Winter Olympic Update

Bob Costas was back on TV.

Meryl Davis & Charlie White won the first Olympic Gold Medal in Ice Dancing for the U.S.

Driver Steve Holcomb & brakeman Steven Langston in USA 1 ended a 62 year medal drought by winning the Bronze in the two-man bobsled.

The U.S. women’s hockey team beat Sweden 6-1 to advance to the Gold medal game against Canada.

The medal count through Monday was Russia & U.S. each with 18 medals & the Netherlands with 17. Canada & Norway had 15 & Germany had 13. U.S. had 5 Gold, 4 Silver & 9 Bronze.

Team USA Swept Medals In Men’s Ski Slopestyle

Team USA took all 3 medals in Men’s Ski Slopestyle. Joss Christensen got Gold, Gus Kensworthy got Silver & Nicholas Goepper got Bronze.

Hamlin Wins First Ever Single Luge Medal For Team USA

27 year old Erin Hamlin won the Bronze medal in Women’s Single Luge. It was the first ever medal for U.S. in Single Luge at the Olympics, 50 years after luge first appeared at the games. A feat sure to go down as one of the greatest moments in USA Luge history.

IOC Bans Tributes For The Dead

The International Olympic Committee is reprimanding athletes for wearing items commemorating the dead.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Monday the Olympic body sent a letter to the Norwegian Olympic Committee after its female cross-country skiers wore black armbands Saturday in honor of a teammate’s brother, who had died on the eve of the Sochi Games.

Adams did not give details of the IOC letter, saying that was “the end of the matter.”

In other disciplines, the IOC banned helmet stickers in tribute to Canadian halfpipe skier Sara Burke, who died after a crash in training two years ago. Adams said athletes should find ” better place” to express their grief.

Australian snowboarder Torah Bright said in an Instagram post Friday the IOC has banned competitors from wearing stickers on their gear. The IOC considered it to be a “political protest,” Bright wrote.

The IOC has strict rules against protest or propaganda during competitions, outlawing any demonstrations in Olympic venues. Although a commemoration of a dead athlete can hardly be considered a political protest, the IOC’s tough stance is often explained by fears that allowing someone to display non-Games-related messages on the gear would encourage others to use the games for their own gain.

Lauer Taking Over For Costas

Bob Costas has been battling an eye infection but now it has spread to his other eye. Matt Lauer of the Today Show will be taking over for Costas as the Olympic anchor.