Wednesday's Favorites

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SPRINT (1:15-qualifying, 3:30-final)
GOLD: Petra Madij, SLO
SILVER: Justyna Kowalczyk, POL
BRONZE: Hanna Falk, SWE
American Kikkan Randall won a silver at the World Championships last year, but that was in freestyle technique, this year they will ski classical.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SPRINT (1:15-qualifying, 3:30-final)
GOLD: Emil Jonsson, SWE
SILVER: Ola Vigen Hattestad, NOR
BRONZE: Nikita Kriukov, RUS
American Andy Newell has an outside shot at a medal, expect him to make the semifinal round.

WOMEN'S DOWNHILL (2:00)
GOLD: Lindsey Vonn, USA
SILVER: Maria Reisch, GER
BRONZE: Anja Paerson, SWE
Expect Vonn to dominate if she is healthy.

MEN'S 1000 METER SPEED SKATING (7:00)
GOLD: Shani Davis, USA
SILVER: Mo Tae-Bum, KOR
BRONZE: Lee Kyou-Hyuk, KOR
Davis is a heavy favorite, but the South Koreans are red hot.

DOUBLES LUGE (8:00)
GOLD: Florschutz/Wustlich, GER
SILVER: Linger/Linger, AUT
BRONZE: Leitner/Resch, GER
The Germans have been most adept at adapting to the lower start houses. Both American pairs are outside shots at a medal.

MEN'S 1000 METER SHORT TRACK (8:00)
GOLD: Sung Si-Bak, KOR
SILVER: Apolo Ohno, USA
BRONZE: Lee Jung-Su, KOR
Pretty wide open, any American, Korea or Canadian could win.

MEN'S 5000 METER SHORT TRACK RELAY (8:00)
GOLD: South Korea
SILVER: Canada
BRONZE: United States

WOMEN'S 500 METER SHORT TRACK (8:00)
GOLD: Wang Men, CHN
SILVER: Kalyna Roberge, CAN
BRONZE: Zhao Nannan, CHN

MEN'S HALFPIPE (10:15)
GOLD: Shaun White, USA
SILVER: Scotty Lago, USA
BRONZE: Iouri Padladtchikov, SUI
White is one of the heaviest favorites of the Games.


Could be a good day for the USA, unless the NBC-hype jinx continues from Beiing (Alsion Felix, Tyson Gay, Lolo Jones, Sanya Richards)