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Don't overlook new faces in Olympics: Your Say

Readers comment on marquee athletes and big surprises from the first week of the Winter Olympics. Letters to the editor and comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

I was disappointed to read the article "Team USA's biggest names struggle under Olympic pressure," even beyond its negative tone. It downplays Kelly Clark's bronze medal in the women's halfpipe and what she considers a big achievement. Also, I was surprised that Bode Miller was even considered a potential medal contender, which is no easy feat in alpine skiing for someone his age.

Jamie Anderson takes a jump in the women’s snowboard slopestyle final Feb. 9.

By failing to acknowledge positives such as Erin Hamlin's bronze medal in women's luge or Gracie Gold's contribution to the U.S. medaling in team figure skating, the article really missed the mark.

Paul Tsai; Minneapolis

A USA TODAY article talked about Kelly Clark "settling for bronze" in the women's halfpipe and another athlete being pushed down to bronze ("Team USA's biggest names struggle under Olympic pressure").

A person who even qualifies for the Olympics is pretty amazing.

— John Ice

To be fair, Shaun White is 27; Kelly Clark is 30; Shani Davis is 31; Bode Miller is 36; and Hannah Kearney is 27. All are rather "old" in their respective sports. It's disappointing to see, but acting as if they're failures is pretty unfair. All of the best Olympians get knocked off if they're around long enough, and that's all that is happening.

How about focusing on the new blood and the underdog stories? Sage Kostenberg and Jamie Anderson (no underdog, but a favorite who did step up) won slopestyle for the U.S. Erin Hamlin won the first ever U.S. medal in singles luge, men or women. Kaitlyn Farrington won gold in ladies' halfpipe. It's a shame to see some big names not win gold, but let's give some credit to the future faces of American Olympics.

Ben Buckler

When I participated in high school track and field as a cross country runner in the 1950s, my understanding of the Olympics was traditional and related to the original competition. Since then, I have been extremely disappointed in the expansion to include events that have little or nothing to do with the original Olympics.

Adding the Winter Olympics and the multitude of sideshow competitions from modern sports, of which there is already too much, is simply a disgrace to the real meaning of the Olympics.

As if that were not bad enough, it was a gross mistake to have the Winter Olympics in Russia — under dangerous and miserable circumstances. Also, the broadcast of the Games interferes with television programming, which is inconsiderate. Not everyone is interested in the Winter Games. Indeed, it's time to restore the original Olympics.

Daniel B. Jeffs; Apple Valley, Calif.

I am one who believes that Sochi was a great choice for the Olympics.

The Opening Ceremony gave us an insight into Russian culture and history that many Americans don't have a clue about.

I also think that many opinions of Russian President Vladimir Putin will become more favorable. He has done an outstanding job of highlighting his country to the world.

Robert Cummings; Hertford, N.C.