OGDEN ? Tim Somerville is hungry. And it isn't for the Salt Lake Olympics' famous quarter-pound hot dog.

The skip of the U.S. men's curling team wants to taste a medal ? preferably gold ? during the 2002 Winter Games. And this may be the best chance yet for the U.S. to win its first medal in Olympic curling competition. Somerville is a three-time Olympian with a fourth-place finish in Nagano. He won a bronze in Albertville when the sport was still a demonstration event.

But the Somerville rink, coached by legendary American curler Bud Somerville (Tim's father), will have its plate full as the Americans begin competition Monday morning against defending world champion Sweden in the first of round-robin play. The women's competition also begins Monday in the afternoon at The Ice Sheet here, with round-robin play continuing through Feb. 18. Tie-breakers, if needed, are scheduled for Feb. 19. Semifinal competition is Feb. 20, with the women's gold medal and bronze medal matches scheduled for Feb. 21, and men's finals and bronze matches Feb. 22.

In only the second time in Olympic history that curling as been a medal sport, 10 men's and 10 women's teams are hoping to throw, sweep and slide their way to Olympic glory. To Tim Somerville, this is a chance to vindicate a fourth-place Nagano finish.

"It was a sour end," the 41-year-old Somerville said Saturday. "It's been difficult to accept that fourth-place finish."

He almost didn't return to Olympic competition after a shaky start in the U.S. Olympic Trials in December. After losing consecutive early matches, his team won their remaining matches and the trials. "When our backs are against the wall, we respond with urgency," he said.

The Americans are going against the best in the world. The women's U.S. team, skipped by Kari Erickson, pulled a bye in the first round Monday. They start competition Tuesday morning against Team Japan, one of the youngest teams in competition. They play again that night, going head-to-head with Sweden skipped by Elisabet Gustafson, world champion from 1999, 1998 and 1992. Favored to win the gold medal is Canada, skipped by Kelley Law.

Team U.S.A. has two returning Olympians, second Stacey Liapis and third Deborah McCormick. Erickson and Liapis are sisters; they are coached by their father, Mike Liapis. In the 2001 world championships, Erickson's rink won its first four matches, including upsetting eventual champion Canada. But they stumbled, losing their next four and finishing in fifth place.

View Comments

To Erickson, that disappointment has only strengthened her team, which went undefeated in the U.S. Olympic Trials before losing their last match when it no longer mattered. "It was tough," she said, speaking of winning four, then losing four in the worlds. However, "we've prepared mentally" for Olympic competition. "We'll play like the trials," she added, confidently.

No matter the outcome, World Curling Federation president Roy Sinclair is pleased with the Olympic field of competition. "They're the top guys," he said.

Sinclair lauded The Ice Sheet and the ice preparation. "That's the best presented arena we've ever had ? just the way it's dressed up."

E-mail: julied@desnews.com

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.