‘Super Sunday’: US-Canada hockey, skicross debuts; death of Canada skater’s mom dims big day

Another death around Olympics dims ‘Super Sunday’

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — “Super Sunday” at the Vancouver Olympics got off to a sad start.

The mother of Canada’s best hope for a medal in women’s figure skating died Sunday, a day after flying in from Montreal with her husband. Skate Canada officials announced the death of Therese Rochette, but no cause was given.

Joannie Rochette, a silver medalist at the last world championships and a six-time Canadian champion, was scheduled to practice later Sunday. Officials said she plans to still compete in the short program Tuesday.

“We are all shocked and saddened,” 2006 Olympic bronze medalist Jeff Buttle, a fellow Canadian and good friend of Rochette’s, said in a statement. “Joannie is a strong person, and I am there to help and support her in any way possible. The best thing we can do for her is to respect her privacy at this time.”

Added U.S. champion Rachael Flatt: “That’s really hard. I can’t imagine losing your mother, let alone at the Olympics.”

Six gold medals were to be decided Sunday, including the debut of skicross. It’s the only new event at the Olympics, added because of the popularity of snowboardcross. As the name implies, it’s a cousin to the NASCAR-on-ice race that sends four racers at a time down a winding course, filled with jumps.

Yet the main reason the bars, restaurants and streets of downtown Vancouver were so packed was the midday hockey game between Canada and the United States. The folks in red have been looking forward to this matchup since the schedule was announced.

All three games at Canada Hockey Place were regional rivalries. The first game was between Russia and Czech Republic, with the nightcap a rematch of the 2006 gold-medal game between Sweden and Finland.

The United States opened the final week of these games with six gold medals and 23 overall. With three more of any color, the Americans will have the most at a Winter Olympics not held at home, topping the 25 won in 2006.

SUPER-COMBINED

Aksel Lund Svindal — the winner of the super-G and silver medalist in the downhill — was the fastest man down the mountain again, this time in the downhill portion of the super-combined.

The slalom leg was to come. Svindal won the super-combined at last season’s world championships.

Dominik Paris of Italy was second, Carlo Janka of Switzerland was third.

American Bode Miller stood seventh, with teammate and defending champion Ted Ligety 15th. He benefited last time from having two slalom legs; there’s only one this time.

Miller’s only victory this season or last came in a super-combined in Wengen, Switzerland, last month.

SKICROSS

Skicross flew into the Olympic scene with qualifying, paring the field to 32 guys for a series of four-man runs to decide the medals.

American Casey Puckett qualified 18th and teammate Daron Rahlves 24th. The leaders were somewhat predictable: Switzerland’s Michael Schmid, the top-ranked World Cup rider this season, and Canada’s Chris Del Bosco, winner of the Winter X Games last month.

CURLING

The U.S. women’s curling team lost to Canada after winning their previous two matches. The Canadians are 5-0, but have had some tight matches. They looked dominant, winning 9-2 in a shortened match.

The Americans were to face defending champion Sweden later Sunday.

BIATHLON

Not much of a surprise in the men’s 15-kilometer mass start race with World Cup leader Evgeny Ustyugov of Russia taking the gold. Martin Fourcade of France got silver and Pavol Hurajt of Slovakia took bronze.

Tim Burke, hoping to end an American biathlon drought at the Olympics, was 18th.

COSTUME CONTROVERSY

There have been some alterations to the Aboriginal-themed costumes worn by world ice dance champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia — at least, in the garb they wore in practice Sunday.

The skin tone of their bodysuits have gone from brown to flesh-colored. Some white markings are less visible. He’s still wearing a loin cloth, and both have leaves and white ropes.

CROSS-COUNTRY

The first double-gold winner at these games is delaying her bid for No. 3.

Norway’s Marit Bjoergen is skipping the team sprint Monday to get some extra rest before the relay and 30-kilometer classical race.