Gentry Estes
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gentryestes.bsky.social
Gentry Estes
@gentryestes.bsky.social
Sports Columnist at The Tennessean.

https://www.tennessean.com/staff/2647735001/gentry-estes/

Tired of being clever. Everybody’s clever these days.
The most entertaining event I've witnessed at these Olympics? Right here.🔽

There were no losers in awesome freestyle skiing big air Olympic duel that broke boundaries. #Olympics2026 www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
No losers in awesome freeski big air Olympic duel that broke boundaries
American Mac Forehand and Norway's Tormod Frostad made history with brand new trick in big air finals, making it nearly impossible to pick a winner.
www.usatoday.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:47 AM
The snow has finally eased up enough in Livigno to allow the men's freeski big air in about 30 minutes or so.

For a little pregame reading, I asked around about the big air and slopestyle and how Olympic athletes in one must do the other. #Olympics 2026 www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Slopestyle or big air? In Olympics, it's not a matter of which event but when
In the 2026 Olympics, freestyle skiing got the benefit of doing slopestyle first, and it's making for a better men's big air event than snowboarding.
www.usatoday.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:14 PM
NEW: When 16-year-old USA snowboarder Jess Perlmutter gets finished chasing medals in Italy, she’ll have homework to do.

A lot of homework. #Olympics2026
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Teenage Olympians juggle world-class sports and high school classwork
With all these teenagers competing for Team USA in snowboarding and freestyle skiing, what do they do for high school?
www.usatoday.com
February 17, 2026 at 6:08 PM
“If it’s anything I hope that I can be the source of inspiration of today: You have to be who you are.” #Olympics2026
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
How this Brazilian Alpine skier made history by capturing Olympic gold
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen grew up in Norway but switched to represent Brazil, his mother's country, and now has first Winter Olympics medal for South America.
www.usatoday.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:07 PM
NEW: With the men's Olympic snowboarding halfpipe final up tonight, get to know American Jake Pates and his 'crazy,' inspirational journey to make it here. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
This US snowboarder had 'crazy,' inspirational journey back to Olympics
After a four-year retirement in part due to mental health issues, Team USA snowboarder Jake Pates is enjoying a successful return to the Olympics.
www.usatoday.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:59 AM
NEW: Chloe Kim’s silver medal shouldn’t feel like a letdown. But it does. #Olympics2026 www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Chloe Kim's Olympic silver shouldn't feel like a letdown. But it does
On a star-studded, snowy evening at the 2026 Olympics, all that was missing was the result. Well, that and a healthy shoulder for Chloe Kim.
www.usatoday.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:25 PM
NEW: Injured or not, USA snowboarder Chloe Kim is just different.

And the two-time gold medalist just reminded the 2026 Winter Olympics of that when she returned for morning qualifying and made a statement in Livigno. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Snowboarder Chloe Kim is different, and she just reminded the 2026 Olympics of that
Two-time gold medalist Chloe Kim went out there in the 2026 Olympics with an ailing shoulder and nonetheless looked very much like Chloe Kim.
www.usatoday.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:48 PM
NEW: To know 17-year-old Alessandro Barbieri, the USA's next snowboarding star, is to know his true pride and joy and motivation.

That's his cat, Bella. #Olympics2026

www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Meet Alessandro Barbieri, USA's next Olympic snowboarding star with a crazy nickname
Olympics snowboarding legend Shaun White said it himself: Alessandro Barbieri is one to watch in the 2026 Winter Games. So who is this kid?
www.usatoday.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:05 PM
One-of-a-kind, middle-aged USA snowboarder Nick Baumgartner aims to race into his 50s.
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Middle-aged USA snowboarder Nick Baumgartner aims to race into his 50s
Nick Baumgartner, back for his fifth Olympics at age 44, says he'd like to retire 'on home soil' at the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
www.usatoday.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:55 PM
NEW: Freestyle skiing is a sport in which competitors cheer for cool moments, and thus for each other.

The Olympics, though, can test that.

That's why Team USA freeskier Alex Hall's wait for silver in Livigno was a little 'weird.' #Olympics2026 www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Alex Hall's 'weird' wait for silver embodies odd coupling of freestyle skiing, Olympics
Freestyle skiing is a sport in which competitors strive to root for cool moments, not failure in others. The Olympics, though, is different.
www.usatoday.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:42 PM
NEW: Chloe Kim's Winter Olympics star power shines bright, bum shoulder and all. www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Chloe Kim's Winter Olympics star power shines bright, bum shoulder and all
She's rusty and wearing a brace while recovering from a recent shoulder injury. But two-time gold medalist Chloe Kim is back anyway at the Olympics.
www.usatoday.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Watching the Super Bowl with a bunch of Americans at a packed bar in Livigno, Italy.

