Day 2 of the Vancouver Games had many contenders for the title, but when you combine the record books with a solid 2 minutes and 17 seconds of suspense, we’ve got to give it to US speed skater Apolo Ohno. Winning his sixth medal, the silver in the men’s 1500m, he tied Bonnie Blair as the most decorated Winter Olympian in history and now stands alone as the most medaled short track skater. (Watch.)
We’d been warned by the commentators that the three Korean skaters would likely sweep the podium if they got lined up, and shortly after the last lap bell, they did. Ohno was in fourth going into the final turn, when one of the Korean skaters attempted a bad pass that took out both himself and a teammate. That gave Ohno the silver and his teammate, 19-year-old J.R. Celski, the bronze. (Celski also had serious Stud potential: The Olympics are his first formal event since September’s US trials, where he crashed and gave himself a 60-stitch gash in the leg that came within an inch of the femoral artery. Had he hit it, he would’ve bled out on the ice in 10 seconds.) It was a wild, physical race that left the NBC analyst shouting “Welcome back to short track, everyone!” and at-home viewers yelling at their TVs. Now, it feels like an Olympics!
Our Olympic Stud of the Day Runner-Up won Team USA’s first gold medal of the Games, women’s moguls champ Hannah Kearney. (Watch.) She skied last, immediately following Canada’s favorite Jennifer Heil, who was in a position to bring the host country its first gold in Vancouver (and its first gold in any Olympics held on home soil). Kearney had the entire package — speed and big air — and gave one of the most endearing post-victory interviews you’ll hear all Olympics. After a disappointing Torino (she failed to make the finals), her goal was just to do well enough to make an Olympics montage on NBC. Bob Costas took great pleasure in announcing that her dream was about to come true.
Your turn. Who’s your pick for Olympic Stud of Day 2? Any votes for Switzerland’s Simon Ammann, who became the first jumper to win multiple Olympic gold medals on the normal hill? (Watch.) Or the Netherlands’ speed skating phenom Sven Kramer, who claimed gold in the 5000m with a new Olympic record, then jumped into the stands to hug his parents and girlfriend? (Watch.) What about Anastazia Kuzmina, who won Slovakia’s first ever gold at the Winter Olympics in the biathlon 7.5km sprint? (Watch.)
P.S. We’d like to give a special shoutout to yesterday’s Music Mix Olympic Song of the Day provider, US skier Shannon Bahrke, who earned a bronze in the moguls last night. Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” did its job. Check out today’s Olympic Playlist of the Day from US biathlete Lowell Bailey, who competes this afternoon. Good luck!
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
More Olympics coverage:
Olympic Stud of Day 1: US curler Chris Plys
Your Olympics TV schedule through Monday
Vancouver Olympics Opening Ceremony: Best and Worst
Scott Hamilton: The 5 most memorable Olympic figure skating falls
Scott Hamilton: The 5 times I was a little too excited in the broadcast booth
Scott Hamilton: The 5 programs I would have skated
Scott Hamilton: The 5 moments I’ll be on the edge of my seat in Vancouver
I approve of this. He’s smoking.
I’m with Jenn. Smokin’ hot.
Me too
Me three (or four). He should be the stud of the day for EVERY day of the Olympics..hubba hubba.
Ha..me 5. He’s very yummy. And this is the way I like to think of him…Olympic athlete and not DWTS. He looked good in 2002 Salt Lake and still does. Nice.
agree!
ooh do switzerland next!
I’m sorry, but Hannah Kearney should have been the stud of the day. Ohno lucked into the medal because the 2 Koreans in front of him crashed. Kearney EARNED her medal.
Wipe outs happen all the time in short-track. They are part of the sport. In 2002 AAO was in the lead in a final when there was a huge pile-up that was not his fault that took him and several other skaters out in a crash. Steve Bradbury- who was in last before the crash- ended up getting the gold. AAO ended up getting the silver after he got up and threw himelf off the line. When AAP was asked if he was bitter about not getting the gold because of the wipe out- he said he was thrilled with the silver and “that’s short track- isn’t it exciting!”
I am happy for Hannah, Simon and all the other winners as well. In addition to JR- future hottie potential.
Clearly, MsDaisy is an IDIOT who doesn’t understand the nature of sport. I’d like to see you tell Lance Armstrong that he didnt EARN his ’03 Tour victory when one of his rivals crashed out. Winning is a combination of hard work, preparation AND luck. Crashes happen all the time–the winners work hard to put themselves in a position to seize an opportunity when it comes and EARN victory.
I agree. McDaisy is an idiot.
it was stud, not hottie…so a guy has to win
Can a lesbian be a stud?
Phionaugh….there is a difference between lesbians and men
You must not have read the “Stud of the Day” reports from the Beijing Summery Olympics. This is an equal-opportunity title; the stud can be a man or a woman.
I understand perfectly the nature of short track and I also understand that if the 2 Koreans had not knocked each other out then Ohno would have been fourth. Maybe you didn’t watch the race. He did not win a medal through his OWN effort as Hannah did. So get over yourselves. And Ohno gets several more shots at winning a medal by actually being the fastest skater.
