Under Armour's flawed suit in Sochi was a reason U.S. did not medal four years agoGETTY IMAGES
U.S. Speedskating has yet to medal at the Pyeongchang Games, but Under Armour is making it known that "it's not the suits" affecting the team's performance, according to CNBC's Carl Quintanilla. There was some "controversy" at the '14 Sochi Games where Team USA members "complained that the aerodynamics" of the UA suits were slowing them down. UA products will "be worn by about 375 athletes" from 16 countries throughout the Games, the "biggest presence" the brand has had at a single Olympics ("Squawk on the Street," CNBC, 2/13). ESPN.com's Wayne Drehs noted UA over the past four years has tested "more than 100 fabrics in 250 different blends" on mannequins in wind tunnels in "search of the combination" that Team USA will wear at the Games. UA "received the brunt of the criticism for the U.S. struggles" at Sochi, as their high-tech suits were "replaced by an older model American athletes had raced with in the past." However, instead of UA or U.S. Speedskating "walking away, they doubled down, started from scratch and analyzed everything they can do on and off the ice to improve their performance." U.S. speedskater Joey Mantia: "The suits are simply not a worry for us. It gives us a huge peace of mind to know that so much R&D has gone into this, everything we've asked for as athletes they have given to us and things couldn't be any better" (ESPN.com, 2/12).
HERE WE GO AGAIN? The AP's Beth Harris notes there are "six events remaining to avoid another shutout" for U.S. Speedskating. Team USA's mood at this point at Sochi had "turned sour and everything was being called into question, including their too-tight skin suits and ill-fated training at altitude for a sea-level games" (AP, 2/14). In Milwaukee, Gary D'Amato noted wrote it is "too early to label this Sochi 2.0," but once again the "overriding theme is skaters from the Netherlands celebrating medals" while Americans search for answers (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/13).
STAYING TRUE TO HIMSELF: In Chicago, Shannon Ryan noted U.S. speedskater Shani Davis' lasting legacy will be "breaking down imposing barriers to become one of the best ever in his sport, all while refusing to acquiesce to public image expectations." Davis was "criticized last week after tweeting that he felt deserving of being the U.S. flag bearer" at the Opening Ceremony, and he "isn’t a go-along, get-along type." Davis has a "friction-filled history with U.S. media, fellow skaters and U.S. Speedskating." But it is "fair to wonder if Maame Biney or Erin Jackson would be competing in South Korea as the first two black female Olympians in short- and long-track speedskating if not for Davis’ pioneering" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/13). In L.A., Dylan Hernandez writes Davis "should be showered" with adoration as he "closes his career." But he "won't let it" happen. He "never has and history will remember him as much for the controversy he inspired over the years as his triumphs on the ice" (L.A. TIMES, 2/14). In N.Y., Andrew Keh noted leading up to the Games, Davis had "used social media to broadcast various grievances -- with the USOC, with team sponsors, with the news media." Davis has also "repeatedly called out NBC" for what he "seems to regard as negative narratives and mischaracterization about his career" (NYTIMES.com, 2/13).
