WINTER SPIRIT OF THE GAMES GAMES 2018 ELDER STATESMEN OLYMPICS ON TV THURSDAY, FEB. 15 All Times EST unless noted By virtue of wisdom and drive, older Olympians becoming the norm NBC • 3-5 p.m. — Cross Country: YEONGCHANG, South Korea Though she retired from competitive an edge over youngsters when it comes Women’s 10km Gold Medal (AP) — For her 50th birthday, curling four years ago, she jumped at the to familiarity of the competition sites, Final; Speedskating: Men’s PCanadian curler Cheryl Bernard chance to join Canada’s Olympic curling which they often have visited many 10000m Gold Medal Final informed her husband that they would team as an alternate in Pyeongchang. times. At the outdoor ski venues, Li- • 8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. — mark the occasion by hiking eight hours She was ready: Even in retirement, she tchfield says, a seasoned athlete would Figure Skating: Men’s Short a day along Italy’s rugged Amalfi coast. had continued to curl and maintain her know about shortcuts, or where any Program (LIVE); Snowboard “Seriously?” he replied. usual fitness regimen. She little bumps in the course Cross: Women’s Gold Medal Seriously. Also unsurprising. After all, does 90 minutes of cardio may be. Final (LIVE); Skeleton: Men’s one year later, Bernard would become and weight lifting a day, at Then there is the key Gold Medal Final Runs (LIVE); the oldest Olympian competing at the least six days a week. She driver universal to all Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Ae- Pyeongchang Winter Games — an loves going for walks with Olympians, young and old: rials; Cross Country: Women’s achievement that was not born of hol- her dog and, of course, competitiveness. 10km Gold Medal Final idays spent knocking back margaritas hiking with her husband. “Many say it is just not • 5-10:05 p.m. (PST) — poolside. She follows a protein-heavy possible to be successful Figure Skating: Men’s Short Bernard’s story is a familiar one diet that mainly consists of at the Games at this age,” Program (LIVE); Snowboard among this year’s set of older Olym- vegetables and meat, with 45-year-old German speed Cross: Women’s Gold Medal pians, who credit consistency, better the occasional glass of red skater Claudia Pechstein Final (LIVE); Skeleton: Men’s knowledge of nutrition and age-won wine. Many say it is told German agency DPA. Gold Medal Final Runs (LIVE);

wisdom for the longevity of their “It’s just my lifestyle. It’s “just not possible to “I want to prove them Freestyle Skiing: Women’s Ae- careers. And longer careers may soon who I am,” Bernard says. “I wrong.” rials; Cross Country: Women’s

become the norm for elite athletes, feel like age is such a num- be successful at the Pechstein is 10km Gold Medal Final • 1:05-2 a.m. — Luge: with huge advances in sports medicine ber these days. It’s changed. Games at this age.“ having anoth- helping Olympians stay competitive into I look at people now and I want to prove er standout Team Relay Gold Medal Final; middle age, defying the idea that the I think, ‘There’s no way year, capped Biathlon: Men’s 20km Gold Games are reserved for the young. you’re 40.’” them wrong. with World Medal Final “The age of some of the best in Consistency has also Cup victo- the world in their sport has gone up been key to 45-year-old — Claudia Pechstein, 45, ries in the NBCSN over time, like the Roger Federers of Japanese ski jumper No- German speedskater 5,000-me- • 2:40-5 a.m. — Men’s Ice the world, in a number of endurance riaki Kasai’s success. Kasai ter race and Hockey: Norway vs. Sweden sports,” says Robert Litchfield, a Ca- is competing in his eighth the mass (LIVE) nadian orthopedic surgeon who has Olympics at Pyeongchang — a record start, beating compet- • 5-7:10 a.m. — Cross operated on around 30 Olympic-level — in a sport where many retire in their itors half her age. “It’s Country: Women’s 10km Gold skiers. 20s. He trains the same way he has since incredible,” she said. “I Medal Final “It’s not a given anymore that you’d he was young, and mirrors the workouts could be their mother.” • 7:10-9:30 a.m. — Men’s become weaker and slower with ag- of his younger competitors. He’s even : Switzerland vs. ing,” he says. “You can maintain a lot of written an advice book on how people Canada (LIVE) physical tools if you take good care of can achieve their best physical and men- • 9:30 a.m.