# 2026 Winter Olympics - follow along and discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports\ **Created:** [January 11, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575 "2026-01-11T22:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/61 "2026-02-08T03:55:35Z")
Just watched the first run of men’s luge. Just curious- what the heck is all that yelling at the start? Is that the athlete or the coach or the crowd? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/62 "2026-02-08T13:33:37Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I enjoyed the men’s downhill. I can’t imagine going 80 mph down a mountain but damn those guys are gutsy. > I prefer events that are pure time like speed skating and alpine skiing. When you get judges involved I’m a little skeptical. In ski jumping in particular, I can watch every jump and they all look exactly the same to me. I prefer events that are fun to watch. For me, that’s always been the judged events. Figure skating in the winter and gymnastics in the summer. I do like Alpine skiing, though. I think my favorite is the super G. And I’d like to see some of this ski mountaineering. I’m watching CBC this year. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/63 "2026-02-08T14:48:38Z")
Women’s Downhill had epic highs and lows. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/64 "2026-02-08T15:35:14Z")
Lindsey “Super Dave” Vonn has had another fall. > **[Lindsey Vonn crashes, is airlifted off course in downhill run at 2026 Olympics](https://www.nbcchicago.com/olympics/2026-milan-cortina/lindsey-vonn-crashes-is-airlifted-off-course-in-downhill-run-at-2026-olympics/3888747/)** > > Lindsey Vonn gave it her all to ski on a torn ACL, but her highly anticipated run at the 2026 Winter Olympics ended early with a heart-stopping crash in the women's downhill event that left her airlifted off the course. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/65 "2026-02-08T15:51:57Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Lindsey “Super Dave” Vonn I mean she has been the best in the downhill this season. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/66 "2026-02-08T16:16:01Z")
But if she’s in pain, that at least means she’s not paralyzed, right? ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/67 "2026-02-08T16:28:16Z")
I do think it was irresponsible of the US team to allow Vonn to compete with a ruptured ACL. Of course it would have been devastating to her to have to miss out, but the danger of something like this happening was always very high. The decision should have been taken out of her hands. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/68 "2026-02-08T16:34:26Z")
She probably has frequent flyer miles with Medevac by now. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/69 "2026-02-08T16:50:04Z")
I hope she isn’t seriously hurt but damned if NBC didn’t hype the living shit out of her to the point of obnoxiousness. What will they ever talk about now? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/70 "2026-02-08T17:02:47Z")
Get this. I have Peacock Ad-Free tier(the most expensive one). I get it for a month or so during Olympics. Every time I start an event, I get a 15 second ad first. I feel a bit ripped off. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/71 "2026-02-08T17:04:28Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hope she isn’t seriously hurt but damned if NBC didn’t hype the living shit out of her to the point of obnoxiousness. What will they ever talk about now? Breezy Johnson? Mikaela Shiffrin? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/72 "2026-02-08T17:15:06Z")
Here’s hoping. The way they were blabbering on about Vonn you’d think she was the only competitor there. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/73 "2026-02-08T17:57:16Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > The way they were blabbering on about Vonn you’d think she was the only competitor there Can’t help but be under the impression that on every iteration of the games there is one or more such cases. It’s what you get when you know half or more of your viewing audience is _not_ paying attention to the sport for 3 out of 4 years. You highlight the one with the drama. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/74 "2026-02-08T19:58:32Z")
It’s worth pointing out that her previous injury had nothing to do with this crash. She hooked her arm in a gate just as she was catching some air and got yanked sideways. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/75 "2026-02-08T20:07:31Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Here’s hoping. The way they were blabbering on about Vonn you’d think she was the only competitor there. I mean, Vonn’s crash and injury was tragic, but another US skier won the gold medal in downhill, her second, without ever having won a WC race. Isn’t that also a great story? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/76 "2026-02-08T20:19:14Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I do think it was irresponsible of the US team to allow Vonn to compete with a ruptured ACL I was in the shower this morning having a heated discussion with myself about this. On the one hand, she earned her spot. It’s her’s to take or pass. But I also thought that it might be a tad selfish, especially if (and I hope I didn’t Jinx her, but the run had already happened) she crashed and caused a long delay. 😬 But you don’t get to her level by eschewing risk. I support her decision to race. And as noted above, the crash doesn’t look to me like it had anything to do with her messed up knee. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/77 "2026-02-08T20:42:00Z")
I wish someone would tell all the curling announcers how to pronounce Wranå. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/78 "2026-02-08T20:56:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I hope she isn’t seriously hurt but damned if NBC didn’t hype the living shit out of her to the point of obnoxiousness. What will they ever talk about now? I was just watching Men’s Skiathlon, that I had set to record this morning, 6:45 EST, shortly after Vonn’s accident. _Twice_ during an hour block, there was a promo for Women’s Downhill, featuring a glamour shot of Vonn. Yikes. I mean, I don’t know how fast or easily that could have been removed… ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/79 "2026-02-08T22:06:57Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I mean, Vonn’s crash and injury was tragic, but another US skier won the gold medal in downhill, her second, without ever having won a WC race. Isn’t that also a great story? It is, but you’d never know it by the way they are covering it here. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2026, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575/80 "2026-02-08T22:18:10Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I do think it was irresponsible of the US team to allow Vonn to compete with a ruptured ACL. Of course it would have been devastating to her to have to miss out, but the danger of something like this happening was always very high. The decision should have been taken out of her hands. This 100%. I’m recovering from a ruptured ACL myself right now, after a ski accident, and while I’m not and never will be an Olympic athlete, without the ACL the joint is just too unstable. FWIW my niece who’s a high school athlete is also recovering from a ruptured ACL after a lacrosse injury and she thinks that Vonn was insane. And it’s possible that the instability caused by her previous injury contributed to this accident. If she’d had stronger balance she might not have gotten caught in that gate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2026-winter-olympics-follow-along-and-discussion-thread/1026575.md?page=5)