U.S. Dominating 2010 Olympic Medal Race
Why are U.S. olympians dominating the 2010 Winter Games?
Feb. 22, 2010— -- Just what is it about this year's crop of U.S. athletes that have them dominating the medal race at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games?
With 24 medals, America is not only leading the overall medal total, besting next in line Germany's 18, but is also leading the gold (seven), silver (seven) and bronze medal (10) tallies as well.
This may seem unsurprising to Americans used to Olympic gold, especially after Michael Phelps' dominance at the last summer games in Beijing, but this year's medals come after a very different turnout at the Salt Lake City Olympics eight years ago.
In those games, on home turf in Utah, U.S. skiers won two medals total. U.S. skiers equalled that mark in just the first four days in Vancouver, and have gone on to win six more. They are up to eight now, with nearly a week left in the games.
This is already the best Olympic showing yet for the U.S. ski team. Bode Miller went from a flop four years ago in Torino, straight to the top this year with a gold (his first), a silver and a bronze medal in Vancouver.
"He was once called the biggest Olympic bust ever, that's how bad it was," ESPN's Bob Holtzman said. "He was making more headlines for being out on the town."
So what is different this year?
"This is a home game for the United States, without the pressure," ABC News sports consultant Christine Brennan said. "A lot of these athletes train just an hour flight away. They're training in Salt Lake City and other parts of the West. They fly up here and train easily."
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