US Olympic speed skater recalls ‘amazing rush of emotions’ after historic gold medal win

February 21, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Erin Jackson made Olympic history in Beijing, becoming the first Black woman to ever win a gold medal in speed skating.

“It was amazing. After I crossed the line, I was like, ‘OK, I at least get a medal, but I came here to win gold. Let’s wait and see,'” she told Good Morning America of the anticipation after her race finished. “It was an amazing rush of emotions.”

Jackson’s individual gold in the 500-meter event comes 20 years after Vonetta Flowers made history as the first Black and African American to notch gold at the Winter Olympics for bobseld. Now, she hopes her story and win will inspire a new generation of athletes.

While Jackson felt “a lot of happiness and relief” post-win, she said there’s “excitement for the future — of Team USA and U.S. Speed skating, but also the winter sports and getting more people to try them.”

The 29-year-old from Ocala, Florida, made Team USA for the 2022 Winter Games with the support from teammate Brittany Bowe, who initially deferred her spot in the individual event after Jackson slipped on the ice and came in third place, one spot shy of what she needed to make the team.

Many American fans and celebrities were quick to celebrate the Olympian online, including an artist whose lyrics became a slogan for the speed skating star.

“I had some shout-outs from Samuel L. Jackson, Viola Davis, Michelle Obama, Gabi Union, Oprah and Gayle [King], a lot of really cool people, Vanilla Ice too,” she said. “At the last Olympics I had ‘ice ice baby on the back of my shirt.'”

Jackson, who catapulted to the top of her sport after coming up short in 2018 trials, said she had “a lot of good training” and explained that “the athletes can’t do it on their own for sure.”

Scoreboard roundup — 2/18/22

February 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Friday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Team Barry 25 Team Isiah 20
Final Team Isiah 50 Team Worthy 49
Final Team Barry 50 Team Payton 48

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Carolina 5 Nashville 3
Final Florida 6 Minnesota 2
Final SO Dallas 1 Chicago 0
Final OT Los Angeles 4 Vegas 3

Brian Flores hired by Pittsburgh Steelers as an assistant coach

February 19, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(PITTSBURGH) — Brian Flores, the former Miami Dolphins head coach who is suing the NFL over discrimination claims, has found a new job with a new team.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Saturday that Flores will serve as their senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach next season.

“Brian’s resume speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.

We have named Brian Flores as our senior defensive assistant/linebackers.

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 19, 2022

Flores’ attorneys, Douglas H. Wigdor, of Wigdor LLP, and John Elefterakis, of EEP Law, said in a statement on Saturday that his lawsuit against the league will continue.

“We congratulate Coach Flores on his new position with the Steelers and thank Coach Tomlin and the organization for giving him this great opportunity,” the statement said. “While Coach Flores is now focused on his new position, he will continue with his race discrimination class action so that real change can be made in the NFL.”

Flores’ suit contends the league has discriminated against Black coaches for head roles, and cited an experience where he said he was offered an interview for a head coach spot with the New York Giants.

The 40-year-old was fired by the Dolphins last month after back-to-back winning seasons and was interviewing with other teams.

Flores said he texted with his mentor, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, about the upcoming meeting.

Belichick allegedly sent texts congratulating Flores on getting hired by the Giants before the interview took place, according to screenshots of the texts that were included in the lawsuit.

Belichick later allegedly texted back indicating that he’d made a mistake and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was actually getting the job — three days before Flores’ interview, according to the screenshots.

The league has denied any wrongdoing and said in a statement that Flores’ claims were “without merit.”

Flores told ABC News that the league’s response was “slap in the face” because there is only one Black head coach in the NFL –the Steelers’ Tomlin– despite the fact Black players make up 70% of the league.

“There’s a little bit of a fantasy land that would leave them to feel like, you know, these things are without merit,” he told ABC News.

The NFL this week said it hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the first Black female attorney general, to help defend itself in the suit.

ABC News’ Stephanie Wash contributed to this report.

Elana Meyers Taylor elected Team USA Olympic closing ceremony flag bearer

February 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BEIJING) — After missing the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony due to a positive COVID test, bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor will have her chance to wave the American flag at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

The four-time Olympian was elected by her peers on Team USA to be the closing ceremony flag bearer in Beijing, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Friday.

She had been elected to be the opening ceremony flag bearer, alongside curler John Shuster, but was unable to participate in the ceremony because she tested positive for COVID shortly after arriving in Beijing and went into isolation. Instead, speedskater Brittany Bowe, who earned the second-highest votes among female athletes, served as flag bearer alongside Shuster.

