Curling’s ‘buff boys’ are back

But so are more #SochiProblems

<p>Canada&#8217;s skip Brad Jacobs delivers a shot during first round curling at the Sochi Winter Olympics Monday, February 10, 2014 in Sochi. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson</p>

Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

The ‘Buff boys of curling are back

Remember when Brad Jacobs and Team Canada had a record of 1-2 and had yet to play the strong teams from Norway or China? There were worries they may not even make the four-team playoff despite being the gold-medal favourites coming into Sochi. Well, after a 10-4 victory over Norway 10-3 gave them three straight wins, Jacobs and Co. are up to fourth place in the standings and in a good groove.

More #SochiProblems

Although so much focus for the athletes is on the events, training every day to prepare for gold, that doesn’t mean that the ongoing problems with their accommodations are over. Just ask U.S. halfpipe freeskier Anna Drew.

Dispatches from Sochi: (Be sure to follow: @ChasGillis, @JonGatehouse, @kmqyvr, and @reporterchris)

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Jonathon Gatehouse: Down and out at short track

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Wake up! Still to come today: Patrick Chan goes for gold and Sidney Crosby is back on the ice

Canada men’s hockey team didn’t exactly impress in its opener. How could the only beat Norway—a team with only one NHL player—merely 3-1? The competition will be slightly tougher today against the Austrians, who have a Canadian coach. Roberto Luongo also gets the start in goal, but look for Canada to score more goals. Winning against Austria and Norway isn’t enough for most Canadians, they have to beat them handily. Puck drops at noon EST/9 a.m. PST.

Will Patrick Chan make history ? He had a strong performance in the short program yesterday, with only a minor wobble landing his triple axel. He was almost perfect. To win Canada’s first men’s singles figure skating gold, however, he’ll have to be perfect to beat Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu. Expect another medal for Canada today from Chan, but what colour will it be? Figure skaters take the ice at 10 a.m. EST/ 7 a.m. PST.

Jump on a sled head-first to slide down an icy track at 135 km/h. Sound crazy? Sound like fun? Both the men and women will compete in the skeleton today. Sarah Reid and Melissa Hollingsworth are longshots for a medal today in the women’s final, while John Fairbairn and Eric Neilson will be up for the men. No one is expected to win a medal—but then again, no one expected Jon Montgomery to win gold in 2010 and walk the streets of Vancouver drinking beer. The men start sliding at 7:30 a.m. EST/4:30 p.m. PST, the women 10:40 a.m. EST/7:40 p.m. PST.