If there is one good thing that I see today , its this >>>

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

Cheek gives U.S. second speedskating sprint gold

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/olympics/2006/02/13/speed.monday.ap/index.html

TURIN, Italy (AP) -- Negotiating four slippery turns with ease, Joey Cheek skated the two best races of his career Monday and came away an Olympic winner.

His victory in the men's 500 meters -- a furious sprint -- gave the United States its second speedskating gold medal of the Turin Games, adding to the one Chad Hedrick won in the 5,000 meters Saturday.

It was also the second straight 500 victory by an American in as many Olympics. Casey FitzRandolph won at Salt Lake City, but this time nearly fell in his first race and finished 12th.

"He not only won, he blew everybody away," FitzRandolph said.

(snip)

Cheek skated smoothly, never bobbling or falling. The 26-year-old former inline skater from Greensboro, N.C., had greatly improved his form coming into the Olympics, winning the world sprint championships last month.

"I knew I was in great shape, but there's so many amazing skaters here," he said. "I screwed up so many times over the years, but I've always tried to learn from what I did wrong.

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Someone from not only my hometown ( Greensboro , NC ) but also my high school won the Gold Medal in the Mens 500 M Speedskating event in Torrino . Joey Cheek - I remember seeing him around school (he was two grades higher than me) although he left Greensboro in 1996 , exactly 10 years ago - Its good to see someone's dream come true . I do remember seeing him around school and all - just proud that someone is seeing their dreams in technicolor :)

[Lavender Brown]

1. And he's giving his winnings to charity

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2002803803_olycheek14.html
:thumbsup:

[mwdem]

2. And he's from my hometown!