Lauren's Report from the Calgary World Cup
Sonia and her daughter Lauren won the contest on apoloantonohno.com to see Apolo skate in Calgary at World Cup #1. This was Lauren's first time meeting Apolo and seeing short track live. Here are her report and pictures! Read Lauren's Calgary report

Lauren and Apolo chat at Tantra in Calgary

Posing with the Canucks

Kaley, Jeff Scholten, Mathieu Turcotte, Lauren and J-F Monette at Tantra

from today's Detroit Free Press:

SHORT TRACK SUCCESS
"Some were saying this was the loudest event they had been to, second to the Olympics," [USOEC Director Jeff] Kleinschmidt said. The center is considering bidding for the U.S. Olympic trials for the 2006 Games, he said. Full article

World Cup Speedskating Commemorative Poster

from Penny Hubble at NMU:
The Mining Journal is producing a limited number of commemorative photo collage posters featuring Apolo. The only way to purchase a poster is to order by U.S. mail. Send $2.00 (to cover production, shipping and handling) to:

World Cup Speedskating Commemorative Poster
The Mining Journal
PO Box 430
Marquette, MI 49855

Calgary: 1500 Awards Ceremony Clip

Here's a clip from Sonia -- Apolo receiving bronze for the 1500 in Calgary.

Download hi-quality version (14MB)
Download standard version (7MB)
Both clips contain the same footage. Remember to right-click and choose save target as... to download to your computer!

Oh boy, here we go:

U.S. Speed Skater 'Foul King' Ohno to Visit Korea Next Month
(from the Korean wire service Yonhap News)

On a more pleasant note, some articles from Monday's Marquette Mining Journal:

Records fall on final day

Marquette impresses World Cup entourage

Speedskating director praises fans, facilities

Share your World Cup memories/thoughts/reflections

I received a request to create a special thread for all the Marquette returnees. Trade stories and relive your Calgary and/or Marquette experiences here!

Apolo poses with his check at the awards banquet in Marquette

Apolo received congratulations at the banquet Sunday night in Marquette

Apolo receives his check from Chief Referee Charles Veldhoven and USOEC Director Jeff Kleinschmidt

l-r: Evgenia Radanova (BUL), Chun-Sa Byun (KOR), Amélie Goulet-Nadon (CAN), Eun-Kyung Choi (KOR), Rusty Smith (USA), Mathieu Turcotte (CAN), Apolo Anton Ohno (USA), Seung-Jae Lee (KOR), Hyun-Soo Ahn (KOR)
not pictured: Éric Bédard (CAN), Meng Wang (CHN), Alanna Kraus (CAN)

Marquette Day 3 Wrapup

Rusty Smith press conference

Wow, it's hard to believe it's all over. Although today didn't exactly go the way we would have liked, there was one positive turn of events announced during the relays. Rusty's DQ was reversed, and he was awarded third place in the 3000, which moved him up from 6th to 5th overall for this World Cup. Unfortunately, Apolo's DQ in the same race cost him 2nd overall. Still, isn't it awesome to have two Americans among the top 6 men?

Rusty had a press conference after the day's racing. I asked him about the reversal of his DQ for cross-tracking. They had announced that Rusty was DQ'ed for cross-tracking, but later they changed their minds and said it was for impeding instead. When questioned, the refs couldn't say at what point of the race the impeding occurred (they said with 3 laps to go, a point in the race when Rusty wasn't near any other skaters) or on whom he impeded. As a result, the refs decided to reverse themselves. Sounds like a good call!

Amélie Goulet-Nadon and Éric Bédard press conference

An early lap of the 3000

Lots of traffic - Apolo and Turcotte bring up the rear

1000 Final

What happened out there? It was an amazing, exciting race, with Rusty out front, Apolo in third and a Korean between them. I believe Apolo had moved into second behind Rusty and was about to make a move to pass Rusty when he apparently slipped and fell. It was pretty stunning to see it happen, since there was no apparent contact, and Apolo just doesn't fall on his own like that. He lay there for a second I think as stunned as the rest of us were, then got up and finished his race. Rusty finished 4th so the U.S. is out of the money this time I'm afraid.

1000m Semifinals - new World Record!

The men's semifinals were amazing! We'll have 2 Americans in the final as Rusty and Apolo both will advance. In addition, Apolo's semifinal just set a new world record in the 1000. The top 3 finishers (Lee of Korea, Apolo and Guilmette of Canada) all broke the existing record. This is some fast ice in Marquette!

The semifinal was amazing, with 2 Koreans setting the extremely fast pace, which seems to be their tactic. Apolo made an early attempt to pass from 3rd to 2nd but couldn't get around them till a couple laps later. He's been doing an amazing job in breaking through the Korean walls in these semifinals and finals.

Mens 1000 Quarters

The 1000 quarterfinals were awesome!!

Apolo, Jo Guilmette and Fabio duked it out for the top 2 spots. Fabio unfortunately won't move on to the semis. Rusty had an amazing quarterfinal as well, and the last men's quarter was wild, and exciting, with 2 DQ's. The legendary Li Jiajun seems to get DQ'ed as often as he wins!

Fabio, Apolo, Jo surge through their 1000 qtr

Apolo takes the lead in his 1000 quarter

Ladies 1000 Heats

Bridie skates in her heat

The ladies' 1000 heats just concluded. Bridie Farrell skated today in place of Maria Garcia, who is apparently suffering from a slight concussions she sustained in a fall the other day. (Maria skated the relay yesterday with a concussion since there was no alternate available to take her place.)

Bridie and Allison both had great heats today against some stiff competition. Both ladies finished in second, qualifying them to move on to the quarterfinals. Caroline skated strong but finished her heat out of qualifying position.

Apolo and Rusty warm up today