Winter Olympics coming up!!

[82Rigger]

...a pixie haircut, a beautiful smile...and a gold medal!

[goodnessgracie]

Love the photos. I've always loved the winter games

[Jerry D]

And remember in Grenoble on 11 February 1968, the 10th Olympic Winter Games. In Women's figure skating: Peggy Fleming of the United States won the Gold medal for individual Women competition. I was too young to remember her 6th place in the 64' Olympics at Innsbruck. Peggy was one of my favorite figure skaters to watch on Television.

[82Rigger]

Jerry,

If I remember correctly, Peggy brought home America's only gold medal from Grenoble.

I think that feat was even more amazing when you consider that Peggy's skating coach was killed in the airliner crash that wiped out the entire U.S. figure skating team in 1961.

What an incredible challenge to overcome!

[82Rigger]

Gracie,

Your comment about Lake Placid in your first post got me curious, so I been doin' some digging' on the web.

Apparently, Lake Placid has not put in any bids for hosting the games since getting the winter games in 1980.

That surprises me, since I personally thought the '80 games there were superb. From what I have learned about the '32 games there, they were also most satisfactory.

Deadline for the 2014 winter games bid submissions ended in July of this year, with no bid from Lake Placid.

Here's a site for you to look at:

http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml

[goodnessgracie]

Steve,

Thanks for the info. What I had heard was local rumor when Curtis had me stashed at his hunting lease up in the Adirondacks.

Maybe it's wishful thinking. Maybe they just need a good organizer. Wonder what Billy Payne's up to these days... and if his Georgia butt can deal with snow as well as mine can...

By the way, I guess you guys know how many Olympic Games were cancelled during WWII. Or do you???

Love & Eskimo Kisses,
Grace of the North

[82Rigger]

Yeah, the 1940 games and the 1944 games were cancelled due to WWII.

Although I haven't looked it up, I'd be willing to bet that at least once the games were cancelled during WW1.

My guess would be the 1916 games.

[Jerry D]

I didn't know her coach died in a plane accident in 61' before she went on to the 64' and 68' Olympics ! What a trooper she was to persevere so well. Much better representative for the US then ole' Kerrigan and her poor me attitude. Ole' Tanya Harding should have switched to the Womens Hockey team and put her talents to better use after the Figure Skating world banned her.She still is one of the most powerful women skaters on the Ice. PLus she smokes,drinks,Hunts,lives in a Trailor home and drives a pickup truck you know she must be a Redneck! Now she just needs to relocate to Atlanta and feel more at home Looking forward to seeing Kwan do well in Italy.

[goodnessgracie]

Thanks a lot!!! (Yes, I figure skate, etc- the whole list)

But I'm a nice girl!!! Really!!!

Nah, all seriousness aside, I just returned from the incense shop with some Indian incense called "The Sun", in Sanskrit that's Surya.

Remember Surya Bonaly of France? What a life story. Very much the power skater.

And who could forget Midori Ito of Japan? Both damned fine athletes without all the BS and drama.

Neither ever won gold at the Games, but a favorite American of recent years who did, and has more class in her pinky toenail than Harding and Kerrigan combined-- Sarah Hughes.

Anybody know what she's up to these days?

[82Rigger]

Jerry & Gracie,

Do ya'll know about the tragic plane crash in '61 that killed the whole U.S. figure skating team? Let me know if you'd like the story.


Gracie,

Sarah is currently attending Yale University. She took off from her studies this year to skate professionally with the Smuckers "Stars on Ice" tour company.

Sarah and her sister Emily are both participating in charity auctions for the American Red Cross to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina.