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ICE DANCING CONTINUES & WITTY AND RODRIGUEZ RACE FOR GOLD IN THE 1000M ON SUNDAY, DAY 10 OF THE TORINO GAMES
"I Know Everybody Watches Tanith...Tear Your Eyes Away From Her and Watch Ben. He Is One Of the Best Male Ice Dancers I Have Ever Seen."-Tracy Wilson
"The Olympic Men's 4x10km Relay Is the Super Bowl of Cross Country Skiing...As Usual, It Should Be an Ax Fight."-Paul Robbins
TORINO, Italy -- February 18, 2006 -- The ice dancing competition continues with the original dance and the U.S.'s Chris Witty and Jennifer Rodriguez race for gold in the 1000m during NBC's continuing coverage of the Torino Olympics on NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC HD and Universal HD. NBC's Sunday primetime coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
American medal hopefuls Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are in sixth place heading into Sunday's original dance. "I know everybody watches Tanith because she's so darn cute. But if you can, tear your eyes away from her and watch Ben. He is fabulous and he has...wonderful expression, terrific line. He is one of the best male ice dancers I have ever seen," said NBC's ice dancing analyst Tracy Wilson.
Four years ago, Americans Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) and Jennifer Rodriguez, "Miami Ice" won gold and bronze, respectively, in the 1000m event, and both are in the medal mix again in Torino, along with German star Anni Friesinger.
Sunday features the classic cross country men's 4x10km relay gold medal final, an event that has produced some of the most thrilling races in any sport in Olympic history, including three consecutive excruciatingly close finishes between Norway and Italy, with a margin in each of less than one second.
"The Olympic men's 4x10K relay is the Super Bowl of cross country skiing, and it figures to be just as big Sunday. Norway's not thinking about revenge from '94 when Italy won at Lillehammer; that's got nothing to do with wanting to win in Pragelato Plan in 2006. Norway simply wants to win every race every day...and Sunday is one of the dates the Norwegians have had circled for four years. As usual, it should be an ax fight," said NBC's cross country analyst Paul Robbins.
The first bobsled medals of the Torino Games are determined in the two-man competition, where Texan Todd Hays attempts to add to the four-man silver he won in Salt Lake City. NBC's bobsled analyst John Morgan said, "I love the track and the challenge and speed it offers but I'm finding it very difficult for athletes to get down without making mistakes. There are plenty of places to make mistakes."
Additionally, the USA's Emily Cook (Belmont, Mass.), who qualified for the 2002 Olympic team but was unable to compete after she severely injured both of her feet in a training accident just weeks before the Salt Lake Games, looks for redemption in Torino in the aerials competition.
Highlights for Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006, include:
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19
NBC
10:30 a.m.--1:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: USA (1-1-1) vs. Sweden (2-1-0) (LIVE)
7:00 p.m.--Midnight
Figure Skating--Ice Dancing Competition
Speed Skating--Women's 1000m Gold Medal Final
Alpine Skiing--Women's Super-G Gold Medal Final
Cross Country--Men's 4x10km Relay Gold Medal Final
Bobsled--Two Man Gold Medal Final
Freestyle Skiing--Women's Aerials Competition
12:35 a.m.--1:05 a.m.
Figure Skating--Ice Dancing Analysis
Medals Plaza--Awards Ceremonies
1:05 a.m.--5:00 a.m.
Primetime Replay
CNBC
6:00 a.m.--12:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Germany (0-2-1) vs. Switzerland (2-1-0) (LIVE)
Men: Russia (2-1-0) vs. Latvia (0-2-1) (LIVE)
Men: Slovakia (2-0-0) vs. Kazakhstan (0-3-0) (LIVE)
2:00 p.m.--5:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Czech Republic (1-1-0) vs. Italy (0-2-1) (LIVE)
Men: Finland (2-0-0) vs. Canada (2-1-0) (LIVE)
USA
8:00 a.m.--11:00 a.m.
Curling--Women: USA (2-5) vs. Switzerland (5-2) (LIVE)
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
MSNBC
4:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Curling--Men: USA (5-2) vs. Great Britain (6-1)
UNIVERSAL HD
6:00 a.m.--12:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Germany (0-2-1) vs. Switzerland (2-1-0) (LIVE)
Men: Russia (2-1-0) vs. Latvia (0-2-1) (LIVE)
Men: Slovakia (2-0-0) vs. Kazakhstan (0-3-0) (LIVE)
2:00 p.m.--5:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Czech Republic (1-1-0) vs. Italy (0-2-1) (LIVE)
Men: Finland (2-0-0) vs. Canada (2-1-0) (LIVE)
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):
Ice Dancers skate closer to gold, performing original dances of their own creation to the rhythm of a "Latin Combination." The top USA duo, Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto (Canton, Mich.), won the silver medal at the 2005 World Championships and could become the first Americans to win a medal in this event since 1976. Belbin, who was born in Canada and did not expect to be able to represent the U.S. in 2006, became an American citizen on December 31, just 41 days before the Opening Ceremony. Russia's Tatyana Navka & Roman Kostomarov, who finished 10th in Salt Lake City and are based in New Jersey, have since become two-time world champions and are the gold medal favorites.
It's the women's turn to clash in the speedy Super-G and Lindsey Kildow (St. Paul, Minn.) and Julia Mancuso (Olympic Valley, Calif.), the brightest stars on the American women's team since Picabo Street, go for gold against European multi-medal threats Janica Kostelic (Croatia) and Anja Paerson (Sweden.) Keep an eye on Minnesota native Lindsey Kildow, who is expected to compete despite having been hospitalized earlier in the week after a scary crash during her downhill training run.
