Happy Olympics Day!

After four long years of waiting, the Winter Olympics have finally returned!  Opening Ceremonies take place tonight in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  Since watching the great Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski rivalry at the Nagano Olympics in 1998, and figure skating recreationally for years, I always look forward to the Winter Olympics.  Especially the figure skating.

Tara Lipinski will be back this year as a commentator, along with men's skater, Johnny Weir.  They took the announcer mantle from Scott Hamilton, although he will be providing special event coverage this year.

I've been following the US hopefuls for the last few months and it looks like it is going to be a pretty eventful match.  For the Ladies' Event, the three contenders are first-time Olympians, although each has amassed several medals the past couple years at Nationals and Worlds.  Mirai Nagasu is the favorite, being one of the few ladies that can land a triple axel (fun fact, the axel is the only jump that you take off for facing forwards, instead of backwards).  My favorite, however, is Bradie Tennell, with her engrossing choreography and beautiful spins.

For the Mens' Event, Nathan Chen is this year's powerhouse skater, packing an unprecedented five quad jumps into a program; although, as we found out in the 2010 Vancouver rivalry between Russian Evgeni Plushenko and American Evan Lysacek, jumps are only part of the equation.  Quads are impressive, but if you don't have the artistry to match, you don't win overall.  Chen's robotic-like performance may be his downfall.

Another interesting side note for this year: there are two skaters who use very unique jumping techniques.  Evgenia Medvedeva of Russia holds one hand above her head when jumping, known as the Tano jump style, made famous by Brian Boitano in the 80s.  Rather than folding your arms inward towards your front center, this moves your center of gravity upwards and makes the jump much more difficult.  The Rippon, named after this year's US Men's competitor, Adam Rippon, is very similar.  He holds both hands above his head when jumping.

I will be spending quite a bit of time at home to watch the events live, as I don't have my tv hooked up to cable at my apartment.  And the first Olympic viewing party is tonight for the Opening Ceremony!  I even broke out my old official Olympic sponsor jacket for the occasion!

(photos collected from timedotcom.files.wordpress, binkysjohnnyweirblog, static1.squarespace, pictures.zimbio, insidethegames.biz, and gettyimages)