“I was so honored to be named the Opening Ceremony flag bearer, but after not being able to carry the flag, it’s even more humbling to lead the United States at the Closing Ceremony,” Meyers Taylor said in a statement. “Congratulations to my fellow Team USA athletes on all their success in Beijing – I’m looking forward to carrying the flag with my teammates by my side and closing out these Games.”

Now, Meyers Taylor will have her chance to represent the United States — and this time around, she has some new metal to wear.

Earlier this week, she competed in the first Olympic monobob event, wherein athletes compete by themselves, pushing, driving and breaking a bobsled as a team of one.

Americans dominated in that event, with Kallie Humphries winning gold and Meyers Taylor winning silver. Humphries was competing for the United States in the Olympics for the first time after winning two golds for Canada in the two-person bobsled, so as former rivals, this time she and Meyers Taylor could celebrate together.

That silver adds to Meyers Taylor’s stack of Olympic medals, including a silver from 2018, a silver from 2014 and a bronze from 2010, all in the two-woman competition. She has the opportunity to add one more to that list in the two-woman event in Beijing, which concludes Saturday.

This Olympics has been more dramatic than most as Meyers Taylor had to spend about a week in isolation, which she called “rough.” She had traveled to Beijing along with her husband and young son, who is still nursing, and had to separate from them to isolate.

In order to compete, she had to test negative two times and she managed to do so before the monobob event began but competed without as many practices as other athletes.

“No words … only gratitude,” she wrote on Instagram after taking the monobob silver.

In addition to her athleticism, Meyers Taylor has been recognized for her efforts off the ice. Her son, Nico, has Down syndrome, and she has been an advocate for families of children with special needs, as well as one of the many athletes who continued competing after becoming mothers.

“I knew I wanted to continue and show that it’s possible to overcome any adversity and continue pursuing your goals,” she previously told Good Morning America about the inspiration she gained after giving birth.

Meyers Taylor, who is biracial, has also been an advocate for Black athletes in winter sports.

“My job now, just like any parent, is to ensure my son has a better life than I do,” she wrote in a 2020 piece for Team USA. “Part of that is to do what I can to make a change, such that hopefully he is never judged by the color of his skin. That’s a lofty goal, but an important one to never give up on.”

Scoreboard roundup — 2/17/22

February 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Washington 117, Brooklyn 103
Miami111, Charlotte 107 (2OT)
Dallas 125, New Orleans 118
Philadelphia 123, Milwaukee 120
LA Clippers 142, Houston 111

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Ottawa 3, Buffalo 1
Toronto 4, Pittsburgh 1
Washington 5, Philadelphia 3
Montreal3, St. Louis 2 (OT)
Detroit 3, NY Rangers 2 (SO)
NY Islanders 4, Boston 1
Winnipeg 5, Seattle 3
Columbus 7, Chicago 4
Edmonton 7, Anaheim 3
Vancouver 5, San Jose 4 (OT)

TOP 25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Arizona 83, Oregon St. 69
UCLA 76, Washington St. 56
Houston 70, UCF 52
Southern Cal 79, Washington 69
Murray St. 91, Austin Peay 56

Athletes react to dramatic conclusion of women’s figure skating at the Olympics

February 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Former athletes reacted online to the results of the women’s figure skating individual event with sympathy for Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva and frustration with the sporting officials that allowed her to skate.

In an unexpected turn of events, 15-year-old Valieva placed fourth in the event which ended on Thursday after falling several times. Valieva was seen crying after her performance.

The event has been overshadowed by controversy after Valieva tested positive for a banned drug in December, ahead of the Russian Figure Skating Championships.

After ROC skater Anna Shcherbakova finished her program, Team USA members sitting in the arena got up and walked out, before Kamila Valieva took the ice as the last skater in the event, according to ABC’s Alexandra Faul.

Shcherbakova won the gold medal, ROC skater Aleksandra Trusova won the silver medal and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto won the bronze medal.

Former figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist Ashley Wagner weighed in on Twitter, criticizing the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to allow Valieva to skate in the event.

“This is a moment where you genuinely have to say- that poor kid. She should not have ever been put in this position. She shouldn’t have been out on that ice, she shouldn’t have been put in a position where she became the face of a problem bigger than her,” Wagner said in a tweet.

Wagner also expressed frustration with Valieva becoming the center of attention of the entire event, overshadowing the other skaters.

Valieva, who was expected to win gold, became the first woman to land a quadruple jump at the winter Olympics during this year’s team event. Medals for the team event have not yet been awarded, pending the results of an investigation that could lead to Valieva’s disqualification from the Olympics.

U.S. Olympian Polina Edmunds also expressed sympathy for Valieva.

“Very traumatizing Olympic experience for Kamila Valieva. She should not have been allowed to compete, it’s devastating that she was put in this situation, on all levels,” Edmunds said on twitter.

Edmunds also criticized the judging system and coaches for their “abuse” of athletes.

