Pic of the Day
Talking points
The Queen vs the Princess: All eyes were on Russia’s 15-year-old darling Julia Lipnitskaya but the pressure took its toll as she fell during her short programme. That leaves her almost 10 points adrift of defending champion Yuna Kim going into tomorrow’s free programme.
Ice hockey: That wasn’t the day’s only disappointment for Russia. The hosts were booed after they lost their men’s ice hockey quarter-final 3-1 against Finland. The only saving grace was that it gave us this picture of Sad Sochi Bear.
Ligety split: Ted Ligety banished his Vancouver demons to win the men’s Giant Slalom. The American finished ninth when he was a hot favourite four years ago but made amends today, adding another Olympic title to his combined gold from Turin 2006.
Bobsleigh drama: The Canada 1 team (Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse) came from behind on the final run to pip USA 1 (Lauryn Williams and Elana Meyers) to women’s bobsleigh gold. Williams, who won 4x100m relay gold in London, was bidding to become the first woman to win medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
Win some, lose some: There were mixed emotions for Britain’s curling teams as the men booked their place in Friday’s final, beating Sweden on the final stone. Team GB’s women will play-off for bronze after losing to Canada.
You gotta see this
It’s the moment that will define the day: Julia Lipnitskaya’s fall.
Hero of the day
We recognise heroes (plural) today. How about Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen who won his record 13th Winter Olympics medal with gold in the biathlon mixed relay?
Then there’s Vic Wild and Alena Zavarzina. The husband and wife team claimed snowboarding medals within minutes of each other, Wild winning gold in the men’s parallel giant slalom and Zavarzina taking bronze in the women’s event.
They said what?
Reporter: What future, if any, do you see for your own work and for your coaching staff? Because, you know, your predecessor was eaten alive after the Olympics—Russian ice hockey coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov: Well then, eat me alive right now—
Reporter: No, I mean—
Bilyaletdinov: Eat me, and I won’t be here anymore.
– A press conference exchange after Russia’s defeat against Finland, as translated by Anton Troianovski of the Wall Street Journal.
Medal table
Irish Eye
Having battled injury just to make it to the start line, Conor Lyne crashed out during his first run of the men’s Giant Slalom.
“I’m disappointed that I didn’t make it to the finish today,” the 20-year-old tweeted after his DNF. “However, I’m happy I made it to the start. I’m proud that I’m an Olympian now.”
Tomorrow’s highlights
It’s unlikely to develop into the Yuna v Julia showdown that we all hoped for but the final of the women’s figure skating will still be the day’s highlight.
Otherwise you can enjoy the final of the women’s curling (Sweden v Canada, 1.30pm) and the final of the women’s ice hockey (Canada v USA, 5pm).
