From the stray dog hero of Sochi to Ted Ligety's defense of giant slalom gold, and some training runs for the New Jersey-born bobsledder known as the "Blonde Dragon," there was no shortage of must-see action on Day 8 of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
Without further ado, here are our four to Watch on Day 8:
1. Gus Kenworthy, Sochi's Stray Dog Hero, Misses Podium in Pyeongchang Debut
[NBCO-GalleryFeed] Model Olympian: Gus Kenworthy
One of two openly gay American Olympic athletes in Pyeongchang, Gus Kenworthy has been one of the bigger names to watch the 2018 Games. He debuted in the freeski men's slopestyle competition Saturday night, making it through qualifying, but finishing 12th in the final. American Nick Goepper won silver at the event, adding to the bronze he won four years ago in Sochi.
Kenworthy's Olympics turned into Oystein Braaten's party. Braaten, the 22-year-old from Norway, captured the gold medal, far outdistancing the dinged-up Kenworthy, who failed to land any of his three runs and came in last.
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You may remember Kenworthy from the Sochi Olympics -- he and his then partner Robin Macdonald gained global attention after Macdonald texted Kenworthy a photo of four stray puppies and their mother. Kenworthy ended up staying in Sochi for an extra month to save the family of dogs, adopt them and bring them home.
Kenworthy first publicly said he was gay in an October 2015 interview with ESPN. Rolling Stone later said he was the "first action-sports star to come out." Kenworthy won silver in the slopestyle freeski in Sochi, his Olympic debut.
Must-See: Gus Kenworthy explains slopestyle with legos
2. Defending Champ Ted Ligety Fails to Medal in Olympic Giant Slalom
[NBCO-GalleryFeed] Model Olympian: Ted Ligety
Austrian Marcel Hirscher claimed the Olympic giant slalom gold medal, his second gold medal at the Pyeongchang Games.
American Ted Ligety, the defending Olympic champion who is nicknamed “Mr. GS” because of his success in the discipline, finished tied for 15th, a distant 3.21 seconds behind Hirscher.
Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway took silver and France’s Alexis Pinturault earned the bronze medal.
Must-See: Podium Eludes American Alpine Skiier Ted Ligety
3. Fourcade Edges Schempp in Biathlon Photo Finish
[NATL] Best Displays of National Pride at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang
Martin Fourcade overcame two missed targets and a tumble after his first penalty loop to beat German’s Simon Schempp in a dramatic photo finish to win the men’s 15km mass start Sunday at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre in Pyeongchang.
The Frenchman captured his first gold medal in the mass start after grabbing silver in each of the past two Winter Olympics.
Most Americans haven’t heard of him, but Fourcade is one of the most decorated athletes in French history. His win in Sunday’s mass start makes him France’s first four-time Olympic gold medalist.
Fourcade won the 12.5km pursuit event earlier this week. He also won two gold medals at the Sochi games in 2014.
Must-See: Boe takes biathlon gold after Fourcade's stunning collapse
4. 'Blonde Dragon' Jamie Greubel Poser Trains in Bobsled
9 Fast Facts About Jamie Greubel Poser: The 'Blonde Dragon' of Bobsled
Born in Princeton, New Jersey, 34-year-old Jamie Greubel Poser earned bronze in the 2014 Sochi Games in her Olympic debut with Aja Evans and the bobsledder known as the "Blonde Dragon" is ready to take the next step on the podium in Pyeongchang. (She also won the 2016-17 World Cup overall title and bronze at the 2017 World Championships.)
How'd she get that nickname? The "Blonde Dragon" stems from a mixup a few years back, when someone asked her coach about the "blonde driver" but her coach heard "blonde dragon." It stuck. And given her intensity on the ice, it's a perfect fit. She also goes by "Diesel" because of her biceps.
Greubel Poser's greatest inspiration is her husband, Christian, an Olympic bobsled athlete for Germany. She had a challenging year coming back from ACL surgery at the start of her driving career and he helped ground her, believe in her and propel her forward, according to NBCOlympics.com.
Must-See: How did bobsled get its name? Three lies and a true story
