The 2018 Winter Olympics is moving into NBC’s prime time slots this week. For the first night (8pm on NBC), figure skating and freestyle skiing will be featured. While freestyle skiing begins with moguls, figure skaters will compete in men’s and pair’s short competitions at the Gangneung Ice Arena in South Korea.
[Related: US Figure Skater Nathan Chen, 18, Skates To “Nemesis” by Ben Clementine]
At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Russia won 5 figure skating medals (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze). Team USA won 2 medals (one gold, one bronze). There is a strong rivalry between the two countries on ice and off. It will be curious to follow President Donald Trump to see if he cheers on all of the American athletes — winners and “losers.” (He famously said he doesn’t like losers, e.g. P.O.W. John McCain.) Will Trump taunt President Vladimir Putin during the figure skating competitions? Trump could use the (real) fact that USA has won the most Olympic medals in figure skating (49). Russia has won 26. Note to Putin: Soviet Union won 24 (their last Olympics being 1988 as USSR ceased to exist in 1991). So technically, they’re up by 1.
.jpg){kind=link}