Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics

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Sochi 2014: Winter Olympics

CNN brings you daily coverage of the Winter Games, with in-depth analysis and behind-the scenes shots from our dedicated teams on the ground in Sochi.

3rd & 7 37yd

Your time is up!

For the last 30 minutes you've been busy casting your votes and it is time to reveal the results.

I asked: Which event did you enjoy more, the men's slopestyle final or the women's?

With 58% of the vote, you went for the women's showdown from earlier today.

Kudos to gold medal winner Jamie Anderson and co. for turning all of us into slopestyle super fans.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 12:03:24 PM
The star of the Games so far, in my eyes at least.

Rachel Nichols meets Johnny Quinn, the U.S. bobsledder who heroically escaped his own bathroom by breaking the door down. If you missed it, click here.
Rachel Nichols
@Rachel__Nichols
Fun interview with wall-smashing bobsledding sensation @JohnnyQuinnUSA . Airs on @CNN through the day today. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgBkAmnCQAARbXB.jpg
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:55:49 AM
Only 15 minutes left to vote on the poll.

I can exclusively reveal that 55% of you thought the women's final was more enjoyable.

If you disagree, get voting.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:47:44 AM
Ivana Kottasová
@IvanaKottasova
Here we go, speed skating. Looks so calm and easy, but is apparently extremely painful sport. These ice queens are super tough. #CNNSochi
Feb. 9, 2014
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I know what Ivana's talking about. My legs ached just watching Sven Kramer's Olympic record-smashing victory in the men's 5000m yesterday. More on that here.

Today it's the turn of the women. The 3000m is under way, but it will be some time before we see any of the medal contenders take to the ice.
by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:42:47 AM
I don't know about you, but I'm still reeling from that women's slopestyle final.

What a thrilling morning of snowboarding action.

Coming off the back of Saturday's incredible men's competition, it got me thinking, which one did you enjoy more?

So I think we should have a vote. Have your say in the poll at the top of the page, I'll tally up the numbers at midday.

(My vote goes to the women's event, but that's probably my Jenny Jones bias)

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:36:59 AM
Flags. Lots of them at the cross-country skiing stadium. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:29:28 AM
One to keep an eye for on CNN World Sport (@WorldSportCNN) later today. Amanda Davies has sat down with all three of the Dufour-Lapointe sisters after last night's women's moguls final.

A must-watch at 1700 London time.
Amanda Davies
@AmandaJDavies
No rest for gold medal winning Justine from @3_SDL ... The interview wheel is underway! #sochi2014 #cnnsochi pic.twitter.com/HhSDGhQ9YY
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:27:20 AM
Swiss gold! Dario Cologna wins the second gold medal of his Olympic career by taking victory in the men's cross-country 30km skiathlon. Silver goes to Sweden's Marcus Hellner, with Russia's Maxim Vylegzhanin narrowly missing out on a medal after Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway holds on for bronze.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:12:46 AM
The tenuous nature of live television. No kidding, don't flip the switch! #cnnsochi
by jcmca40cnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 11:07:40 AM
Aksel Lund Svindal was a big medal favorite coming into today's men's downhill, but it wasn't to be.

The Norwegian finished fourth, which has to be the worst position to end and an Olympic competition in. So close to the a place on the podium, yet so far...
Aksel Lund Svindal
@akselsvindal
Win some and… I tried getting that gold and pushed hard. Too many mistakes and ended up 4th. Not that sweet in #Olympics Thanks for support
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:59:07 AM
Right, after all that excitement, let's have a quick recap.

We've still got SIX gold medals to hand out today across biathlon, cross-country skiing, speed skating, luge, figure skating and ski jumping.

Don't forget you can get involved with CNN's coverage of these Games by using the hashtag #CNNSochi on Twitter or Instagram.

Alternatively, you can post a comment in the box at the top of the page.

What has been your highlight of the opening weekend of Sochi 2014?

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:54:34 AM
Irene Chapple
@IreneCNN
#sochi2014 emotional scenes as Britain's first Olympic snow medallist, @jennyjonessnow , surprised by parents "Mum you're on TV!" #cnnsochi
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:49:56 AM
Wow. Well that was Olympic slopestyle snowboarding!

At its first Games, the sport has lit up the opening two days of Sochi 2014.

And there's more to come.

The women's skiing slopestyle final takes place next Tuesday, while the men take to the course on Thursday.

