The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games ended yesterday with the Canadians proving once again that they swing the biggest sticks. Pause. But despite our loss, we still held on to top the overall medal count and left Vancouver with a number of memorable highlights. However, not all of the Olympic moments were golden—some were more of a rusty brownish tinge. So, as the nauseating nationalism dies down and athletes return home, let's look back on the best and worst moments of this year's games...
THE LOWLIGHTS:
BITCHING OVER MEDALS
WHO: Evgeni Plushenko, Russian figure skater
LOWLIGHT: After finishing second during the free skating program, Plushenko whined that his performance was worthy of gold rather than silver. Plushenko later went on to award himself the "platinum" Olympic medal on his website.
COMPLEX SAYS: What's the Russian word for bitch-made?
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LAGO IS SENT HOME FOR HAVING HIS MEDAL LICKED
WHO: Scotty Lago, American snowboarder
LOWLIGHT: After winning bronze in the half-pipe competition, some photos leaked of Lago's medal being licked by a groupie. Facing pressure from the U.S. Olympic Committee, Scotty elected to go home before they made a decision.
COMPLEX SAYS: With all the debauchery that goes on at the games, the USOC should be thankful this was the only licking caught on camera. If you didn't already know about the Asian-chick bonanza in Vancouver...
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NBC'S TERRIBLE COVERAGE
WHO: National Broadcasting Company
LOWLIGHT: NBC ran coverage of many events on tape delay and cockblocked nearly all highlights from reaching the web. If you live on the West Coast, even though you're in the same time zone as Vancouver, you were especially fucked for live coverage.
COMPLEX SAYS: NBC fail? Where have we seen that one before?
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EPIC MISSED-CALL FAIL
WHO: Patrick Becker, German speed skater
LOWLIGHT: After the German speed-skating team was down one member due to injury, they called on backup speed skater, Patrick Becker. Too bad Becker had his cellphone off at the time and it was too late by the time he returned the call.
COMPLEX SAYS: The moral of the story: Always pick up your phone.
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THE HIGHLIGHTS:
SHAUN WHITE'S GOLDEN DOUBLE MCTWIST 1260
WHO: Shaun White, American snowboarder
HIGHLIGHT: The Flying Tomato became the first snowboarder to repeat as a gold-medal winner in the half-pipe after landing the 1260.
COMPLEX SAYS: White collected another gold at this year's games, while Sasha Cohen failed to qualify. That means the only way she's holding a medal is if she finally gives in to his advances.
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OHNO BREAKS OLYMPIC RECORD
WHO: Apollo Anton Ohno, American speed skater
HIGHLIGHT: Ohno became the most decorated Winter Olympian, totaling eight medals, breaking the previous record of six.
COMPLEX SAYS: Still a cockboy with dumb-ass facial hair, though.
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ROCHETTE OVERCOMES DEATH OF MOTHER
WHO: Joannie Rochette, Canadian Figure Skater
HIGHLIGHT: Only days after the death of her mother, Rochette earned the bronze medal in ladies' figure skating.
COMPLEX SAYS: Personal tragedy x earning a medal = badass.
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VONN LIVES UP TO THE HYPE
WHO: Lindsey Vonn, American Alpine Ski Racer
HIGHLIGHT: Despite injury and the pressure from the media who gassed her up, Vonn was able to collect a bronze and silver medal.
COMPLEX SAYS: We don't really care for alpine skiing but if Vonn's success means more photos like this, we can clap to that.
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