American Shani Davis Takes Speedskating Gold

Speed skating, hockey and Tanith Belbin makes Esquire list

(NEWSER) - If, like many, your interest in the Vancouver Games is lukewarm (kinda like the weather keeping the ski slopes snow-free), Esquire provides a list of the don’t-miss Olympic moments. Some highlights:

• Friday: Opening ceremonies. Vancouver’s spending less than half the $100 million Beijing did in 2008. Or you can rent Strange Brew.
• Saturday: See Apolo Anton Ohno go for a US-record sixth winter medal—as he and his fellow speed skaters sport the Stephen Colbert logo.

Davis, White, Vonn, Ohno all competing tody

(NEWSER) - Today is the biggest day yet for American contenders at Vancouver 2010 and headliners hope to boost the country's already impressive medal haul. Speedskater Shani Davis is aiming for gold in the 1,000 meters and snowboarder Shaun White will compete in the halfpipe. Lindsey Vonn is skiiing in the downhill, and short track skater Apolo Anton Ohno, who claimed a silver medal Saturday, races in preliminary short track heats. More»

Press secretary lost twice to Canadian counterpart over Olympic hockey

(AP) - White House spokesman Robert Gibbs came to his daily on-camera briefing today wearing a red-and-white Canadian hockey jersey—the result of not one, but two losing bets on the US-Canadian rivalry at the recent Winter Olympics. More»

Water usage spiked between periods of gold medal match

(NEWSER) - Apparently most of Canada was holding it during the gold medal hockey game. Water consumption spiked wildly between the game’s periods, as much of the city ran to the bathroom, according to this incredible graph from Edmonton’s water utility. During the final moments of the game, and during the medal ceremony, consumption fell off equally drastically, hitting insane lows. This is what happens when 80% of your country is watching the same sporting event. More»

US, Asia make radical gains over former Soviet Union in classic events

(NEWSER) - Nate Silver hears the “cynical perspectives” on the US’ record take of 37 medals at the Vancouver Olympics: that newfound dominance is based on the inclusion of “new-fangled sports" like snowboarding and short-track. It’s not particularly valid. If you look only at events contested in the 1988 Calgary Games, it’s true that Germany topped the podium with 20 total medals. But the US was right behind, with 17. And there were two Germanys in 1988—East with 11, and West with 9. More»