I can't wait.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:45:32 AM
sage kotsenburg
@sagekotsenburg
Just jumped out of my chair when @Jme_Anderson landed that run!! #Spoice
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:37:36 AM
Allow me to be patriotic for a moment.

Jenny Jones takes the bronze medal, which makes her Britain's first ever Olympic medallist on snow.

A double Winter X Games champion, Jones has battled a severe concussion sustained earlier in the season to take a place on the podium.

What she doesn't know is that her parents flew out in secret to watch her in the final. Expect tears in the slopestyle arena when she finds out.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:36:38 AM
US Olympic Team
@USOlympic
GOLD for @Jme_Anderson for the first #Olympic medal in women's snowboard slopestyle! #GoTeamUSA pic.twitter.com/ZzWzAfKCWs
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:29:12 AM
Gasser is down! Jamie Anderson is the first ever women's slopestyle Olympic champion! It's a clean sweep of the slopestyle gold medals for Team USA after Sage Kutsenburg's triumph in the men's final yesterday.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:26:01 AM
The U.S. are top of the slopestyle leaderboard once again!

Jamie Anderson with the run of her life to shoot into gold medal contention.

And after Switzerland's Isabel Derungs takes a tumble, only Austria's Anna Gasser can prevent an American double in slopestyle's first Olympic Games.

Here's how it stands:

Jamie Anderson (USA) 95.25
Enni Rukajarvi (Finland) 92.50
Jenny Jones (Britain) 87.25

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:24:01 AM
We've got three riders left to drop. This is sooo tense!

Like everyone else Amanda Davies is GRIPPED, even if she still has a little bit to learn...
Amanda Davies
@AmandaJDavies
Bed time reading. 3-page glossary of terms for ski half pipe & slopestyle. #sochi2014 #cnnsochi http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgBiADSIMAA5o1Y.jpg
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:17:58 AM
Ivana Kottasová
@IvanaKottasova
Oh no, Sarka! She's up back on her feet, finishing her run despite smashing her helmet. What a champ. Love her. #CNNSochi You go girl!
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:13:23 AM
Amanda Davies
@AmandaJDavies
No idea how Sarka Pancochova got back up from that in the snowboard slopestyle. Another great advert for helmets. #sochi2014 #cnnsochi
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:11:15 AM
A heart-stopping moment in the women's slopestyle final.

Sarka Poncochova suffers an almighty fall, lying motionless on the snow as medics rush to her side.

Luckily, the Czech is able to get to her feet and finish the run, a close-up of her helmet shows that it has been smashed to pieces.

Finland's Enni Rukajarvi has just leapt to the top of the leaderboard with a monster run, the judges giving her a score of 92.50. Seven women left to ride.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:08:38 AM
Who wants to hear from Austria's newest skiing icon? Here's men's downhill champion Matthias Mayer.

"This unbelievable. I thought maybe in a few years I could dream of this sort of achievement. It was really cool and my family will be excited."

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 10:04:49 AM
Calamity at the women's slopestyle start line.

Anna Gasser, one of the hottest prospects for gold in this first women's Olympic final, sets off a bit too early.

As a result, she has to make her way back to the top of the slope, but that's easier said than done.

Gasser, accompanied by her coach who was desperately trying to push her back up the hill, slipped and slid before giving up and heading for the stairs.

Perhaps a little embarrassed, she put down a run tarnished by a slip coming off the final jump. She's ninth heading into the second round.

Sarka Pancochova of the Czech Republic leads, but there's a long way to go. These ladies are going to go BIG in this final round.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:47:36 AM
More from Ben Wyatt, who has been asking the people of Sochi why these Games matter.

Next up is Steve, who is in Russia working for McDonalds (other fast food outlets are available).

Why does #Sochi2014 matter?: "Society convenes around sport and we can give our customers access to it" Steve Easterbrook, McDonalds #cnnsochi
by benwyattcnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:32:49 AM
Harry Reekie
@HarryCNN
@AmandaJDavies just sat down with all three @3_SDL sisters for a great interview. Will go out on CNN soon. #cnnsochi pic.twitter.com/pIeyY1ygM5
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:27:13 AM
Jumping for joy: Matthias Mayer takes men's downhill gold. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:19:57 AM
While it was misery for Miller, it was joy for Matthias Mayer.

The 23-year-old had never finished higher than FIFTH in a downhill event before taking the biggest title in the sport.

But Olympic success clearly runs in the family, Mayer's father Helmut won silver in the Super G at Calgary 1988.

