Blunder won't cost coach job
Sven Kramer's trust in his coach can be measured in victories.
"Three times world champion, four times European champion, so many World Cups and Olympic gold in the 5,000 meters," he said.
Kramer was not about to get rid of Gerard Kemkers for one blunder — even if it was one of the biggest in Olympic history.
"The past years were simply too good to drop someone just like that," he said on the morning after Kemkers sent him into the wrong lane as he seemed headed to victory in the 10,000. The error was so rare it defied belief.
"Such things can happen to the best of us, but also to the biggest amateurs," Kramer said Wednesday after a training session for the team pursuit.
Colombian skier happy to race
Cynthia Denzler doesn't mind much that she crashed during her first run in Wednesday's giant slalom. It's just enough to be at the Olympics — and be the first athlete to represent Colombia at the Winter Games.
"I feel very excited, proud," said the petite 26-year-old skier with twinkling blue eyes. "Latin America is an exotic area so I'm glad to be the first racing for them."
Denzler was born to Swiss parents and grew up in California, holding both Swiss and U.S. citizenship. In 2003 she also became a citizen of Colombia, where her father owns a factory.