-Noon — Luge: yourself — and the advantage (is) with tal health after age 40. Team Relay Gold Medal Final; age comes wisdom.” “I feel 20,” he said with a grin last Speedskating: Men’s 10000m For Bernard, taking good week, shortly after completing a Gold Medal Final • Noon-2 p.m. — Biathlon: care of herself is a habit. 99-meter jump. Men’s 20km Gold Medal Final Kasai also attributes expe- • 2-5 p.m. — Men’s Curling: rience to his continued United States vs. Italy success. He still learns • 7-11 p.m. — Figure Skat- something from every ing: Men’s Short Program (LIVE) jump and studies his • 11 p.m.-2:40 a.m. — performance to see what Men’s Curling: United States vs. can be improved. AP PHOTOS Sweden; Cross Country: Men’s That’s important, says Japan’s Noriaki Kasai, seen here 15km Gold Medal Final (LIVE) Litchfield, who notes Jan. 28 in Zakopane, Poland, is that older athletes taking part in his record eighth USA actually have Olympics at 45 years old. • 2:30-5 a.m. — Women’s Ice Hockey: Olympic Athletes from Russia vs. Finland (LIVE) • 5-7:10 a.m. — Men’s Curl- ing: Canada vs. Norway • 7:10-9:30 a.m. — Men’s Ice Hockey: vs. South Korea (LIVE) HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WINTER GAMES CNBC • 5-8 p.m. — Women’s Curling: United States vs. AMERICAN SPEEDSKATERS STILL Heather Bergsma finished eighth in and that led to some momentum Switzerland SEEKING FIRST MEDAL: Brittany Bowe the 1,000, while Olympic rookie Jerica for them,” said goaltender Ryan • 10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. — posted the second-fastest time in the Tandiman was 28th out of 31 skaters. Zapolski, who allowed three goals Men’s Ice Hockey: United States 1,000 meters and then waited for the last Bergsma has won nine medals and on 25 shots. “We can’t give up vs. Slovakia (LIVE) four pairs to go. Bowe seven in all events at the world those chances that we were When it was over, she single-distance championships, but an giving up out of nothing there OLYMPIC CHANNEL was left empty-handed. Olympic medal has proved elusive in in the third. That really kills • 5-7 a.m. — Medal Cere- The U.S. speedskaters their second games. your momentum. And they monies (LIVE) have yet to get on the “This was definitely my best shot,” scored a off one of podium at the Pyeongchang Bergsma said. “The 500 is going to be them and from that Olympics, while the Dutch earned their difficult.” we were kind of on our MEDAL COUNT fifth gold medal in as many events on heels.” Wednesday. COMES BACK TO STUN Bowe finished fourth, one spot out U.S. IN OT: Five practices were sup- RUSSIANS LOSE TO SLOVAKIA: of a medal but still the best result by an posed to prepare the Americans for this, The latest iteration of the Russian American so far. and they knew at the second intermis- Red Machine started its Olympic “It’s the Olympics,” she said, “and it’s sion Slovenia was going to come out hockey tournament against top three that matters.” punching. Slovakia on Wednesday and Bowe and several of her current The preparation and lost 3-2. teammates found that out four years the knowledge were not The Russians gave up a ago in Sochi, when the long track team enough to fend off the two-goal lead as defensive was kept off the podium for the first time fatigue as the United errors allowed Slovakia to since 1984 in a stunning result for a sport States blew a two-goal end the first period at 2-2. that has won America’s most Winter lead and lost a 3-2 stunner in over- Peter Ceresnak then scored Olympic medals. time Wednesday night in the Olympic the game-winner with a They have six events remaining to opener for both teams. Slovenia captain slapshot in the third period. avoid another shutout. Jan Mursak scored the tying goal with Before the tournament, “I don’t think there’s any tension,” 1:37 left in regulation and the winner 38 the Russians were Bowe said. “Everybody is skating to the seconds into overtime. considered to be the gold- best of their ability. We’ve had a great Long before that, the U.S. started let- medal favorites in the first atmosphere, great energy. Everybody ting the game slip away with mistakes Olympics since 1994 knows that they’ve done everything that all over the ice. without NHL AP they can do to prepare and give them- “We started turning the puck over in players. Heather selves the best opportunity out there.” our zone and they were getting chances — The AP Bergsma THEToday’s HERALD-NEWS2018 Winter Olympics Page is Sponsored By: SERVING RHEA COUNTY COMMUNITIES SINCE 1898 3687 Rhea County Highway, P.O. Box 286, Dayton, TN 373231   ¬¬s¬¬WWWRHEAHERALDNEWSCOM