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

Olympic spirit was alive and well at the Laura Cross-country ski and Biathlon Center on Friday.

Dario Cologna took his second gold medal of the Games in the men's 15km classic, with the Swiss receiving a rapturous reception from the crowd as he crossed the finish line.

TWENTY EIGHT MINUTES later Robert Carcelen finished the race in 87th position, dead last.

The Peruvian is his country's first and only Winter Olympian and to celebrate his historic appearance in Sochi, Cologna and a large crowd at the Laura stayed around to give him a standing ovation.

Nice touch, Dario.

(Getty Images)
by tom.mcgowan

by tom.mcgowan 2/16/2014 1:44:44 PM
Rick de Vroede
@vroedinschki
Former Olympian @erbenwennemars predicts total #DutchDominance at the Adler Arena for #1500m 1-4 all Dutch. I hope he's right #CNNSOCHI
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 1:29:42 PM
Ireen Wust made big headlines last week when she became the first openly gay athlete to pick up a gold medal at the Sochi Games.

It’s perhaps surprising then that one of the first people to congratulate her was Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who she revealed gave her a big hug.

I wonder if Wust can expect a similar congratulatory embrace if she wins the 1,500m speed skating event which will start in around 30 minutes time at the Adler Arena.

Those looking to stop her (and perhaps secure their own hug from Russia’s tiger petting, judo chopping president) include Lotte van Beek, also of the Netherlands, and Claudia Pechstein of Germany.

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 1:25:10 PM
The CNN translator is feeling the Olympic spirit with a necklace her mum made. #awww #cnnsochi
by carolinepatersoncnn via Instagram

by tom.mcgowan 2/16/2014 1:07:28 PM
Like everyone else, I'm still reeling from yesterday's incredible game between the U.S.and Russia in the men's ice hockey.

Both teams are back on the ice today. Fresh from their 3-2 victory over the hosts, Team USA has raced into a 2-0 lead over Slovenia in the first period.

Russia are facing Slovakia and it's still 0-0 with 15 minutes gone in the opening period.

by tom.mcgowan 2/16/2014 12:57:48 PM
Who's going to pay for that? Smashing action in the men's ice hockey. (Getty Images)

by tom.mcgowan 2/16/2014 12:51:24 PM
What an introduction, thanks Eoghan. Other blackcurrant-based juice drinks are available.

Prepare for biathlon bedlam.

The format is thrown out of the window today. Instead of the usual staggered starts, all of the competitors set off at the same time and the first man across the line will take the title.

Every time one of the biathletes misses the target on the shooting range, they have to ski around a 150m penalty loop.

That gets under way at 1500 GMT, but there's plenty to occupy us between now and then.

by tom.mcgowan 2/16/2014 12:48:38 PM
Who want's to hear from super-G gold medal winner Kjetil Jansrud? He's been speaking about his joy on securing gold just over an hour or so ago:

"I am floating and feeling great. It hasn't sunk in yet. I wasn't nervous at the start but things got a little too exciting when Andrew Weibrecht (USA) was going down."

"It means the world to me. It's the biggest thing you can win. It's something I have worked for since I was a little kid, so I am just going to enjoy it. So far this Olympic Games has gone better than I had hoped."

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 9:19:58 AM
I mentioned my yearning for cowbell earlier and it seems CNN's superstar sports editor, John Sinnott, has heard my call.

Have a read of this wonderful piece on the topic John has passed on:

The art of noise in sport: How the cowbell came of age
CNN"Mittens don't clap," is how California-based cowbell importer Elisabeth Halvorson explains it.

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 9:13:59 AM
Taxi for Lundqvist!

Looks like Swedish goaltender, Henrik Lunqvist, got a ride home from last night's 5 - 3 victory over Latvia at the Shayba Arena from an unorthodox source. I wonder if you need a special license for this in Russia:
Henrik Lundqvist
@HLundqvist30
“@ErikKarlsson65 : I'm shocked that @HLundqvist30 got a personal driver in#sochi " The service here is just amazing.. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgkxgiKIUAAFZUC.jpg”
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 9:10:35 AM
One thing I felt was missing from this morning's super-G (in fact from all alpine skiing events in Sochi thus far) was the endearing (or annoying, depending on your point of view) cowbell accompaniment that so often provides the soundtrack to skiing events in the Alps.

