Sports Girls Play

Girls youth sports news, tips and resources for raising a happy, healthy athlete

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Polar Bear Mascot

2014 Winter Games Mascot White Polar Bear

The Olympics Facebook page just posted this super cute photo of one of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games mascots in stuffed animal format – isn’t the White Par Bear a cutie? It almost makes me want snow… not.

2014 Sochi games mascots bear, leopard, hare

Here is the illustration of the three main mascots for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games – White Polar Bear, Leopard and Hare. I think the leopard definitely has the most personality and looks like an athlete.

Are you ready to start thinking about the Winter Olympics yet?  They will be held February 7-23, 2014 so they are really not that far off!  

 

Ashley Caldwell – The Youngest Member of the US Olympic Team

One of my favorite parts of the Olympics has to be the stories behind the athletes. Tonight I will be cheering extra hard for Aerial Skiier Ashley Caldwell – the youngest member of this year’s US Olympic team at 16 years old. She has only been training aerials for three years and really had her sights set on the 2014 games. The former Level 9 gymnast from Virginia not only made the US Olympic team, she also qualified for tonight’s aerials finals, too! Way to go Ashley!

Here is footage of her full double full – which I think is her first jump for finals tonight:

I remember watching Ashley compete as a gymnast during her years at Apex – and can only imagine how proud all her coaches from gymnastics are of her tonight (the rest of the coaches and gymnasts in the state are proud of you too, Ashley)!  I am sure all those basics, twisting and flipping drills, trampoline time, conditioning and lessons she learned from her days in the gym contributed to her quick rise to the top in US Freestyle skiing.

GO ASHLEY!  Another example of the great things gymnastics can prepare you for.

Thank You Moms Olympic Commercial

Let me just say that the ads for the Winter Olympics so far are so much better than those for the Superbowl!  My favorite one so far has to be the Proctor and Gamble ad featuring winter sport athletes as little kids – because through the eyes of their Mothers, they will always be little kids. (click on video below to play or view at YouTube)

It truly speaks to the core of my soul as a Mom and a coach. Even though so many of the athletes I coached through the years are all grown up, the memories I have of them as little kids are so precious!

Now where is that box of tissues when I need them?