Four years ago, Americans Chris Witty (West Allis, Wis.) and Jennifer Rodriguez (Miami) won gold and bronze, respectively, in the 1000m event, and both are in the medal mix again in Torino, along with German star Anni Friesinger.
The first bobsled medals of the Torino Games are determined in the two-man competition, where Texan Todd Hays attempts to add to the four-man silver he won in Salt Lake City.
This classic cross-country event has produced some of the most thrilling races in any sport in Olympic history, including three consecutive excruciatingly close finishes between Norway and Italy, with a margin in each of less than one second. In fact, in the men's 4x10m relay at the past three Olympics, those two nations have raced a combined 70-plus miles (120km) and are separated by the scant total of one tenth of a second. This remarkable run began with an Italy victory in Norway in 1994, and now Norway is looking to exact revenge on Italian snow.
The aerial acrobats of the Winter Games soar toward the gold medal final. China and Australia have ruled the skies in recent years in this high-flying event. Watch for reigning world champion Li Nina of China, a former competitive acrobat who has emerged as the best women's aerialist on the planet and the USA's Emily Cook (Belmont, Mass.), who qualified for the 2002 Olympic team, but was unable to compete after she severely injured both of her feet in a training accident just weeks before the Salt Lake Games.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):
Watch LIVE as Team USA faces 1994 Olympic champion Sweden in a key match-up, then stay tuned for LIVE coverage of the biggest race in auto sports, the Daytona 500.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):
Olympic coverage from Torino continues from the Medals Plaza.
CNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
LIVE coverage of men's hockey continues with Salt Lake gold medalist Canada against Finland, the proud Russian program versus Latvia, and Jaromir Jagr's Czech Republic squad against host country Italy.
USA HIGHLIGHTS:
The USA women's curling team, which earned silver at the most recent world championships, takes on Switzerland, LIVE.
Highlights for Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, include:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20
NOTE: Today is President's Day Holiday
NBC
1:00 p.m.--6:00 p.m.
Hockey--Women's Gold Medal Final (LIVE)--Canada vs. Sweden
Bobsled--Women's Competition
8:00 p.m.--Midnight
Figure Skating--Ice Dancing Gold Medal Final
Alpine Skiing--Men's Giant Slalom Gold Medal Final
Freestyle Skiing--Men's Aerials Competition
Ski Jumping--K125-Large Hill Team Gold Medal Final
12:35 a.m.--2:00 a.m.
The Olympic Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Figure Skating--Ice Dancing Analysis
Medals Plaza--Awards Ceremonies
2:00 a.m.--5:00 a.m.
Primetime Replay
USA
8:00 a.m.--11:00 a.m.
Curling--Men: USA vs. Canada (LIVE)
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
MSNBC
10:30 a.m.--1:00 p.m.
Hockey--Women's Bronze Medal Game (LIVE)--USA vs. Finland
CNBC
5:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Curling--Women: USA vs. Great Britain
UNIVERSAL HD
10:30 a.m.--1:00 p.m.
Hockey--Women's Bronze Medal Game (LIVE)--USA vs. Finland
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):
The Ice Dancing competition concludes with the always-entertaining free dance, where dancers skate for gold with their most spectacular programs. The top USA duo, Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto (Canton, Mich.), won the silver medal at the 2005 World Championships and could become the first Americans to win a medal in this event since 1976. Belbin, who was born in Canada and did not expect to be able to represent the U.S. in 2006, became an American citizen on December 31, just 41 days before the Opening Ceremony. Russia's Tatyana Navka & Roman Kostomarov, who finished 10th in Salt Lake City and are based in New Jersey, have since become two-time world champions and are the gold medal favorites.
Torino gold medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) goes for more gold in the giant slalom, while Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) gets another chance to turn Salt Lake silver into Torino gold. Ligety and Miller, the 2003 world champion in this event, can once again expect a strong challenge from Austrians Hermann Maier and Benni Raich, plus USA teammate Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.), a giant slalom medalist at last year's world championships.
In the high-flying, soar-or-crash, acrobatic aerial show of men's aerials, World Cup champion Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, Idaho)--whose nickname comes from the always in motion cartoon character Speed Racer--and his American teammates, 1998 Olympic gold medalist Eric Bergoust (Missoula, Mont.), 2002 Olympic silver medalist Joe Pack (Park City, Utah) and Ryan St. Onge (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) give Team USA a chance for gold in this highly competitive event.
The world's best ski jumpers compete for national glory and a final chance for Torino gold in the team event. "Flying Finn" Janne Ahonen is expected be the individual ski jumping star of these Games, but his Finland team will be tested by world champion Austria and strong squads from Slovenia and Germany.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):
Tune in for special extended Presidents Day Olympic coverage, featuring the culminating clash of women's hockey powers in a LIVE gold medal final. The USA defeated Canada for gold at the 1998 Games. Canada reversed the outcome four years ago on American ice. Team Canada should is now considered the favorite over Sweden, who defeated the U.S. to make it into the final.
When women's bobsled made its Olympic debut in Salt Lake City, Alabama native Vonetta Flowers pushed her USA sled to victory and made history as the first black athlete to win Winter Olympic gold. Flowers has since teamed with 2002 Olympic driver Michigan's Jean Prahm (formerly Racine), who made headlines for last-minute partner shifting in Salt Lake City and now returns to race for redemption--and a gold medal of her own.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):
Continue to dance the night away with an exclusive recap of the Ice Dancing competition, which concludes today.
MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
It's ladies day in Olympic hockey, including LIVE coverage of the bronze medal match featuring Team USA against Finland.
USA HIGHLIGHTS:
LIVE men's curling as Pete Fenson, who owns and operates a pizza parlor back home in Bemidji, Minn., skips Team USA against 1998 and 2002 silver medalist Canada.
Listings subject to change, please check NBCOlympics.com for updates.
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