2010 Winter Olympics: News and Notes from Lindsey Vonn and Team USA

The Opening Ceremony to the 2010 Winter Olympics is just a few hours away. Here's the news from the Team USA camp, including an update on Lindsey Vonn's injury, and the moment that a US athlete was left breathless.

Rain Delays Lindsey Vonn's Return

Overnight rain has shuffled the Friday downhill training program, pushing the women's schedule back by a full two hours and canceling men's training.

Originally slated to begin at 11 a.m. local time, the women's program has been bumped to a 1 p.m. start. Among those looking for their first full training run is US skier Lindsey Vonn.

She has not skied since her injury last week, and she said her right shin still gives her pain when she steps into the ski boot.

She took pain killers and numbing cream yesterday before the warmup, but practice was cancelled before she got to test out her leg. I'll update more about Vonn as soon as she practices.

Stacey Cook Bruised But OK

Two-time Olympian Stacey Cook is in good spirits following a downhill training crash that left her bruised but without major injury Thursday.

"It's not the ideal way to start the Olympics, but I've just got to keep fighting," Cook said. "I hear I'm lucky, so I've just got to keep that luck going. We'll start some therapy, but I'm going to be ready. I'll be back out there.

"My left leg, above my knee, my quad, my hip flexors, my neck and my back are just really sore, but it's all muscle," she said. "I can work through that."

Following a 20-minute delay where Cook was airlifted off the slope, the training run was eventually cancelled when visibility refused to improve.

Cook is on the start list for the race, but a final determination of whether she will start will come Friday morning.

Anders Johnson Top USA Jumper

Team USA's Ski Jumping Team had its final tuneup on the Whistler Olympic Park jumps Thursday.

The normal hill ski jumping event opens the Olympics on Friday with qualifying rounds for Saturday's finals. The USA comes in with three jumpers—rookies Peter Frenette and Nick Alexander and 20-year-old 'veteran' Anders Johnson.

Johnson was the top American in Thursday's training, soaring 102 meters on his first of three jumps—12th longest that round. Alexander had a 99.5 meter-ride, while Frenette's best was 91.5.

In order to make the finals on Saturday, the U.S. jumpers will need to finish in the top 50 in Friday's qualifying round. The day starts with a trial round at 9 a.m. and qualifying round at 10 a.m.

Flagbearer Mark Grimmette 'Floored' By News

Luge athlete and five-time Olympian Mark Grimmette said the hairs were standing on the back of his head when his teammate Brian Martin told him he would be carrying the US flag at tonight's opening ceremony.

“It’s a great honor to be able to carry the American flag in the opening ceremonies," he said. "Brian...walked up to me, and he was shaking a little bit, and I was wondering what was wrong, and he was smiling and shook my hand and said ‘You know you’re going to be carrying the flag.’ I was just floored. It’s just a great honor, and I’m looking forward to it."

“I was very surprised. When my teammate told me, we sat in the room for about half an hour just not saying anything, but just shaking our heads. Our hands were shaking and even this morning still a little bit shaky.

"This team is made up of a lot of great men and a lot of great women, and for them to vote for me to carry the flag, the hairs are standing on the back of my neck. It’s just a great honor.”