Does Finland have any chance at a medal now that Mikka Kiprusoff and Kari Lehtonen aren't minding the net?
-- Michelle Cramden, Chicago

When Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen withdrew recently from Finland's Olympic team, saying he hadn't completely recovered from a groin injury, it was a blow. But this is a nation that reached the World Cup final in 2004, and still has enough offensive talent to remain a marginal contender or spoiler, behind the Canadians and Czechs.

Hockey fans know the names: Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Olli Jokinin, Jere Lehtinen. They also know what to expect from Finland at the Olympics: Some close calls, maybe an upset here or there, and a departure before the gold medal match.

Will any of these speedskaters match Eric Heiden's five gold medals in one Olympics?
-- Chuck, La Crosse, Wis.

I doubt anybody will match Heiden's accomplishment, but one man has an outside chance: Chad Hedrick, the former in-line skater who has become a medal threat in virtually every long-track event.

Ironically, it may be another American, Shani Davis, who keeps Hedrick from such a sweep.

Are Olympics athletes nice? I mean, it seems like NBA players, NFL players and a lot of other "professional" athletes can be real jerks. Since a lot of the Olympic athletes aren't always in the news, it seems like they'd be more humble.
-- Joanna Sullivan, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

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I think it's important to define "nice" in this instance. Olympic athletes are generally more accommodating to the media, if only because they haven't been hounded by us for as long as baseball, football or basketball professionals. Generally, I'd put them in the same league with America's soccer players, who don't mind the exposure one bit, but also don't seem to crave the spotlight.

Olympic athletes run the gamut in personality from Tonya Harding to Kerri Strug, just like everybody else. But one thing you have to say: Most of them are in this for the pure love of the sport, because there isn't much money in curling or Nordic skiing.

And that is often reflected in their joyous attitudes about being on the mountain, or in a rink, on a February day during the Olympics.

How often do skiers have to get new skis? Do they wear them out or do they have a favorite pair that they always wear?
-- Frank S., Houston

Honestly, I had no idea on this one. But the Expert is an expert at finding experts. Jesse Hunt, the program director for the U.S. Alpine team, says that ski retention varies a great deal by individual.

"Certain athletes get used to the construction, they'll want to stick with it through the season," Hunt says. "Others feel if the ski is losing its integrity, it's time to break in a new pair."

In the speed events like downhill, the racers are more likely to keep the same skis, because of all the preparation with waxes and overlays. That actually makes them faster than the newer skis.

In the more technical events, you'll generally see newer skis.

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