Winter Olympics LIVE: Kamila Valieva returns in figure skating as Team GB beat Sweden in curling
Follow latest updates from Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva held back tears after she returned to the Winter Olympics ice for the women’s short programme, despite a court ruling that she tested positive for a banned substance. The 15-year-old is still subject to disciplinary procedures but has been allowed to compete by a panel of three arbitrators appointed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as Russia tries to land a clean sweep of medals in the event. If she wins the event, for which she is an overwhelming favourite, the IOC has said she will not be honoured in a medal ceremony until an investigation into the doping allegations is complete. She leads the field after the first of two skates.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Brad Hall and Nick Gleeson crashed on their penultimate run of the two-man bobsleigh. Hall’s sled overturned towards the end of the run and they slid over the finish line on their side, but both emerged apparently unscathed. The Britons had started the final day of competition in 11th place after the first two runs, 1.36 seconds off the lead.
Elsewhere, China’s Eileen Gu, who won gold last week in big air, claimed silver in the women’s freeski slopestyle. Team GB’s wait for a medal goes on, though, as Kirsty Muir and Katie Summerhayes finished eighth and ninth respectively. Follow live coverage from the Winter Olympics below:
Winter Olympics: Weirdest moment of the day?
One of the strangest moments of the Games so far happened earlier today as Jarl Magnus Riiber went the wrong way on the combined large hill/10km track.
He was in medal contention when he made the error, having to loop back to get himself back on the correct path. He eventually ended in eighth place and has spoken about his mistake.
The Norwegian, who had tested positive for Covid and had to isolate ahead of the Games, said: “It’s not fun to show the world that I maybe wasted a gold medal.
“I had been locked inside for two weeks, not breathing fresh air. My body is not working. Normally, I’m one of the better skiers and today I was just bad.”
His compatriot Joergen Graabak claimed the gold with another Norwegian Jens Lurås Oftebro bagging silver.
Winter Olympics: Momentum all-important for GB curlers
Bruce Mouat has urged his team to be ruthless as they secured a guaranteed medal match with their fifth straight win in the Olympic men’s curling.
The British skip knows battles with Sweden’s Niklas Edin are always close quarters affairs, losing to the five-time global champion - who was previously unbeaten in Beijing - at last year’s world final in Calgary.
But a narrow 7-6 victory was enough to gain revenge and book Mouat’s rink a place in the semi-finals, regardless of results against the Russian team and Canada in their concluding round-robin matches.
However, victories will be key both for momentum and to give Team GB the advantage of the hammer - the last stone - in their semi-final.
“It was a really important win. We knew that we were close to getting a qualification spot, so it feels great to get that sorted,” said European champion Mouat.
Read the full story:
Winning momentum all-important as Team GB seek top form for curling semi-finals
The Team GB skip is aiming to seal a medal in Beijing this time around after two near-misses already
Winter Olympics: What happened on day 11?
The biggest headline is Kamila Valieva returning to the ice for the first time since the investigation into her alleged failed drug test. She put in a great but not perfect performance to finish the women’s short programme in the gold medal position. She and 24 other skaters will compete in the free skate to determine the final medal positions.
Great Britain’s men’s curlers defeated Sweden to bag themselves a semi-final spot and there was more good news in the women’s curling event as Eve Muirhead inspired a 10-4 win over Japan. If the women had last the match their Olympic run would have been over.
Kirsty Muir, Britain’s bright star from this Games, finished eighth in the women’s ski slopestyle final. Her compatriot Katie Summerhayes finished ninth.
Switzerland’s Corinne Suter won gold in the women’s downhill.
Germany grabbed a 1, 2, 3 in the 2-man bobsleigh event. Great Britain’s Brad Hall and Nick Gleeson were attempting to hold onto the bronze medal but crashed out to finish 11th.
Winter Olympics: Valieva’s emotional return
Just to recap the emotional skate we saw earlier today from the ROC’s Kamila Valieva.
She fought back the tears after her first skate since the doping controversy that has engulfed the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The ROC skater was awarded a massive score of 82.16 by the judges before an outpouring of emotion while hunching over her knees.
The 15-year-old takes a huge lead at the top of the standings and is on course for gold, but that medal may never be awarded after her positive test for a banned substance was revealed last week.
It was not perfect, unsurprisingly given the circumstances, with a slight fall on the triple axel. But she survived the rest of her short program and continued her march towards another gold medal.
Kamila Valieva holds back tears after first skate since doping controversy
It was announced last week that the 15-year-old tested positive for a banned substance back in December
Winter Olympics: Ryding targeting medal
Dave Ryding says Team GB’s struggles at the Winter Olympics have stoked his hunger to win a medal at the fourth attempt.
The 35-year-old’s Olympic expectations have ramped up since his World Cup victory at the 97th attempt at Kitzbuhel in January.
