Normal Hill Ski Jump - Simon Ammann, SUI

Ammann won two gold medals in 2002, while in that competition Adam Malysz of Poland took bronze on the normal hill and silver on the large hill.

Ammann was the best jumper on the hill today, capturing his third career individual gold medal, equalling the record of Matti Nykaenen (who has four career golds, one in the team event).

In Olympic ski jump history, Switzerland has four medals, three from Ammann. Poland has four medals, three from Malysz. Ironically the other medal for each country was on the large (90 meter) hill in 1972 where Wojciech of Poland took gold and Switerland's Walter Steiner captured silver.

The Austrians were disappointing, although Gregor Schlierenzauer had a big second jump to snare the bronze medal. The Austrians should still be huge favorites in the team event next Monday.

The NBC coverage was shockingly commercial-riddled. They would show either two or three jumps and then off to three minutes of commercials. I guess I should run an errand or two and catch up on DVR. Soon, Olympic coverage will take commercial breaks in the middle of figure skating programs. Also, they have had so many interviews and features that now 2:11 into the coverage they have shown some ski jumping and one pair in speed skating. I miss 2006 when they showed live biathlon and such at the crack of dawn on the east coast.

For the record: I was right on 2/3 medalists and my dark horse pick took the silver.