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December 10, 2005
New Torino web site: Off the Podium
NBC's official Olympics site hasn't launched yet, but in the meantime, they've launched a new site called Off the Podium. It's full of multimedia athlete features highlighting Olympic hopefuls and many of the expected stars in Torino, with video interviews, bios, Q&As, journal entries and photos.
This graphics-rich site really lets the athletes' personalities shine through -- the emphasis is on them, with less of a focus on the details of their sports. It's a lot of fun to explore -- I'm still making my way through the site, discovering new stuff.
There are also contests planned every week or so in addition to regular content updates to keep you coming back. It looks like they'll keep adding to the site through the upcoming months, so check back frequently!
Currently there is a caption contest going on - one of the photos to caption is a funny one of Apolo from a few years back! Details here.
Apolo is one of the featured athletes who has his own page. You can check it out here: http://www.offthepodium.com/athletes/apolo_antonohno.php
I've seen a number of other speed skaters there as well, including Allison Baver, Shani Davis, Chad Hedrick, Kip Carpenter and Joey Cheek. There is a section where Apolo describes how he and Shani are both good friends and strong competitors with each other.
Thanks to Kristen for posting the link for Off the Podium in the comments!
Posted by noelle at 3:51 PM | Comments (9)
December 9, 2005
Apolo in the news, part 1
Once again, news is coming so fast I'm having trouble keeping up -- always a good problem to have! Today we have a new commercial, new photos, new articles.
First, this is freaking awesome:
"Forces of Nature"
NBC has produced a new commercial featuring Olympic athletes performing against a backdrop showcasing natural phenomena. In Apolo's case, he is shown outskating fire -- or is he generating it?
Not sure when these will show up on TV, but you can watch this visually stunning commercial on the agency's web site ringoffire.com. Click Portolio, then click The Latest, then select NBC Olympics.
Click here to see before and after shots, with the athletes performing against a greenscreen then shown after the visual effects were dropped in.
Read more about the commercial here.
Anyone getting excited yet?!?!
Posted by noelle at 8:27 PM | Comments (16)
Apolo in the news, part 2
Apolo has been selected by Seattle PI columnist Jim Moore as one of Seattle's sexiest athletes: The Hot List: Seattle's Sexiest Athletes "One word: Lycra."
Lol.
Click here to see the front page, with a shot of Apolo.
And a couple new AP photos came out today. These date from the Olympic Media Summit in October.
Click thumbnails for larger size.
Posted by noelle at 8:20 PM | Comments (3)
Apolo in the news, part 3
[update]
The North Wind | Young guns take aim at spot on Olympic team
Click here for a photo gallery of skaters training in Marquette
The North Wind is the student newspaper of Northern Michigan University in Marquette.
Knoxville News | Ohno hopes to avoid 'oh no' moment at Trials
Ohno wishes that his sport would award Olympic team spots based on past performance and winning potential, like skiing and long-track speedskating."Physically if you can win internationally, you're going to most likely make the team," said Ohno, 23. "Long track has a bye. There should be a bye for our Trials. But somebody said that if I don't show up (at Trials), nobody will even come."
I believe that's probably right. Trials is a formality for Apolo and everyone on the planet knows it. The flip side is, it's good for the fans and for the sport but you never want that to come at a cost for the athlete.
Posted by noelle at 8:17 PM | Comments (4)
Initial athlete list for Marquette
I received a preliminary list from NMU today of the athletes registered for the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships (ie, the Olympic team trials!). This can still change as athlete registration is open through Sunday.
Click below to see the list of athletes registered so far.
WOMEN
Alison Baver
Kristen Biondo
Kimberly Derrick
Brigid Farrell
Kira Fling
Maria Garcia
Caroline Hallisey
Leziegh Jaworski
Hyo Jung Kim
Mary “Tina†Koenig
Sarah Lang
Sophia Milan
Amy Peterson
Katherine Reutter
Jade Wheeler
Cherise Wilkins
Carly Wilson
Men
Thomas Anderson
Ryan Bedford
Shani Davis
Nick Frank
Derek Gray
Alex Izykowski
Travis Jayner
Alex Johnson
J.P. Kepka
Levi Kirkpatrick
Michael Kooreman
Eric Lee
Joey Lindsey
Anthony Lobello
Jordan Malone
Trevor Marsicano
Apolo Anton Ohno
Jeffrey Simon
Rusty Smith
Misi Toth
Chris Weaver
Barry Winslow
Posted by noelle at 12:58 PM | Comments (7)
December 8, 2005
New York Times | Short-Track Speedskaters Face Trials to Make Team
*may require free registration
When the American short-track speedskaters converge on a small rink in Marquette, Mich., next week, they will race in what has become increasingly rare in winter sports: a true Olympic trials.
