during the Ladies' Speed Skating Mass Start Semifinal 2 PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images AsiaPac

In the Olympics debut of the mass start, Japan's Nana Takagi blasted past opposition in the final straightaway to win the first gold of women's mass start. She adds that gold to a team pursuit gold she won earlier in the week.

Nana Takagi of Japan races ahead of Bo-Reum Kim of Korea and Irene Schouten of the Netherlands to win the gold medal during the Ladies' Speed Skating Mass Start Final PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images AsiaPac

Kim Bo-reum of South Korea grabs silver. And Irene Schouten of the Netherlands, who was leading into the final straightaway, went too wide on the final corner and had to settle for bronze Saturday.


Speed Skating Men's Mass Start Final

South Korea's Lee Seung-hoon skated a deft race, taking the last corner in a brilliant move that left the other skaters chasing him. He wins South Korea's first gold in long track speedskating of the PyeongChang Games, much to the delight of the home crowd.


Seung-Hoon Lee of Korea competes in the Men's Speed Skating Mass Start Final PyeongChang 2018 February 24, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 23, 2018 - Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images AsiaPac

Belgian inline skater Bart Swings held on to take silver. And Koen Verweij of the Netherlands finishes third for the bronze.

In the tactical mass start race, 5000m champion Sven Kramer went for gold with four laps to go, but the Dutchman was caught just as he entered the final lap. The top three passed him. From then on, it was Lee's exceptional skills on maneuvering the tight final corner that paid off and won the first gold awarded in the men's speedskating mass start.


And so ends a historic Day 15 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Only a few events are left as the Pyeongchang 2018 Games come to a close.