“If you’re going to mad at someone, be mad at the judging system. They are the ones that have caused all this. Be mad at coaching team’s that prioritize medals over health, not entire countries. There are many clean athletes who have also suffered from the monopoly of this team,” Edmunds said in another tweet.

In a video he posted on twitter, two-time Olympian figure skater and NBC Olympic Analyst Johnny Weir called the event heartbreaking.

“That was the most bizarre and heartbreaking event I have seen in my entire life and I hope that it is never repeated,” said Weir.

Former American figure skater Adam Rippon weighed in as well, tweeting “What a s*&$ show omg.”

Russia’s Kamila Valieva stumbles, finishes off podium in women’s figure skating final

February 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BEIJING) — After making several mistakes, including falling, Russian skater Kamila Valieva missed the podium in the women’s figure skating individual event, amid controversy over her testing positive for a banned drug in December.

Valieva, who placed fourth, was last on the ice. She fell several times and was visibly upset after her performance.

Her teammate, Russian skater Anna Shcherbakova, won the gold medal, earning the highest total score, with 255.95. Russian skater Aleksandra Trusova won the silver medal, with a total score of 251.73 and Japanese skater Kaori Sakamoto won bronze medal with a score of 233.13.

The International Testing Agency revealed last week that Valieva, 15, of the Russian Olympic Committee, the gold medal favorite, tested positive for a banned substance in a sample taken in December during the Russian Figure Skating Championships.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Monday that Valieva could compete, despite the news, saying it was because she was a minor and the full appeal process, including the testing of her B sample, had yet to take place.

The question of what will happen to the ROC’s gold in the team event — won with Valieva leading the way — will be determined by the International Skating Union once a full appeal of the test can be conducted, according to the International Testing Agency.

Valieva leads the competition with the highest score out of Tuesday’s short program, earning 82.16. In second place is Anna Shcherbakova of the ROC, scoring 80.20, followed by Kaori Sakamoto of Japan in third place, scoring 79.84.

The gold medal will be awarded to the skater who scores the highest total score, comprised of the combined scores for the short program and the free skate.

Should Valieva be on the podium, as is expected, the IOC said it will not hold a medal ceremony.

Valieva became the first female skater to land a quadruple jump at the Winter Olympics during the team event, and she did so twice. She’s expected to pack her program in Thursday’s free skate with multiple quads as well.

Russian athletes are competing under the name “Russian Olympic Committee” due to the ban against Russia participating in the games, put in place because of a systemic doping program from the 2014 Sochi Games.

This is the second Olympics in a row that Russia has competed under the ROC name. The country is banned from participating in all international sporting events due to the doping allegations.

Russian athletes who could prove they were clean and unconnected to the cover-up were allowed to compete.

Women’s figure skating favorite accused of doping misses podium

February 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Valieva, who placed fourth, was last on the ice. She fell several times during her performance.

Her teammate, Russian skater Anna Shcherbakova, won the gold medal, earning the highest total score, with 255.95.

The gold medal will be awarded to the skater who scores the highest total score, comprised of the combined scores for the short program and the free skate.

Should Valieva be on the podium, as is expected, the IOC said it will not hold a medal ceremony.

This is the second Olympics in a row that Russia has competed under the ROC name. The country is banned from participating in all international sporting events due to the doping allegations.

Russian athletes who could prove they were clean and unconnected to the cover-up were allowed to compete.

American skier Mikaela Shiffrin again crashes, misses medal in fifth event

February 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BEIJING) — U.S. skier Mikaela Shiffrin on Thursday crashed out in the slalom in the women’s Alpine combined event, bringing to a close the six-time world champion’s bid for an individual medal in Beijing.

Shiffrin had been in fifth place after the downhill section of the event, but her crash meant that she would not finish, the third time she’s done so in these Winter Games.

“A heartbreaking DNF for @MikaelaShiffrin,” the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team said on Twitter Thursday. “This has been a challenging #Olympics. Thanks to the fans for all of your support.”

Michelle Gisin of Switzerland will take home the gold in the combined event, with the silver going to teammate Wendy Holdener and the bronze to Italy’s Federica Brignone.

Shiffrin started the Games one medal away from tying the record for most Olympic medals by a female American Alpine skier — four. She is two gold medals away from holding the record for most golds ever by a female Alpine skier — also four.

On Tuesday, Shiffrin came up empty handed in her fourth competition, placing 18th in the downhill skiing event. She finished ninth in the super-G event.

She also said last week she may also compete in the team event, which she had not planned to enter coming into the Games.

Shiffrin had been expected to be a downhill contender on Tuesday, although the event wasn’t her strongest. Her time of 1:34.36 placed her 2:49 behind Corinne Suter of Switzerland, who took gold with a time of 1:31.87. Italy brought home both the silver and bronze medals, with Sofia Goggia finishing in 1:32.03 and Nadia Delago finishing in 1:32.44.

