US Earns Gold in Ski Halfpipe, Bronze in Snowboard Cross

The United States has a share of the lead in the overall medal count at the Sochi Games after capturing one gold and one bronze on Tuesday.

David Wise of Northstar, Calif., won the gold medal in the men's ski halfpipe, finishing 1.40 points in front of silver medalist Mike Riddle of Canada. Wise came into the Sochi Olympics with three straight Winter X Games titles to his credit.

Alex Deibold of Manchester, Vt., won the bronze medal in men's snowboard cross under slushy, soggy conditions. Gold-medal favorite Nate Holland of the U.S. didn't make it out of the opening round of elimination after mistiming a jump.

The U.S. now has 20 medals, tied with the Netherlands for most at the Winter Olympics. Broken down, Team U.S.A. has six gold, four silver and 10 bronze while the Dutch have six gold, six silver and eight bronze.

Also in and around Sochi

— The best American finish in the women's giant slalom was a fifth by 18-year old Mikaela Shiffrin, who missed a medal by 0.23 seconds. Fellow American Julia Mancuso, the events gold medal winner eight years ago, skied out midway down the last slope in her final event in Russia.

— Defending gold medalist Billy Demong of Park City, Utah, finished a disappointing 31st in the Nordic combined large hill competition. The best U.S. finish was 20th by Taylor Fletcher of Steamboat Springs, Colo.

— The U.S. and Canada have named their starting goaltenders for Wednesday's men's quarterfinal action. Jonathan Quick will be between the pipes when the Americans face off against the Czech Republic. Canada will go with Carey Price versus Latvia.

— Lauryn Williams and Lolo Jones have become the ninth and 10th Americans to compete in different sports at the Summer and Winter Olympics. Both women raced for the U.S. in the women's bobsled event that started Tuesday.

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