Fighting to the Finish in Sochi

We are in the home stretch for the 22nd Winter Olympics, which kicked off on February 7 in Sochi, Russia. It's been an interesting Olympic games, to say the least. Prior to the games there were major concerns about safety and terrorist acts, none of which has manifest so far.

There were also concerns and complaints about the conditions. While some of the reported conditions seem bad, there has been push back that this is an American sense of entitlement that doesn't properly understand the realities of life in 2014 Russia. That might be true, but when athletes don't have curtains, are stuck in bathrooms, and trapped in elevators, it seems reasonable to ask the question.

Once the games began, the talk shifted to the conditions of the facilities for the games. The high temperatures have made it difficult for the slopes and tracks. There have been some questions about the indoor facilities as well. And at the outset those questions about the conditions seemed to be used as excuses for how the American team performed. The first few days of Olympic competition seemed to be marred with stories of high-profile American athletes falling short, and shifting the blame.

But I liked how Shaun White handled his own Sochi disappointment. He finished fourth in Snowboard after winning gold in the previous two Olympics. As he stood and watched his score, realizing he finished out of the medals, he showed genuine excitement for the winner. Then, when interviewed by the American coverage team for NBC, he showed class in how he fell short. He said he didn't have a good day, and refused to blame the track for his showing. He noted that everyone competed on the same track, and he didn't measure up.

As the Olympics have moved forward, America has again jumped to at or near the top of the medal count. For every disappointment — such as being shut out in speed skating — there have been highs. New stars have been born, exciting finishes have been recorded, and athletes dreams have come true. That is, after all, why we watch the Olympics.

While the winter Olympics will never compare to the summer games for me, it's been fun to see the passion and talent of these athletes as they've represented their countries with pride in these games. I hope that continues as we wind our way to the closing ceremonies.