A Family Affair at the Games
Day 11: An Olympic first for one mother-son pair
The Women’s Monobob finals today feature two American legends of the sport. Between them, Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor have 9 Olympic medals (3 Gold), another 9 World Championships, and 3 kids. Being a mom isn’t an easy job regardless, and both athletes have talked openly about the challenges of motherhood and elite competition. (Elena was also a college classmate of mine)
They are far from the only parents though. Winter Olympics athletes skew older than those in the Summer Games, so it’s no surprise that there are many parents competing. Team USA alone has 9 moms and 17 dads. (Just don’t expect to see many news stories about the dads.) And don’t be shocked that dozens of Olympians are the children of Olympians.
But only one Olympic parent is competing alongside their Olympic nepo baby in these Olympics. Mexican Ski Racer Sarah Schleper, appearing in her 7th Games, finished 26th in the Super-G last week. Her son Lasse Gaxiola is making his first Olympic appearance. He races in the Men’s Slalom today.
What To Watch Today
(All times Eastern. Full event replays available on-demand on Peacock)
Team USA faces Sweden in a Women’s Ice Hockey semifinal. Canada takes on Switzerland on the other side of the bracket. America goes for Gold in Women’s Monobob.
4:00 am - Alpine Skiing: Men’s Slalom 🥇 🇺🇸
4:00 am - Bobsleigh: 2-man Heats 1&2 🇺🇸
4:30 am - Snowboarding: Women’s Slopestyle Qualifications 🇺🇸
6:41 am - Short Track Speed Skating: Women’s 1000m Finals 🥇
8:00 am - Snowboarding: Men’s Slopestyle Qualifications 🇺🇸
10:40 am - Ice Hockey: Women’s Semifinals - USA vs Sweden 🇺🇸
1:00 pm - Bobsleigh: Women’s Monobob Heats 3&4 🥇 🇺🇸 🐐
1:00 pm - Ski Jumping: Men’s Super Team 🥇
1:05 pm - Curling: Women’s Round Robin (4 matches) 🇺🇸
1:30 pm - Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Freeski Big Air Finals 🥇 🇺🇸
2:00 pm - Figure Skating: Pairs - Free Skate 🥇 🇺🇸
3:10 pm - Ice Hockey: Women’s Semifinals - Canada vs Switzerland
🥇 = Medal Event
🇺🇸 = Team USA
🐐 = GOAT in action
In Other Olympic News…
The Canadian Curling Controversy has gone transatlantic
South America - yes, the whole continent - just won it’s first Winter Medal
Snoop Dogg is as genuinely nice in person as you hoped
There’s no rule that says you can’t cross the line backward
Photos of the Day
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