One-Athlete Nations in Vancouver Quiz

Answer: Algeria

Algeria's Mehdi-Selim Khelifi finished in 84th place, 8:02 out of first. Tucker Murphy of Bermuda finished 88th, 9:02 behind. Robel Zeicichael Teklemariam of Ethiopia finished 93rd, 11:42 behind. And Danny Silva of Portugal was last among those who finished, in 95th place, 15:55 behind.
Algeria has participated in three Winter Olympics (1992, 2006, 2010) and won no medals.

Answer: 56th

Tola represented Albania at both the 2006 and 2010 winter Olympics. He finished in last place, 56th, among the racers in the Super-G, 13.62 seconds behind winner Kjetil Andre Aamodt of Norway. Tola resides and trains in Cervinia, Italy. Tola also finished last (48th) in the men's Slalom, a full minute and four seconds behind winner Giuliano Razzoli. This was the seventh time Albania participated in the Winter Olympics (1992-2010), without winning a medal.

Answer: Senegal

Seck, born in February 1981 in Munich, was the only representative of Senegal at both the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. Seck's combined time of 3:06.14 was 28.31 seconds behind winner Carlo Janka of Switzerland. Senegal first sent athletes to the Olympics in 1964. They did win a medal in 1988: Amadou Dia Ba won a silver in the 400 meter hurdles.

Answer: Ski Cross

Kerr was born in the United States (Truckee, CA in April 1986) but raced for Jamaica, the homeland of his father. Kerr was a past member of the US Ski Team, and has raced in skiing competitions since he was 11 years old. He was knocked out during the first heat of the quarter-finals, losing to eventual gold medalist Michael Schmid. Jamaica is perhaps best noted for sending several bobsled teams to the Winter Olympics, beginning in 1988.

Answer: Colombia

Cynthia "Cici" Denzler was born in Santa Ana, California in 1983. She grew up in Switzerland, where she learned to ski. Her parents emigrated to Colombia in 2000. She was the first athlete in Colombia's history to compete at a Winter Olympics. In the slalom, Denzler finished 51st of 55 skiers, with a time of 2:02.39, some 19.5 seconds behind winner Maria Riesch of Germany. Denzler did not finish in the giant slalom.

Answer: Montenegro

Bojan Kosic Of Montenegro finished 61st with a time of 2:59.27, 20.20 seconds out of first. Samir Azzimani of Morocco was 74th [3:06.63 (28.80)], Hubertus von Hohenlohe of Mexico was 78th [3:11.47 (33.64)] and Muhammad Abbas of Pakistan was 79th [3:20.58, 42.75 seconds out of first]. Montenegro is part of the former Yugoslavia.

When Yugoslavia broke up in 1992, Serbia and Montenegro formed an alliance that lasted until 2006. Montenegro voted for independence in May 2006, and declared their independence on June 3, 2006. Between 1952 and 2004, Montenegrins won Olympic medals participating for Yugoslavia or Serbia/Montenegro.

Answer: Bojan Kosic (Montenegro)

Kosic finished in 40th place with a time of 1:55.32, 16 seconds behind Giuliano Razzoli. Azzimani finished in 44th [2:02.43, 23:11], von Hohenlohe finished in 46th [2:07.78, 28.46] and Nkrumah-Achaempong was 47th [2:22.60, 43.28]. Kosic was born December 14, 1990 and his nickname is "Boki." Kosic is one of the best skiers in the Balkans, and regularly finishes in the top ten at races in Sarajevo.

Answer: Snow Leopard

Nkrumah is known as the "Snow Leopard." He wore a special leopard print ski suit - the dots were sponsored by fans so he could attend the Olympics.
Nkrumah-Acheampong only started skiing in 2004. But he was able to accumulate enough points in FIS-sponsored events to qualify for the Olympics. The Ghanian was warmly embraced by ski fans in Vancouver, who opened their homes to Kwame and his support team. Nkrumah-Acheampong finished 47th in the Men's Slalom, with a time of 2:22.60, 43.28 seconds behind winner Giuliano Razzoli of Italy.

Answer: Super G

Drygin finished 44th in the Super G, with a time of 1:38.03, 7.69 seconds away from gold. In the Men's Downhill, he finished 59th (last place), with a time of 2:04.44,. 10.13 behind the winner. And in the Giant Slalom, Drygin posted a time of 1:25.82, for 63rd place. He did not finish the race in Men's Slalom.
Drygin was the flag-bearer in Vancouver and only representative of Tajikistan at the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics as well.

Answer: Short Track Speed Skating

Han, aged 28, was originally from Changchun, China. She emigrated to Hong Kong and competed for Hong Kong at the 2006 Olympics as well. Han raced in the 500 meter, 1000 meter and 1500 meter races, but finished out of the medals in all three. She announced her retirement during the 2010 Olympics.