Olympic record set on large hill
Simon Ammann, of Switzerland, became the first Olympic ski jumper to win four individual titles. His bindings had been in dispute, but the powers that be ruled that they did not violate the rules. Some complained that they made him more aerodynamic and, thus, allowed him to jump farther. Poland’s Adam Malysz won silver, and Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer (a mere baby at the age of 20) took the bronze.
I’m really trying hard to figure out ski jumping. There are some obvious parts. Jump far, land well—walk away with a medal. There are various heats, and you have to continue to qualify to continue moving on. But I don’t really understand yet how the judge’s scoring works. And even the qualifying is a bit confusing.
As I’ve reported earlier, American ski jumpers do not have a lot of financial support. One reason is because it’s simply not very popular here in the United States. But I’m trying to figure out why that is, and I think one reason is because most viewers are nor unlike me. They just don’t necessarily get it. And it’s hard to enjoy what you just don’t understand.
