U.S. performance in PyeongChang wasn’t great, but it wasn’t a disaster

The U.S. team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony in 2018. (Photo: Jon Gaede)

TSX HEADLINES – for Feb. 28, 2018: The U.S. medal count in PyeongChang wasn’t what was hoped for and there were plenty of critics. Plenty.

But a closer examination of how the U.S. did as a team, based on our own exclusive analysis showed that the American squad hardly failed at the Winter Games. Taking into account the top eight places in event – as the International Olympic Committee does when awarding diplomas – the U.S. finished third overall. And when placements in the top eight are reviewed, the U.S. was no. 2, behind only Norway.

There’s a lot more to consider, and we have a sport-by-sport review of the U.S. situation in winter sports in our Lane One commentary, plus:

(1) THE MAIN EVENT: The IAAF World Indoor Championships are this week in Birmingham (GBR) and all eyes will be on sprinter – and world-record setter – Christian Coleman. We have a comprehensive preview.

(2) SCENE & HEARD I: The NBC ratings are in for PyeongChang and the peacocks crushed it, doubling up the combined Primetime audience of ABC, CBS and Fox combined. Naturally, there are critics; so what…

(3) SCENE & HEARD II: We were all wrong about Jorien ter Mors and Ester Ledecka being the first to win medals in two sports in the same Games. It’s happened before … but not lately. One star who did it (in 1924): Tarzan!

(4) FOOTBALL: U.S. women’s team faces no. 2 Germany, no. 3 England and no. 6 France in SheBelieves Cup, starting Thursday. Last year’s tournament didn’t go so well for the U.S., and this time?

(5) SWIMMING: Star-studded fields for the second Tyr Pro Swim Series in Atlanta: Nathan Adrian, Chase Kalisz, Penny Oleksiak, Federica Pellegrini, Sarah Sjostrom and more!