MIXED ZONE
SOCHI, Russia — Check out Petter Northug’s Facebook page, and you’ll see the Norwegian cross-country star has defined his relationship status as “it’s complicated.” The Olympics being the place to address these important matters, he said: “I struggle with relationships. It’s difficult to always be the centre of attention and to be travelling all the time. It never works, you have to bite the sour apple every time. I have this problem (with relationships) right now, and in my whole life.” Asked the inevitable followup question — how do relationships affect his skiing? — he replied: “In a bad way.” (He left the Vancouver Olympics with four medals, including two gold, so we don’t feel too badly for him.)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
English-speaking visitors to Sochi have been amused by some of the translations on menus, which suggest that many things will be served in the ass: cakes in the ass, ice cream in the ass, you name it ... in the ass. The word ass, apparently, is short for assortment, so what’s being offered is really a selection of cakes or whatever. Still can’t figure out why the deep-fried potatoes are called young balls, though.
‘ALYMPIK’ AMBITIONS
When she was at elementary school, Alex Carpenter was asked by her teacher to write down her secret ambition.
“I wrote that I wanted to play for the U.S. girls’ hockey team and that it would mean the world to me if I could win a gold medal for my country,” said the 19-year-old Team USA forward, whose father is former NHL player Bobby Carpenter.
“I still carry the paper around with me everywhere I go and my mom has a copy of it as well. She loves it, even though I spelled Olympics with an A and K.”
DID YOU KNOW?
At the pairs figure skating competition at the Iceberg Skating Palace, Maxim Trankov and Tatiana Volosozhar are attempting to become the first skaters in 78 years to win the Olympic pairs title on home ice.