I think Christopher Walken explains it best here.

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:56:23 AM
He may have finished outside the medal positions in the men's super-G but Aksel Lund Svindal, a skiing champion in Vancouver 2010, is magnanimous in defeat. Fair play Aksel, fair play!
Aksel Lund Svindal
@akselsvindal
These Olympics have not been the way I wanted. No medals.. Haven't been good enough. But I'm blessed with awesome teammates. Thanks Kjetil!
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:51:27 AM
America's medal winners are still celebrating over at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Skiing Center:
US Olympic Team
@USOlympic
Great post victory shot of @a_weibrecht & @MillerBode #GoTeamUSA #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/Ye0SxZzwhm
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:44:38 AM
They Jamaicans look all set if you ask me:
Jamaica Bobsled Team
@Jambobsled
Captain and driver Winston Watts having brunch with #TeamBritain on race day #JamaicaBobsled #Sochi2014 #teamjamaica http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BglB8mNIQAAwn0A.jpg
Retweeted by BenWyattCNN
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:40:48 AM
With all this early morning action in the men's super-G I've almost neglected to ask you to get involved, dear readers.

Get in touch by using the hashtag #CNNSochi on both Twitter and Instagram or leave a comment in the aptly titled "make a comment" box atop the screen. It's so easy, you don't even have to sign up or sign in to leave your thoughts!

Do it!

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:36:32 AM
Did someone say Jamaican bobsleigh?!?!

My colleagues and all-round bobsleigh fiends, Christina Macfarlane and Chrish Murphy, wrote this delightful piece on Jamaica's winter sport trail blazers last year. I encourage you to have a read:

Cool Runnings: A skiing sequel for Jamaica's 'Dream Chaser?'
CNN"Jamaica, we have a bobsled team," cried the Hollywood film that immortalized an unlikely quartet of Winter Olympians who became the story of the 1988 Games.

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:32:53 AM
If you're just joining us, here's a helpful visual from the Sochi organizers on the best events of the day. I may have neglected to mention that we'll be getting our first glimpse of Jamaica's bobsleigh team in my earlier preview of the day post.
Hold tight Cool Runnings fans!
Sochi 2014
@Sochi2014
Check out today's schedule. 5 sets of medals will be competed for on Day 10 of #sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/FNFhPrniHy
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:20:03 AM
It wasn't gold, but the Canadians are still happy with Jan Hudec's joint bronze medal!
CDN Olympic Team
@CDNOlympicTeam
wp.me/p3DwEw-pIL @pandaHAUSofROCK has tied for 3rd in the men's super-G. #WeAreWinter pic.twitter.com/g706dLj25c
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:17:14 AM
Sochi 2014
@Sochi2014
Super-G & super competition! What amazing ski racing! Congrats K. JANSRUD from NOR. Cheer Olympic Champion!#sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/uXFvoLWUJW
Feb. 16, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:11:50 AM
CURLING UPDATE

Norway’s male curlers have wowed the fashion critics with their colorful choice of lower body attire in Sochi thus far and they dazzled all before them this morning, claiming a dramatic final end victory over Great Britain.

Elsewhere, Canada trumped the USA while Sweden cruised to a four stone victory over Russia. Final Scores as follows:

USA 6 – 8 Canada
Sweden 8 – 4 Russia
Great Britain -6 – 7 Norway

All that means Sweden still top the table (the top four nations after the round robin event qualify for the semi-finals, remember) closely followed by China, Canada and Great Britain.

