quote:
Originally posted by Grojlach:
Not me...
Until this year, he never won anything. I've been following ski-jumping for about 10 years now and he was announced to be a big talent several years ago already, but until a few months ago, he was still a nobody whose biggest success was ending a few times with the best 30 in a World Cup Match.
Trust me when I say that the best ski-jumper disappointed by letting this young fellow win, even though I wish him the joy of it. But Martin Schmitt, Adam Malysz, Janne Ahonen, Kazujoshi Funaki, Matti Hautamäki and especially Sven Hannawald should scratch behind their ears in shame over this. They all had a list of honours 10 times more impressive than Simon Amman had prior to the Olympics... ???
Oh well. I would have preferred Adam Malysz to be the winner, but that's beside the point. I just hope that Ammann doesn't vanish completely now, as in returning to bad World Cup results as he had before. Else it would be really painful for the established ski-jumpers. 
That's what made Ammann's wins so cool...he wasn't expected to do anything beyond be there and take his turns.
I saw the footage of his crash and burn in Germany...OUCH!!!
These two Golds have to make that worthwhile!! He was so stoked, it was really one of those feel-good moments for people who root for the underdogs and for the underdogs who take ALL the cake.
I can only wish him the best in his future endeavors. [img]smile.gif[/img]
KHan,
I did like that kid (from Finland, I can't remember his name either).
He had to be pretty letdown at the U.S. sweeps of that competition.
I think he ought to have medaled too.
I hope he doesn't give up on his sport and the chance at any future medals. Having a panel of judges place your worth is not all its cracked up to be in these "games"...just ask the Chinese ice skaters.
Its robberies like that that make me want to cry for those kids. They show up there with great talent and even greater hopes only to be shot down for politics. Ticks me off.
Fast Hands,
Tim Goebel certainly made the other individual skaters work for their medals didn't he?!
He has brought new life to the sport and ought to make quite a name for himself before he ever outgrows competition. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Apollo Ohno is another athelete I wish a lot of good things for. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Grand-Ranger,
I watched that game last night and was completely impressed with the U.S. team. Let's hope they can play as well against Russia. [img]smile.gif[/img]
Einar Bjørndalen...the name is not ringing a bell with me...what did I miss?!! I've not gotten to watch all the action in these Winter Olympics, having to go to school and keep my schedule at bedtime.
They don't broadcast all the results here either and I've not looked at the daily newspapers.
Bummer I've been missing so much because winter sports are my fav (although you would not catch me out in the snow unless my house fell apart and I had nowhere to go and there was snow on the ground).
[img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] I grew up in it and played in it til my outer layer of clothes were frozen solid...I'd say I've had my fill.
