Saturday was another bust for the U.S. at the speedskating oval.
Right in the middle of the Sochi Games, American skaters hastily switched back to the suits they wore during the World Cup season and at the country's Olympic trials in late December.
Not that it mattered.
The athletes made the return to older suits after reports that the new suits may have slowed down Olympic champs like Chicago skater Shani Davis, but the racing results were virtually unchanged.
Glenview-native Brian Hansen finished seventh in the 1,500 meter— matching the team's best showing through seven events in Russia.
It was another tough day for two-time silver medalist Shani Davis, who faded to 11th.
"Maybe we would see different results if we could turn back the hands of time," Davis said, "but we can't."
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The 31-year-old Davis, runner-up in the king of races at the last two Olympics, faded badly over the final lap. The Chicago native wound up 11th in what could be the final individual event of his brilliant Olympic career. The only race he has left in Sochi is team pursuit.
"I feel the damage of the suit was already done," Davis said, clearly blaming the uniform turmoil for the team's dismal showing at these Olympics. "It took its toll. I spent energy in ways that I wouldn't have done normally."
