Canadians take gold, Americans medal for first time in men’s curling

The Canadians, silver medalists in 1998 and 2002, left little doubt this time around, routing Finland to win their first gold medal.

Canada has won 29 world championships in curling, the country’s second-most popular sport behind hockey. But the Canadians lost to Switzerland in the gold medal match in Nagano, then fell to Norway in Salt Lake City.

This time, Canada broke it open with six points in the sixth end, or inning, and Finland conceded after eight and settled for the silver medal.

The United States earned its share of curling glory – its first medal in the sport – thanks to an American who knows how to slice it.

The American men won the bronze by beating Britain in the consolation game, jumping to an early lead and then clinching the victory with a simple draw to the middle of the target in the final end.

Britain was shut out of a medal one Olympics after Scottish housewife Rhona Martin threw the “Stone of Destiny” to win the gold medal in Salt Lake City. David Murdoch’s team is also from Scotland, which is considered the birthplace of curling.

With the Americans holding the big last-rock advantage known as the hammer for the final end, they played defensively and kept the British from building any protection. Murdoch had one rock in the target area, and he put his last rock out front as a guard.

But Pete Fenson, a Minnesota pizzeria owner, had an open draw around the right to get inside of Murdoch’s rock and give the U.S. team the bronze.

Canada’s Russ Howard, who turned 50 on Sunday, became the oldest Winter Olympic gold medalist. American bobsledder Jay O’Brien was 48 years, 357 days old when he won at the 1932 Games in Lake Placid.

Cross country

Katerina Neumannova surprised the two skiers ahead of her with a powerful surge through the final stretch and the Czech Republic won its first gold medal of the Turin Games.

Just when it appeared favorite Julija Tchepalova of Russia and Justyna Kowalczyk would fight until the finish for the top medal in the 30km, Neumannova double-poled past them on the right side to add a gold to the silver she won in the 15km pursuit on the first day of action.

Neumannova crossed in 1 hour, 22 minutes, 25.4 seconds to edge silver medalist Tchepalova by 1.4 seconds.

Kowalczyk, who appeared headed for victory when she entered the stadium, took the bronze for Poland’s first medal of the games.

Ice hockey

It’s an all-Nordic final for gold in men’s hockey: Sweden versus Finland.

Peter Forsberg set up a goal 34 seconds into the game and Sweden was on its way to a rout of the Czech Republic. Not too shabby for Forsberg, the Philadelphia Flyers star who was doubtful for the Olympics.

The Swedes are guaranteed an Olympic medal for the first time since taking gold in 1994, when Forsberg scored the winning goal to beat Canada in a gold-medal shootout and the country put his image on a postage stamp.

Fredrik Modin scored on the game’s first shot and set Sweden off and running. P.J. Axelsson and Daniel Alfredsson each had a goal and an assist.

Saku Koivu and Ville Peltonen each scored a goal and set up another as Finland took out another of hockey’s biggest names by beating Russia in the other men’s semifinal.

Much like the Swedes did against the Czechs by scoring on their first shot, Finland seized the momentum early on Peltonen’s goal at 6:13 of the first and never let go.

Flyers rookie Antero Niittymaki, supposedly only the third-best goalie on Finland’s roster but one of the surprise stars of these Winter Games, made 21 saves in outplaying fellow NHL rookie Evgeni Nabokov, who had previously allowed only two goals in five games.

Bobsled

Todd Hays, who won the U.S. bobsled team’s first Olympic medal in 46 years at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, said that he will retire following his final two slides today.

Hays had a disappointing outing, completing his two runs in 1 minute, 50.99 seconds and is .49 seconds behind Germany’s Andre Lange, the gold medalist in two-man.

“Tomorrow will be my last two bobsled runs and you’ll see every ounce of energy that I have in this sport,” said Hays, in seventh after his first two runs.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go as I’d hoped, but fortunately I know there’s a lot worse things in life than not finishing the Olympics with a medal.”

Unless Hays can find some speed today, the 36-year-old will leave Italy without a medal after arriving as a favorite in two events.