The 2014 Winter Olympics has captured the attention of many Creighton University students.
Participants in the Games, hosted by Sochi, Russia, came from 89 countries from all over the globe.
The collection of sports presented at these Winter Games ranged from the more well-known figure skating, hockey and snowboarding to the rather obscure sports of curling, ski jumping and skeleton.
Business senior Kiley Eccker has surprisingly found an interest in these more unknown sports, particularly curling.
“My favorite sport at the Olympics in Sochi is curling. It is fun to watch because you know it takes a ton of practice to excel in this sport,” Eccker said. “You can tell it takes a lot of strategy.”
Business sophomore Katie McCloughan is also an avid watcher of the Olympic Games.
“I love watching the Winter Olympics, especially the ice dancing,” McCloughan said. “This year is really exciting because the U.S. just won their first gold medal in ice dancing.”
According to Sochi’s website, as of Feb. 23, Russia has received the most medals, totaling at 33, with the United States not far behind at 28. The Netherlands, Norway and Canada follow, filling out the top five.
An athlete making a big impact this year is TJ Oshie, originally a center from the St. Louis Blues, who is now playing on the U.S. ice hockey team in Sochi. Oshie, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune, put up four points against the Russians, but when asked how he felt about being an “American hero,” replied that he was no hero. He insisted that the real heroes are those “wearing camo,” the American soldiers.
Laura Roustio, a Nursing sophomore and St. Louis native, found Oshie’s comment to be especially endearing since she is a huge fan.
“TJ made St. Louis proud, not only with his athletic ability, but with his patriotism towards the U.S.A.,” she said.
Many enthusiasts, whose excitement continues to grow as the Games start to wind down, are noticing this athleticism and patriotism being displayed throughout. Whether someone is a fan of an individual sport, a stand-out athlete or the Games as a whole, the 2014 Winter Olympics seem to have had something to offer everyone.