“Racing DH tomorrow!” Shiffrin said on Twitter on Monday. “The track is spectacular and I have ‘overthought’ the crap out of it over the last couple days so it’s prob time to just point ‘em straight and get low.”

Shiffrin last week finished ninth in the super-G, with Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami winning gold, her second medal of the Games.

Two days earlier, Shiffrin had shockingly busted out of the competition just seconds into the first run of the slalom. Shiffrin missed the fourth gate in her run, the event where she won her first Olympic gold in 2014.

The skier, who was expected to challenge for several medals in Beijing, sat on the side of the hill, with her head in her hands, for 20 minutes after the stunning accident.

The 26-year-old also fell during her first run in the giant slalom last Monday, disqualifying her from the event.

“Could blame it on a lot of things…and we’ll analyze it till the cows come home, but not today,” Shiffrin said on Instagram following that crash. “Today I chalk it up to really awful timing of a really frustrating mistake. Moving focus to slalom now, AND cheering for my teammates in the second run of the GS and the DH!”

Sweden’s Sara Hector took the gold in the giant slalom with a time of 1:55:68, followed by Italy’s Federica Brignone with a time of 1:55.97 and Gut-Behrami with a time of 1:56:41.

Shiffrin, a Colorado native, has been competing since she was 16 and quickly became one of the sport’s all-time greatest skiers with her record-setting performances. She is the most decorated Alpine skier in the world circuit having won 11 World Championship medals, six gold.

At 18 years old she became the youngest slalom champion when she won a gold medal in the 2014 Sochi Games. Shiffrin won a gold medal in the giant slalom competition and a silver medal in the combined competition during the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

USA women’s hockey loses 3-2 to Canada, taking silver in Beijing

February 17, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(BEIJING) — The U.S. women’s hockey team was defeated 3-2 by Canada in the Winter Olympics final in Beijing on Thursday.

The loss marked the latest turn in what’s become a rivalry for the ages. Since women’s hockey was introduced at the Olympics in 1998, only the United States or Canada has come home with the gold.

Signs of the Canadian team’s strength came early on Thursday, with a goal from Sarah Nurse in the first 8 minutes of play. Canada’s Natalie Spooner had scored less than a moment earlier, but her goal was successfully challenged by the U.S., which said Canada had been offside.

Marie-Philip Poulin then scored just after the 15-minute mark, giving Canada a 2-0 lead to end the first period.

Nine minutes into the second period, Canada’s Poulin again scored.

The first goal for the U.S. came a few moments before the end of the second period, with Hilary Knight netting her sixth in Beijing. With seconds to go in the third period, Amanda Kessel scored Team USA’s second goal.

The game was the sixth time in seven Olympics that the U.S. women’s hockey team faced Canada in a bid for Olympic gold. Canada now owns five golds, while the U.S. still has two.

The buildup to the final had been ferocious, with each team barreling through the competition. Canada went 6-0, giving up only eight goals while scoring an astounding 54.

The U.S., meanwhile, only lost one game throughout the tournament — to Canada, 4-2.

Team USA took a hit early on in the Olympics when star forward Brianna Decker got knocked out of play with an on-ice injury.

But, as demonstrated by their continued success, the team was still stacked with power, including from captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, Abbey Roque, Kessel and Knight, returning for her fourth Olympics.

Knight, 32, led the U.S. in scoring going into Thursday’s game, with five goals and four assists in Beijing.

The goalie roster for the U.S. had also been showing their mettle this Olympics between Nicole Hensley, Alex Cavallini and Maddie Rooney. Four years ago in Pyeongchang, the gold medal match came down to goalies when it went to a shootout. Rooney saved Canada’s lost shot then, giving America the gold.

On the Canadian side, the Americans squared off with captain Poulin, Claire Thompson and goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens. Canadian forward Brianne Jenner leads all goal scorers in the Olympics with nine, while teammate Sarah Fillier is second with eight goals. The top five assist leaders in the tournament were all on the Canadian team, led by overall scoring leader Nurse with 12 going into Thursday’s game.

The Olympics are the most high-profile venue for women’s hockey, which has faced struggles establishing more local groundwork. In the four years since the 2018 Olympics, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded and the National Women’s Hockey League rebranded to the Premier Hockey Federation. Athletes have long been calling for more funding and support both for a functional league with livable salaries and for building infrastructure for youth sport to grow a pipeline.

The U.S. women have at least one supporter who intimately understands those efforts: Billie Jean King voiced her support for Team USA to “win!” in a video posted by hockey veteran Angela Ruggiero on Wednesday.

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