MsDaisy- but being able to pass properly is also part of short track- which is what the Korean who did not pass failed to do. Passing is one of the biggest aspects of short track.
I am sorry if you think I need to “get over” myself for having a different view point. I understand yours but I still think AAO and JR put effort into their race even if you do not. I don’t see why I need to get over myself though.
He may have medaled anyway, as he was hit by one of the Koreans, who would probably been disqualified if he hadn’t crashed. Sports are full of “what if” scenarios, and you can only go with the reality. he kept on his feet. The Koreans didn’t. He won silver.
MsDaisy, if you’re looking for a man skating fastest, you should put them in a separate track without interacting with each other. It’s not called short track, lady. They all are fast. The beautiful part about short track winner is who would be the survivor, with strategy or luck.
MsDaisy you clearly do not understand the sport of short track. There are many variables — it is strategy, passing properly and it only takes a second for disaster. What Apolo Ohno did is amazing and all part of the sport.
Why were the Koreans trying to pass each other anyway? They already had the medals swept if they had just “stayed their course”. BIG mistake! I love the Olympics!
Because the guy in third wanted the silver.
And, there were other skiers who fell or did not do as well as they could have, which helped Hannah win. Every sport comes down to whoever does the best and is the luckiest on that day.
A couple of different qualifiers in Hannah’s race wiped out, too, thus losing points and arguably making it ‘easier’ for her to win as well. So if that’s your criteria — ‘oh, someone else’s misfortune is the reason AAO medaled’ — Hannah Kearney shouldn’t be OSotD either. And as others have pointed out, being able to pass properly *is* part of the sport of short track. Miraculously, AAO understands that, which is exactly why the Koreans managed *not* to take him out as well as themselves. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but if you want others to respect it, it helps for it to be an *informed* one.
I know the guy in third wanted Silver, but kinda bone-headed move in hindsight, no?
can’t we just agree that they’re both awesome?
apolo can be stud of the day and hannah can be the hottie of the day – agreed? =)
Olympic Stud of the Day doesn’t have to be a guy. Especially since a WOMAN was way better! Hannah Kearney won Team USA’s FIRST GOLD MEDAL of the Games!!! A woman who battled through so many challenges to get to this competition, the weather was awful (not some sheltered arena), she went last (can u say PRESSURE)? OMG, no contest – Hannah Kearney. Apolo can be a stud some other day but yesterday was Kearney’s day.
Get over yourself HATER! Doesn’t matter HOW he won, HE WON!
I agree with you MsDaisy. Hannah Kearney should be the Olympic Stud of the Day. She won the first gold medal for Team USA. She beat the amazing Jenn Heil. Besides, Apolo has this arrogance to him whereas Hannah was all class.
I don’t find Apolo arrogant at all! He comes across as very warm and down to earth to me, not arrogant at all. Hannah was all class, but don’t try to make her look better by tearing someone else down. They are both class acts and both deserving of the attention they get!
I see Apolo as confident as he needs to be to skate at his level. Outstanding performance from him last night.
there’s a fine line between arrogance and confidence. he has both.
It’s not that he won today, it’s that he’s the MOST DECORATED short track racer EVER. And he’s tied with Bonnie Blair for most decorated winter olympian. It’s an achievement that outshines Kearney no matter how impressive her triumph was. IMHO.
my vote is for apolo as well
My vote is totally for J.R. Celski. He’s a great speed skater, a great racer, and he fought back from a nasty injury. And does no one else think he has serious teen heartthrob potential?
Agreed on JR Celski…. he looks like a teen matinee idol ala Taylor Lautner.
Adding my vote for JR! Apolo is amazing, able to put himself in position like no other skater and often the smartest, if not the fastest, skater on the track. BUT J.R. is in his first Olympics, competing for the first time since suffering a horrific injury, and was a complete stud!
I vote Sven Kramer!!!
But he’s one hell of an athlete, just ask any person who watches the sport!
Probably a bit biased since i’m dutch
Sven was so happy and I loved the hugs between him and US skater Shani Davis. Davis seems to have a good relationship with the Dutch skaters.
I vote for Sven. He actually won his race.
Cekski, because he’s the new generation’s Ohno. Great story, great hair, what’s not to like?
Approve.
Apolo deserves it, but boy is Sven Kramer a VERY close second.
Oh Lord.
Anastazia Kuzmina was a great win because she left the Russian team and its training facility so that she could stay with her daughter (she was not allowed to bring her child to the Russian training facility).
How are we using the definition of stud? As in he’s an awesome athlete or he’s hot?
Because Apolo Ohno could not be less hot.
That is a matter of opinion. A lot of people find him very attractive. I think he is very handsome. Not too keen on the soul patch but he has a gorgeous face.
I can’t get past the soul patch either.
I think he is fine as hell!
Ohno is a fine choice, I guess. But can we please get all of the TV commentators to stop saying “Ohno? Oh,yes!”
That was old in SLC.
Or get them to stop saying his *entire* name every time they reference him. “Apolo Anton Ohno” over and over. Either first or last is just fine.
Haha…I noticed that too! I was wondering why they kept saying the entire name, over and over again. As if anyone watching would not know who you were talking about if you just said “Apolo” or “Ohno”
I vote for JR Celski!!