Last chance
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — They were big names even before these Olympics started, and for the most part, they've justified the hype.
Now, Lindsey Vonn and Apolo Anton Ohno are about to head off, leaving the spotlight behind.
Ohno competes in the 500 meters and the 5,000 relay today, his last two short track speedskating events of the Vancouver Games. Vonn's final ski race — the slalom — is the same day.
Both events will be aired in prime time by NBC, and each American star has a little bit of unfinished business.
"I'm still here. The Olympics isn't over yet," Ohno said earlier this week. "I am representing the U.S.A. I want to race my best all the way through."
Also today, American Tim Burke competes in a biathlon relay, hoping to salvage what has been a disappointing Olympics. That race is also the final chance for Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen to win gold at the 2010 Games.
Meanwhile, Canada and the United States have been inching toward a dramatic matchup for the gold medal in men's hockey. The U.S. plays Finland in one semifinal today, and Canada takes on Slovakia in the other.
If the U.S. wins that hockey gold, it could be the biggest American story of these Olympics. There have been plenty of others already. Vonn figured to be one of the headliners at these games, but her Olympics were in doubt at the start because of a shin injury. She fought through that to win gold in the downhill and bronze in the super-G.
She's motivated enough for more that she'll compete in the slalom — hardly her strongest event — after breaking a pinkie in the giant slalom Wednesday.
Ohno became the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian when he earned his seventh career medal. He has a silver and a bronze at these games, the latter coming after a slip forced him to rally furiously from last place to third. So far, gold has eluded him this year. He won Olympic titles in the 1,500 in 2002 and the 500 four years ago.
He was part of a 5,000 relay team that finished third in the 2006 Games. In the relays, teams of skaters tag in and out trying to keep fresh legs on the ice and set up the strongest competitor to be out for the final lap.
Good luck trying to follow all that as it's happening.
"Just watch the last four laps, that's all that really matters," Ohno suggested. "Kind of like an NBA game, just kind of show up in the fourth quarter."
Burke and Bjoerndalen wrap up their Olympics with a relay as well. Burke came to the games hoping to provide a biathlon breakthrough for the U.S., but he's been a nonfactor, finishing 18th in one race and out of the top 40 in three others. He'll compete in the relay, but the U.S. isn't expected to medal.
Bjoerndalen won a gold at the 1998 Games and four more in 2002, establishing himself as a biathlon great. He won silver in a 20-kilometer race this year, but that's his only medal and he's been out of the top 15 twice.
"These Olympic Games are very disappointing for me. Horrible," he said after placing 27th in the 15-kilometer mass start Sunday. "In the relay, we still have a chance. Everything can happen in relay."
NBC will include the biathlon as part of its late-night coverage. Earlier, NBC is airing the U.S.-Finland hockey semifinal.
The U.S. beat Canada 5-3 last weekend, and there would be a lot more on the line if the teams play a rematch for the gold. The Canada-Slovakia semifinal will be aired on CNBC.
