U.S. speedskaters get more ice time thanks to Stephen Colbert

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There will more ice for the U.S. long-track speedskating team, thanks at least in part to Stephen Colbert‘s jibes at Canadians for having limited access to foreign athletes at the 2010 Olympic Oval.

That’s why a group of Milwaukee-based Olympians were getting to Vancouver earlier than originally planned.

The official training period for all athletes has been advanced a couple days.

Brian Hansen of Glenview, Ill.; Jonathan Kuc of Champaign, Ill.; Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. of Wheaton, Ill.; Jilleanne Rookard of Woodhaven, Mich.; Trevor Marsicano of Ballston Spa, N.Y.; and Mitch Whitmore of Waukesha, Wis., all were on my Tuesday flight from Chicago’s O’Hare airport to Vancouver.

They were headed to the Oval for a Wednesday practice.

-- Philip Hersh in Vancouver