Now there’s a very real prospect of further pressure if Ryding unexpectedly goes to the start gate for Wednesday’s slalom in search of Britain’s first medal in Beijing.
The Rocket’s response sits somewhere between Dunkirk spirit and stiff upper lip.
“If it so happens that there are still no medals by the time it comes, I’ll be extra motivated,” said Ryding.
Full story:
Dave Ryding ‘extra motivated’ in chase for Winter Olympic medal
The 35-year-old’s Olympic expectations have ramped up since his World Cup victory at the 97th attempt at Kitzbuhel in January
Winter Olympics: GB through to the men’s curling semi-finals
An amazing performance from Britain’s men’s curlers earlier today saw them secure a spot in the semi-final with round robin fixtures left to play.
They went up against Sweden, who were undefeated ahead of the match. Bruce Mouat’s men got off to a lightning start and the Swedes were unable to catch up.
It did end quite close, with a 7-6 outcome, but Mouat has hailed his team for the outing. He told BBC Sport: “That was probably our best performance. We came out blocks really well. We put them under pressure first two ends, got the jump on them and continued from that line of play. I’m really happy with how it went.”
The team have two round robin matches left and if they win both they could end up topping the table.
Winter Olympics: Valieva and skaters react to drug controversy
All eyes were on the women’s short programme today but many had their attention fixed because of the recent drug controversy.
ROC’s Kamila Valieva reportedly failed a drug test but she has been allowed to continue to compete in Beijing. Critics have argued she shouldn’t be there but officials have said anything won by Valieva could be taken away once their investigation has concluded.
The 15-year-old has broken her silence, speaking for the first time since news she has tested positive for banned substance trimetazidine, an angina medication, stunned the Games.
“These last few days have been very difficult for me,” she told Russian broadcaster Channel One. “I’m happy to compete but I’m very tired emotionally.”
Her two compatriots, Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova, finished second and third in the women’s short programme today with Valieva in first. Shcherbakova refused to speak on the matter but British champion Natasha McKay, who made her Olympic debut, did put her thoughts across.
She said: “I have sympathy for whoever will be on the podium who won’t be receiving their medals, it’s the most important part of the Olympics and they won’t get that chance.
“I wish it was a level playing field and it’s not but they’ve made a decision they’ve made and I can’t do anything about that.”
For more reaction, read our piece:
Kamila Valieva fights back tears after skating under searing spotlight
The 15-year old Russian - controversially cleared to compete by the Court of Arbitration in Sport on Monday - is used to the attention but this was another level
Winter Olympics: 2-man bobsleigh ends in disaster for Britain
Britain’s Brad Hall and Nick Gleeson crashed out of the 2-man bobsleigh after attempting to hold onto the bronze medal in their third run.
The pair had held the third place but team Germany looked strong and so the British duo tried everything to claim a medal. And while in pursuit of a perfect run, their sled toppled after riding up against the wall at a speed of 134.7 kmph (83.7mph), ending their hopes.
The pair looked shaken and disappointed but were able to walk away seemingly without injury.
Germany took a 1, 2, 3 in the event with Britain ending up in 11th. Read the full story:
Great Britain crash out of two-man bobsleigh at Winter Olympics
Team GB were pushing hard at speeds of more than 130 kmph and in need of a perfect run to move into contention for a bronze at Beijing 2022
Winter Olympics: Curling rules explained
If any sport has captured fans attention this Games it’s curling. Even Olympic football gold medallist Stephanie Labbe has gone out to try the sport.
But it can be tricky to participate or spectate on a sport where the rules are brand new to you. We’ve taken the time to explain the power plays, the hammers and much more so you are clued up on all things curling!
Have a read and get out to your local rink to give it a go:
Why would you want to blank an end in curling?
Teams can opt to blank an end in order to retain the hammer for the next one
What is the hammer in curling and how does it work? The rules explained
Ten nations are competing in each of curling’s three disciplines at the 2022 Winter Olympics
What is the curling power play? Explaining the rules of Winter Olympics sport
There are three curling medal events at Beijing 2022, but the power play can only be used in one
Winter Olympics: GB remain confident
Team GB may have crashed out of the 2-man bobsleigh earlier today but the team are still hopeful of a medal.
This could come in the 4-man event and despite the 11th place finish on day 11, Brad Hall has no doubt they will bring something home.
He said: “We still have a pretty good chance. ‘We have had a good season so far with a few medals in the four-man. So, there is no reason why we cannot do that this weekend as well. We need to rectify the mistakes; my driving is usually a little bit better in the four-man.”
And Hall’s partner in the 2-man, Nick Gleeson, added: “We have no doubts that in our mind we can still contend for a medal. No doubt in my mind.”
Read the full story:
Team GB confident over bobsleigh medal despite two-man crash on notorious corner 13
No long-lasting effects from the high-speed derailment, but fewer errors required for a podium spot in Beijing
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