PYEONCHANG RECAP DAY 11: SHIBUTANIS, SIGOURNEY WIN BRONZE; DONATO SCORES TWO GOALS TO LEAD MEN'S HOCKEY TO QUARTERFINALS

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Photo:  Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani of the United States compete in the Figure Skating Ice Dance Free Dance on day 11 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 20, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea.  Via Zimbio

February 20, 2018 (PyeonChang, South Korea) - Americans defeated Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in Sochi.

They wouldn’t let that happen again.  They’ve worked too hard.  

So when Maia and Alex Shibutani were second, the Canadian ice dancing king and queen put together an impressive program to knock them back down to third and take gold, also defeating France’s Gabrielle Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron on Wednesday.

But the Shib Shibs weren't to be forgotten.  Their bronze medal makes them the first couple of Asian descent to medal in ice dancing.  It's their second bronze after medaling in the team event last week, where they were the first Asians to medal in that event as well.

“It’s incredibly special and along the way of our career, there have been a lot of people that have told us that maybe we shouldn’t do it or that siblings shouldn’t be a team,” an emotional Maia Shibutani said, “but we believed in ourselves and we accomplished this together and I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done.”

“There are always going to be doubters,” Alex added, “but all I can say right now is we persevered and we did it our way.”

MEN'S HOCKEY ADVANCES TO QUARTERFINALS

Photo right via teamusa.usahockey.com

In hockey news, things are looking up for the Team USA men.  Two goals from Ryan Donato were enough to defeat Slovakia 5-1 and advance to the quarterfinal game against the Czech Republic. 

His father Ted, an ex-Boston Bruins star and Olympian, looked on as the Donatos made history as the only father-son duo to score in the Olympics. 

Donato opened the scoring 1:36 into the second period after a scoreless first. Former Toronto Maple Leaf James Wisniewski, former Edmonton Oiler Mark Arcobello and Garrett Roe had the other goals.  Slovakia's lone goal came from Peter Ceresnak with 3:06 left in the second on a power play.

The U.S. men face the Czech Republic on Wednesday.

AMERICANS SWEEP TOP THREE SPOTS AT MEN'S HALFPIPE SKIING QUALIFIER

Photo, left: Aaron Blunck of the United States competes during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe Qualification on day eleven of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 20, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.  Via Zimbio

The U.S. men placed in half the top eight spots in the men's halfpipe skiing qualifier on Tuesday.  Crested Butte, Colorado's Aaron Blunck totaled a 94.40 to place first.  Alex Ferreira sits in second with 92.60.  Another Colorodan, Torin Yater-Wallace, sits in third with 89.60 and reigning gold medalist, Reno's David Wise has fourth with 76.60.

The final will be held Thursday.

SIGOURNEY TAKES BRONZE

Photo, right: Brita Sigourney of the United States competes during the Freestyle Skiing Ladies' Ski Halfpipe Final on day eleven of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park on February 20, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.  Via Zimbio

Carmel's Brita Sigourney finished sixth in women's halfpipe skiing in 2014 while American teammate Maddie Bowman earned gold. 

Four years later, she earned her spot on the podium.

“My first Olympics I just didn’t know what to expect, and I was just so happy to be there,” said Sigourney. “This time I really wanted it.

“To see me pull it off, I don’t know, I’m still in shock. I didn’t know I could do that. Just to see myself compete under that kind of pressure and pull it off, I’m just so relieved.”

Sigourney boasted a 91.60 on her third run.  Canada's Cassie Sharpe took gold with a 95.80, while France's Marie Martinod won silver again after winning silver in Sochi with a 92.60.

Sigourney's teammate, Annalisa Drew, finished fourth with a 90.80.  She almost got bronze, but Sigourney had a great final run and beat her out.

She was watched by her parents, Julie and Thad, who noted that after all the ups and downs she's faced, they have noticed an air of change about her.

“She’s working really hard, but she seems to have a calmness about her, an acceptance that if it’s not perfect, if she doesn’t win, it’s okay, and if she does, wonderful,” said Julie. “She just seems to have this level of calm.”

 


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