While you were sleeping: American snowboarder wins second gold medal for Russia
While the United States slept, things were busy on the other side of the globe. Here is our recap of everything Olympics you may have missed overnight.
*American-born Vic Wild won his second gold medal in Sochi for Team Russia — and, in the process, ended Team USA’s medal lead. How? The 27-year-old White Salmon, Wash., native said there isn't much funding for, say, U.S. snowboard parallel slalom specialists. (The cash, he claims, follows more popular X Games events like the halfpipe.) So, after marrying his wife, Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina, Wild decided to explore more lucrative pastures in Moscow.
*To honor her memory and Olympic dreams, freestyle skier Sarah Burke’s coach spread her ashes in Sochi. The Canadian athlete, who was considered a pioneer in the superpipe event, died two years ago after a training accident in Salt Lake City. She was 29.
Cdn freestyle chief Peter Judge says Sarah Burke's ashes were brought to Sochi, spread on the half-pipe course.
— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) February 22, 2014
Sarah Burke's ashes travelled here w/ coach Trennon Paynter. Spread in the Village, at the half-pipe, at the mountain's highest point.
— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) February 22, 2014
Paynter on Sarah Burke's legacy: "This event had Sarah at the core of it in so many ways."
— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) February 22, 2014
*Giant slalom gold medalist Mikeala Shriffin, the 18-year-old phenom from Colo., is emerging as the Jennifer Lawrence of the Winter Games. She’s charming, candid and full of delightful facial expressions:
*Here's proof arch-Olympic rivals can party together. We're not sure what "party" means in this context, though. "Eye of the tiger" karaoke duets?
.@TinaMaze BADASS u da hotest double golden babe the SLO eva seeeen!!! #Sochi2014 #Olympics
— Julia Mancuso (@JuliaMancuso) February 22, 2014
@JuliaMancuso Still here? Party tonight??? :) cheers dude,great job to u too
— Tina Maze (@TinaMaze) February 22, 2014
*The U.S. men’s hockey team isn’t exactly thrilled about its bronze prospects:
“It’s better than nothing,” said Team USA hockey player Patrick Kane. “It's one of those situations where I guess we're going to try and have to get up and find some energy tomorrow to play Finland and try to bring home something instead of nothing.”
The battle for third place against Finland starts at 10 a.m. EST.
More Winter Olympics coverage from Yahoo Sports:
