U.S. Men Beat France in Curling

Myles Brundidge made a strategic shot to help the U.S. men’s curling team beat winless France, 8-3, on Friday, keeping the Americans in contention in the Olympic tournament at Ogden, Utah.

The French tried to set up a steal on an early shot in the sixth end, with the scored tied, 2-2. Brundidge made a difficult takeout, shifting the momentum and helping the United States (3-3) win two points.

“Our destiny is in our hands,” Brundidge said. “I think all along we knew that three losses would get us into the semifinals. We didn’t want to have them this early, but now we control our own destiny.”

France (0-6) scored in the eighth, but the U.S. scored three points in the ninth and forced the French to concede.

“We’ve been playing less aggressively,” said U.S. skip Tim Somerville. “Before, there were too many rocks in play, and we weren’t doing well.”

The U.S. plays again today against Denmark.

In other early games, Finland beat Britain, 6-4; Canada beat Germany, 9-7; and Norway beat Denmark, 9-4.

In late session games, Canada beat Switzerland, 7-2; Sweden beat France, 9-6; Denmark beat Britain, 6-5; and Norway beat Finland, 6-5.

Canada leads the men’s tournament with a 6-1 record. Norway is 5-1.

In the women’s tournament, Norway beat Russia, 5-4; Canada beat Germany, 8-4; Britain beat Switzerland, 7-4; and Sweden beat Japan, 8-7. Canada leads the women’s standings at 6-0, and Switzerland is 5-1. The U.S., which didn’t play Friday, is 2-3.

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Nordic Combined

The U.S. Nordic combined team might have welcomed a weather delay at previous Olympics. After all, it would have amounted to a reprieve from another bleak performance.

Not in Salt Lake City. The Americans are eager for the wind to stop so they can put on a show.

The jumping half of the team event was postponed Thursday because of swirling winds on the small hill at Olympic Park.

“Of course, we’re all let down,” U.S. team member Bill Demong said. “We wanted to jump today. We’ve been looking forward to this competition all season, and we feel like we have something to prove. When the weather is ready, we’ll be ready.”

The jumping was rescheduled for today, with the second half of the event--the 40-kilometer cross-country relay race on the Soldier Hollow course--set for Sunday.

Nordic combined and biathlon are the only sports in Winter Olympics history in which no one from the U.S. has won a medal.