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BELBIN & AGOSTO SKATE FOR GOLD & BODE MILLER-TED LIGETY SHOWDOWN IN THE GIANT SLALOM ON MONDAY, DAY 11 OF THE TORINO GAMES
"They're Right Where They Want to Be-They're in Striking Distance...They Can Hit the Gold Medal."-Tracy Wilson on U.S. Ice Dancers Belbin & Agosto
TORINO, Italy -- February 19, 2006 -- The ice dancing competition concludes with the free dance, Canada and Sweden battle for gold in women's hockey and Torino gold medalist Ted Ligety and teammates Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves go for gold in the giant slalom during NBC's continuing coverage of the Torino Olympics on NBC, USA Network, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC HD and Universal HD. NBC's Monday primetime coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
American medal hopefuls Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are in sixth place heading into Sunday's original dance, behind leaders Italians Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizio Margaglio. NBC's ice dancing analyst Tracy Wilson said, "It was surprising that they were on top, but not surprising that the competition was close. Less than two points separate first from sixth--that's a twizzle."
As for Belbin and Agosto, Wilson said, "They are so close; they don't want to be in sixth place, but in terms of the points spread, they're right where they want to be--they're in striking distance...they can hit the gold medal.?"
In the giant slalom, Torino gold medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah) goes for another gold, while Bode Miller (Bretton Woods, N.H.) has yet 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.
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
Women's Super-G 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 (6-2) vs. Canada (5-3) (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 (2-6) vs. Great Britain (4-4)
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.
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.
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.
"This will be the highest degree of difficulty ever performed in the men's competition. There are a couple of guys now doing quintuple twisting triple backflips (three flips with five twists total), it is the most difficult trick being done in competition and Americans Jeret Peterson and Ryan St. Onge have been jumping the best," said NBC's freestyle skiing analyst Trace Worthington.
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 in women's hockey 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 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.
Highlights for Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, include:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
NBC
4:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m.
Nordic Combined--Sprint Gold Medal Final:
Ski Jumping--K125-Large Hill Jump
Cross Country--7.5km
8:00 p.m.--11:30 p.m.
Figure Skating--Ladies Short Program
Bobsled--Women's Gold Medal Final
Speed Skating--Men's 1500m Gold Medal Final
Freestyle Skiing--Women's Aerials Competition
12:05 a.m.--1:30 a.m.
The Olympic Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Figure Skating--Ladies Short Program Analysis
Medals Plaza--Awards Ceremonies
1:30 a.m.--5:00 a.m.
Primetime Replay
USA
6:00 a.m.--8:00 a.m.
Biathlon--Men's Relay Gold Medal Final
2:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m.
Hockey--Men: USA (1-2-1) vs. Russia (3-1-0) (LIVE)
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
MSNBC
5:30 a.m.--4:30 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Latvia (0-3-1) vs. Kazakhstan (0-4-0) (LIVE)
Men: Switzerland (2-1-1) vs. Italy (LIVE)
Men: Finland vs. Germany (0-2-2) (LIVE)
Men: Canada vs. Czech Republic (LIVE)
Men: Sweden (3-1-0) vs. Slovakia (4-0-0) (LIVE)
CNBC
5:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m.
Curling--Tiebreaker (if necessary)
UNIVERSAL HD
5:30 a.m.--1:00 p.m.
Hockey--Men: Latvia (0-3-1) vs. Kazakhstan (0-4-0) (LIVE)
Men: Switzerland (2-1-1) vs. Italy (LIVE)
Men: Finland vs. Germany (0-2-2) (LIVE)
Men: Canada vs. Czech Republic (LIVE)
2:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m.
Hockey--Men: USA (1-2-1) vs. Russia (3-1-0) (LIVE)
6:00 p.m.--7:00 p.m.
Olympic Ice
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Primetime):
Tonight the ladies' figure skating competition begins as the ice princesses of the Torino Games skate into the spotlight in a competition full of intriguing storylines that continued to evolve last Sunday with news that Michelle Kwan withdrew from the competition, ending her quest for the gold medal that has eluded her. Replacing Kwan on the U.S. Team is Emily Hughes (Great Neck, N.Y.), younger sister of 2002 Olympic gold medalist Sarah Hughes. The competition also includes U.S. National Champion and two-time World silver medalist Sasha Cohen (Corona Del Mar, Calif.), American newcomer Kimmie Meissner (Bel Air, Md.), Russian World Champion Irina Slutskaya, and Italian home-country heroine Carolina Kostner.
The gold medal favorites in the men's 1500m are two of America's newest speed skating stars and Torino gold medalists--Chicago's Shani Davis who won the 1000m, becoming the first African American male to win an individual gold medal at a Winter Games, and Houston's Chad Hedrick, a former in-line champion, who bested Davis' world record in November and won Torino gold in the 5000m. The USA's Joey Cheek, who won gold in the 500m and silver in the 1000m will also compete.
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 African American 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.
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.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Daytime):
Colorado's Johnny Spillane won a surprise gold in the nordic combined sprint event at the 2003 World Championships with a resilient finishing kick. If he can recover from a shoulder injury in time, he'll attempt to become the first American to win an Olympic medal in this sport, which combines ski jumping and cross-country skiing.
NBC HIGHLIGHTS (Latenight):
Olympic coverage continues with a breakdown of the Winter Games' most anticipated event, ladies figure skating, and look ahead to the free skate where gold will be decided.
USA HIGHLIGHTS:
Today's LIVE men??"Ms hockey lineup features a "Miracle on Ice" rematch between the USA and Russia.
MSNBC HIGHLIGHTS:
An Olympic showdown between the two most recent gold medal winning teams, Canada and Czech Republic is among the LIVE hockey coverage on MSNBC.
Listings subject to change, please check NBCOlympics.com for updates.
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