Oh, and it has a bowling alley.
February 8, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Gentry Estes
At least Lindsey Vonn had the guts to chase her dream. How many of us can honestly say the same?
Lindsey Vonn's crash was cruel. Her bravery epitomizes Olympic spirit
Lindsey Vonn crashed. In spectacular fashion. But at least she was brave enough to take the risk, which is more than most of us can ever say.
www.usatoday.com
February 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
NEW: Lindsey Vonn's courage was special. I hope we appreciate how much.
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
Lindsey Vonn's courage was special. I hope we appreciate how much
It's not just that Lindsey Vonn was out there at the Winter Olympics. It's that she genuinely raced to win in a sport that demands extreme courage.
www.usatoday.com
February 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
NEW: Sometimes, happy Olympic athletes weren’t the ones that won a medal.
www.usatoday.com/story/sports...
US skier Kyle Negomir's long recovery leads to Top 10 in Olympics
After a brutal crash in training sidelined him for the 2022 Olympics, American Kyle Negomir fought for years to get to the Top 10 in Bormio.
www.usatoday.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Where is Gentry today? Italy.

I’m in the mountains in beautiful Livigno and Bormio, helping cover the Winter Olympics for USA Today.

(Including a few links below)
February 7, 2026 at 8:52 AM
NEW: In Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll, the #Titans now have head coaches on both sides of the ball. Which is a seismic upgrade from Brian Callahan’s initial staff of first-timers.

Can experience drastically improve this team? It’s worth a try, right?
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Robert Saleh, Brian Daboll team up for Titans redemption tour | Estes
Two NFL coaches who couldn't make it work separately in New York are joining forces in Tennessee, where they'll each need the other.
www.tennessean.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:38 PM
NEW: As much as the #Titans (and their fans) have grown accustomed to indignity the past few years, a Super Bowl for Mike Vrabel’s Patriots in Year 1 is an especially difficult storyline to digest.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
In Tennessee, Mike Vrabel's Super Bowl to be endured, not enjoyed | Estes
Amid all the recent indignities of being a fan of the Tennessee Titans, Mike Vrabel's rapid ascent in New England is the toughest to digest.
www.tennessean.com
January 27, 2026 at 1:29 PM
NEW: It wasn't just his obvious talent on display or the way he played. It was also the way Nashville's 18-year-old golf phenom Blades Brown won over fans during this weekend’s PGA breakthrough performance. It all hints at stardom ahead.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Blades Brown's PGA breakthrough hints at his special future | Estes
It wasn't just the talent and how he played. It was the way Nashville's Blades Brown enjoyed The American Express PGA Tour tournament.
www.tennessean.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:10 PM
NEW: In Robert Saleh, the #Titans landed on a new coach who seems a lot like an old coach they fired.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
With Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans nod at the ghost of Mike Vrabel | Estes
A tough-guy hire like Robert Saleh seems aimed at recapturing what the Tennessee Titans lost by firing Mike Vrabel.
www.tennessean.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:37 PM
NEW: These Vols don’t play like a Rick Barnes team. Doesn’t sound like one, either.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
This doesn't look (or sound) like a Rick Barnes Tennessee team | Estes
After blowing a 17-point lead to lose at home to Kentucky, Tennessee blamed it on defense and effort, places where Rick Barnes' Vols have thrived.
www.tennessean.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:01 PM
In case you didn’t feel old enough today, I can report that they are playing Nirvana at my dentist’s office.
January 14, 2026 at 9:21 PM
NEW: These #Preds can only win the hard way, it appears, and that's exactly what they've been doing.

www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Nashville Predators can only win the hard way – and they are | Estes
The often outmanned Nashville Predators have accepted that about themselves and learned how to overcome it, allowing them to keep their season afloat.
www.tennessean.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
NEW: With a target still on his back from an unforgettable previous coaching stint in Middle Tennessee, Trent Dilfer has guts to want to be back at Lipscomb Academy, trying to do it all again.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Trent Dilfer has guts to show up again with Lipscomb Academy | Estes
With a target still on his back from an unforgettable previous stint, Trent Dilfer is back at Lipscomb Academy to try to do it again.
www.tennessean.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:35 PM
NEW: There are plenty of reasons to think the #Titans have an appealing job that would intrigue coaching candidates ahead of other NFL teams.

But only if those candidates overlook a deterrent with this franchise.
www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
Is Titans' job appealing? If you ignore the past few years | Estes
There are reasons for coaching candidates to like the Tennessee Titans' job opening. Past missteps by ownership, however, could overshadow them.
www.tennessean.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:07 PM