I imagine family skiing holidays were pretty intense in the Mayer household...

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:17:39 AM
Chris Eldergill
@EldergillCNN
NEW: Bode Miller on missing out on a medal: "I'm not really sure what went wrong. I feel disappointed..." #CNNSochi #Sochi2014
Feb. 9, 2014
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by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:08:51 AM
It's official, Austria can celebrate and a new downhill skiing legend is born. Matthias Mayer takes the gold medal, with Italy's Christof Innerhofer second and Kjetil Jansrud of Norway third.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:03:26 AM
What you cannot see though is the quite gorgeous mountain air##cnnsochi
by npwcnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 9:00:03 AM
Everyone's new favorite sport is slopestyle. That's a FACT.

After an historic men's final on Saturday and gold for Team USA's Seth Kotsenburg, it's the women's turn.

The U.S. are well-represented again, with 2010 halfpipe gold medal winner Jamie Anderson one of the favorites to take the title.

Can the Americans make it a debut double in slopestyle?

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:58:18 AM
As ever, our intrepid reporter Ben Wyatt is out and about in Russia.

He's been asking the great and the good on the ground in Sochi this question:

Why do these Games matter?

Throughout the day I'll be showing you some of the best answers.

Here's our first contribution, from Cayman Islands skier Dow Travers.

Why does #sochi2014 matter?: "It's where nations come together and human spirit prevails" #cnnsochi Dow Travers, Cayman Is. Skier
by benwyattcnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:32:31 AM
The men's downhill is just one of EIGHT gold medal events today.

Simply put, we've got more gold medals than you could shake a ski pole at.

The first ever Olympic champion in women's slopestyle will be crowned in around two hours time, with the men's 30km cross-country skiathlon getting started at 1400 Sochi time.

The gold rush continues with women's finals in 3000m speed skating and biathlon, before the men's luge final hurtles into action.

The closing session of team figure skating and the first ski jumping final of Sochi 2014 round of a truly unmissable day of Winter Games glory.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:26:24 AM
A dejected Bode Miller reflects on the final downhill run of his Olympic career. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:13:55 AM
Pre-race favorite Aksel Lund Svindal fared little better.

The Norwegian powerhouse is currently in fourth position, meaning he too will be absent from the podium.

The gold medal is currently in Austrian hands, Matthias Mayer leading the way with a time of two minutes and 6.23 seconds.

There are still plenty of racers awaiting their turn, however, including defending Olympic champion Didier Defago.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:12:41 AM
Well, Bode Miller was fastest down the course in two of the three practice runs.

The Vancouver 2010 bronze medallist was hoping to say a golden goodbye to Olympic downhill.

But it's bad news for Team USA...

The 36-year-old currently sits eighth on the leaderboard with over half of the skiers yet to go.

It's bitter disappointment for Bode and for every U.S. ski fan hoping to enjoy some Miller time.

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:08:12 AM
U.S. skier Bode Miller goes for gold in the men's downhill. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 8:03:26 AM
Bode Miller's words would have been ringing in the words of every skier as they stood in the starting gate this morning.

It's men's downhill day, one of the standout events of any Winter Games.

My name is Tom McGowan, welcome to Day Two of Sochi 2014.

Now, let's get straight down to it...

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 7:49:55 AM
"It's very treacherous. This course has teeth everywhere ... this course can kill you."
Bode Miller

by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 7:43:43 AM
by tom.mcgowan 2/9/2014 7:43:13 AM
It's gold!!! Justine Dufour-Lapointe celebrates success in the ladies moguls final (Getty Images)

by eoghan.macguire 2/8/2014 7:33:07 PM
No she can't! Justine Dufour-Lapointe takes the gold as Hannah Kearney can only scrape into third with a score of 21.39

by eoghan.macguire 2/8/2014 7:23:56 PM
Justine's sister, Chloe, is up next and she races through the course but is let down by her final landing off the backflip.

She's still placed second though meaning only defending champion Hannah Kearney can prevent a Canada and Duffour-Lapointe one-two. Can she do it?

by eoghan.macguire 2/8/2014 7:22:28 PM
And Canada's Justine Doufour-Lapointe takes the lead with 2 competitors remaining.

She speeds through the moguls, performs a nifty 360 and rounds off with a backflip for a score of 22.44. The judges like that and so does she, grinning away at the bottom of the slope!

by eoghan.macguire 2/8/2014 7:19:43 PM