The results of those races will determine the 2006 Olympic team, which means that if Apolo Ohno has a few bad days, all his charm and marketability will not get him to Turin without a ticket. And while such trials are the norm for summer sports - swimming and track and field being the most hotly contested - most winter sports organizations have opted for a gentler, less dramatic approach.
Posted by noelle at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
Watch the U.S. Olympic Team Trials live on the Web!
Great news for anyone who is unable to travel to Marquette next week for the U.S. Short Track Championships -- all races will be broadcast live on the Web! A company called MediaZone is providing this service in partnership with US Speedskating.
For $29.99 you get an all-access pass that lets you watch every race every day of the event, along with access to race archives to watch on-demand again and again. There is also a $10 day-pass option.
This is a great opportunity, and if it's successful there is the possibility of more short track webcasts in the future! For more information and to sign up, visit MediaZone's 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships web page.
Plus: USA Today | Aspiring Olympians set to take key tests
" 'It's going to be very, very competitive,' [Derrick] Campbell says."
[Update] AP | Short track's golden boy ready for another wild ride
Most of this article is familiar because the quotes are from the Olympic media summit in October. It was written by the AP reporter who will be in Marquette so we can expect more coverage in the next week from her of the trials.
Posted by noelle at 12:06 PM | Comments (22)
Nike announces new short track Swift Suit
More big news today: Nike Swift Innovation Extends to USA Short Track
The Nike Swift Short Track Speedskating Skin will be found on national teams from The Netherlands, China, United States and South Korea during the 2005-2006 season, and each features strong country color designs and iconography.
It's unclear, but I'm assuming this is what the USA skins will look like for Torino.
Posted by noelle at 12:01 PM | Comments (6)
December 7, 2005
Marquette is anticipating next week's Olympic trials with dollar $igns in its eyes:
A GREEN ‘STORM’ PREDICTED FOR MARQUETTE
Linda M even got a quote! " 'I was here for the World Cup [in 2003] and I am excited to get back to see the U.S. Short Track Championships,' says Linda Miller of Pottstown, Pa."
Posted by noelle at 2:04 PM | Comments (7)
December 5, 2005
New photo gallery of The Hague World Cup
This one has shots from the 500m and relay semis on Saturday. So far I have posted photos from the prelims and heats of the 500m. Click here for the gallery.
Apolo eases across the finish line to win his 500m heat
Posted by noelle at 8:41 PM | Comments (4)
NBC will air a daily 'Olympic Zone' program for Torino Games
NBC Olympics and its affiliated stations will partner to create "Olympic Zone," a 30-minute show that will air in the hour prior to NBC's primetime coverage throughout the Torino Games, Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics announced today. "Olympic Zone" is designed to localize and extend the Olympic experience for viewers across the United States.
"Olympic Zone" will preview each night's primetime Olympic coverage, provide richer, deeper content about the athletes and the goings on in Torino and allow NBC stations to provide more extensive coverage of hometown athletes and storylines.
"Olympic Zone" will debut on Wednesday, Feb. 8, two days prior to the Opening Ceremony, and air every night during the games excluding Sundays. More info
Posted by noelle at 3:58 PM | Comments (2)
New poll on best whiskers
Via the Sacramento Bee:
Vote for the guy with the mustache you like best. Choice of interest: "Speedskater Apolo Ohno, who moves so fast, his mustache fell to a spot under his lip." Vote here.
Posted by noelle at 12:03 PM | Comments (2)
December 4, 2005
News on Jordan Malone
St Petersburg Times | High-bred models
This article highlights 'extreme' sports such as snowboarding, freestyle skiing and yes, even short track -- and how their inclusion in the Winter Olympics helps appeal to the youth market.
U.S. short-track speed skater Jordan Malone [says], "I consider short track an action sport," he says. "It's super intense, and it's a dangerous sport, so they don't allow contact. I come from an inline skating background, and they do allow contact there. But I love short track - nothing feels better than to throw a pass on somebody or go through 3 G's on one foot. I know kids love watching it."And NBC Sports, which televises the Olympics, knows it, too.... So get set to see them well-covered in February.
Jordan's injury: Speaking of Jordan, he was unfortunately injured last month during a training session in California. He broke his talus (the weight-bearing bone in the ankle) in a fall, and had to have surgery at home in Texas. Obviously, the timing is especially unfortunate, with Olympic trials around the corner. But Jordan has already returned to Colorado Springs, and the good news out of all this is that he was able to return to the ice on Friday and his recovery is going well.
It's too soon to say whether Jordan will be able to compete at trials. He's taking things day by day right now. We here at OZ are crossing our fingers that he'll be able to skate at trials! Either way, Jordan is in good spirits and has an awesome attitude about all this. He has made a remarkable recovery so far. Best wishes now and in the future to Jordan!
Posted by noelle at 9:46 PM | Comments (8)