As we inch closer and closer to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympics, there is tons of long track speed skating news, Olympic and non-Olympic, to keep track of.

Here are a few of my favorites updates [Video- Up Close: Christine Nesbitt] [Report- MASTERS INTERNATIONAL SPRINT GAMES] [Video- Samenvatting NK natuurijs vrouwen] [Video- Samenvatting NK natuurijs mannen] [Olympic Photo Links from Daniel Yeow- direct link to pictures]

Here we go with updates & news!

OLYMPIC ARTICLES & NEWS

Speedskating is one of the few places where Southerners can thrive in the Olympics (pushing a bobsled is another). That’s because the skills used in roller or inline skating – which don’t require cold weather to pursue – translate well to ice.

Cholewinski raced for many years on inline skates against Heather Richardson, who is from High Point and has qualified for three events in these same Olympics. Former Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek came from Greensboro and sports a similar inline background.

• France’s Alexis Contin [Revue de presse : les roquettes "Breizhiliennes"] [Saint-Malo derrière Alexis]
• Jilleanne Rookard- Speedskating’s Olympic Rewards Fail to Pay the Bills
• Shani’s just waiting for his time to shine
• Pascal Briand. Le Briochin se prend aux Jeux
• Jan Bos plakt er nog een jaartje aan vast
• Countdown Vancouver: nog 2 dagen (with video)
• Countdown Vancouver: nog 3 dagen (with video)
• Countdown Vancouver: nog 1 dag (with video)
• Groothuis verzwakt door bacterie
• Bos gaat nog een jaar door
• Rock Hill skater will lace up her boots at the Vancouver Olympics
• Stephen Colbert gears up for the Olympics with plans for medals and mockery
• De Vegt verbaasd over uitspraken Control-kamp
• Netherlands’ Bob De Jong [De Jong kan zich bewijzen] [Bob de Jong is scherp komend weekend]
• Canadian Flag-Bearer and Right to Play Ambassador Clara Hughes Announces Medal Challenge: Every Medal Won for Canada Raises Funds for Children in Developing Countries
• Netherlands’ Sven Kramer [Speedskater Sven Kramer has eyes set on gold] [Waarom status aparte voor Kramer?] [Sven Kramer hoeft niet in het olympisch dorp te slapen]
• Vancouver heating up
• 2010 Olympic Prediction Contest (?)
• N.C. skater will be busy
• USA’s Jennifer Rodriguez [Speedskater Rodriguez returns for fourth Winter Olympic Games] [A personal test for speedskater Jennifer Rodriguez at Vancouver Games]
• Spotlight on speed skating
• Germany’s Jenny Wolf [Jenny Wolf rap in trainingswedstrijd] [Wolf rijdt hard, Groothuis is niet fit]

Netherlands skaters training in preparation for the Winter Olympics- photo from SchaatsENZO

BLOGS

The penthouse suite in our building, which will be sold for around 12 million dollars (give or take a few million haha), is Team Canada`s athlete lounge. No coaches and no support staff – just Canadian athletes. Up there we`ve got a few places to and out and relax, watch the Olympic coverage on the TVs, play some foosball or ping pong, surf the net, and snack when we`re hungry. From the time I’ve already spent up there, it’s going to be an awesome place to hang out and visit with the rest of the team throughout the Olympics.

Right now, my Olympic races are just that. The Target is not the medal, but the performance. To have trained so many hours, and so hard, for so long, I believe that to step up to the line of that Olympic race and feel nervous is an insult to myself. Nervous to me means that I think something is out of my control. So if you see me in person, or on tv, in an interview, training, or warming up for my Olympic race, simply wish me luck and notice how there is no nervousness, but rather a sense of calm anxiousness.

• Clara Hughes- HOME BREW ADVANTAGE
• The Olympics are here- by Denny Morrison
• Daniel Yeow- Dutch TV
• Podium der Winterspiele vorgestellta
• Lucas Makowsky- Athlete’s Village
• Pascal Briand- visit the bar of the olympic village, from Sara Bak- Vancouver here he come!!

Photo from Eis Blog

VIDEOS & PICTURES

• Video- Up Close: Christine Nesbitt
• Video- Chad Hedrick 2010 Olympics Inspirational Video
• Video- 1994: Veldkamp te laat, Koss te snel
• Video- Bergsma grijpt nationale titel
• Video- FLEVONICE, DOUWE DE VRIES IN HET LEIDERSPAK NA GP3
• Video- Plenty of interviews from Vancouver on KNSB.tv
• Video- Lange samenvatting NK natuurijs
• Video- Samenvatting NK natuurijs vrouwen
• Video- Samenvatting NK natuurijs mannen
• Video- Meeste olympiërs volop in training
• Video- Voorstelling Canadese schaatsploeg
• Pictures- Masters International Sprint Games- by Steve Penland [Master Men 500] [Master Women 500] [Master Men 1000] [Master Women 1000]
• Pictures- Nederlandse schaatsers trainen op Olympisch ijs (foto’s)
• Pictures- Photo Links (from Daniel Yeow)- direct link to pictures
• Pictures- NK-Zuidlaren 2010

Photo from Tims ProSkateShots

REPORTS & RESULTS

• Bergsma grijpt nationale titel
• MASTERS INTERNATIONAL SPRINT GAMES
• Huisman aangenaam verrast door NK natuurijs

Montreal’s Constant Montpellier tearing it up- photo by Steve Penland

MISC

• Canada’s Intact Speed Skating Challenge is now under way [See the final videos for round-1 voting] [View website]
• Oscar Diary