Norway’s win, however, puts them within touching distance of the Brits.

by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 8:04:26 AM
By Tom McGowan

Event: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Day Eight

Check it out: Post a comment below; tweet #CNNSochi

- Seven gold medals were up for grabs on Saturday
- Austria's Anna Fenninger takes the women's Super G title
- Sweden win gold in the ladies' cross country relay
- Team USA defeats Russia in men’s ice hockey competition
- China's Zhou Yang wins women's 1,500m short track title
- Viktor An wins men's 1,000m short track gold for Russia
- Poland's Zbigniew Bródka claims gold in 1,500m long track speed skating
- Alexander Tretiakov wins men's skeleton for Russia
- Kamil Stoch wins his second gold of Games in large hill ski-jump

by tom.mcgowan edited by eoghan.macguire 2/16/2014 7:02:36 AM
Well how about that, what a day!

First we had Austria's Anna Fenninger winning the women's Super G. Then we had the USA taking a dramatic shoot-out victory over Alexander Ovechkin's Russia in the ice hockey. And to top it all off, a 41-year-old ski-jumper was pipped for gold in the men's large hill final at the very last.

I think I need a lie down after all that (my fingers certainly need a rest after tapping away furiously in during the USA - Russia shoot-out)!

But worry not, sports fans. I'll be back first thing in the morning with the latest Winter Games action as it happens.

There are five medals up for grabs on Sunday, including the men's Super G, the men's cross country relay and the women's snowboard cross. I know you don't want to miss any of that!

Until then, thanks for your company, messages, tweets and comments! Keep em coming tomorrow. Remember #CNNSochi

Bye!

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 8:16:23 PM
Let's hope that gold in the men's skeleton picks up the spirits of Russian sports fans after they were denied by the USA in the ice hockey earlier.

Speaking of which, here's what Russian goaltender, Sergei Bobrovski, had to say about the shootout loss:

"Obviously I'm very
disappointed. It was a shootout; we wanted more. It is heartbreaking."

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 5:13:20 PM
Alexander Tretiakov celebrates after winning gold in the men's skeleton, providing a welcome boost to the home nation's medal haul (Getty Images).

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 5:09:08 PM
So, here are the final results in the men's skeleton. It's the same as at the end of heat three but John Daly of the USA will be kicking himself after that dreadful start that ensured he couldn't force himself into the medal winning positions:

1. Alexander Tretiakov: 3:44.29
2. Martins Dukurs - 3:45.10
3. Mathew Antoine - 3:47.26

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 5:06:04 PM
It's gold for Alexander Tretiakov who after a slight overrun at the start flies down the track to secure victory. With a time of 3:44.29, he's fully 0.81 seconds ahead of Martins Dukurs who claims silver.

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:58:20 PM
Next up is Martins Dukurs who beats Antoine into second place with a time of 3:45.10. Only Alexander Tretiakov can deny Dukurs gold ....

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:56:29 PM
Mathew Antoine flies down the track securing a final time of 3:47.26 meaning he's guaranteed a bronze medal at least.

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:55:25 PM
A nightmare for John Daly who started the final round in fourth place.

He overruns at the start smacking into the wall twice which takes a massive chunk out of his final time.

At the end of all that he's 12th, with all chance of a medal gone. He looks distraught!

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:51:44 PM
We're approaching the final skeleton runners (or should that be sliders?) with Tomass Dukurs in the lead.

Still to go though are the top three in the previous rounds, Mathew Antoine (USA), Martins Dukurs (Latvia) and Alexander Tretiakov (Russia).

Can they keep their cool on the ice?

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:49:52 PM
Before we completely turn our attention to skeleton, who wants to hear from Zbigniew Brodka, Poland's gold medal winner in the men's 1,500 meter speed skating?

Brodka won by a wafer thin three-thousandths of a second from Koen Verweij of the Netherlands, making him Poland's first ever Olympic speed skating champion.

"I can't believe this. The world championships and the Olympic Games - those were my dreams, and I now I've got the gold medal."
"I was nervous before the race. After the finish I didn't know it right away, because they showed (on the scoreboard) VERWEIJ as the winner. When I saw I had won, it was an unbelievable feeling."

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:25:52 PM
The man to beat in the skeleton final, Alexander Tretiakov, is in pole position as we head into the final heat (Getty Images).

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:17:01 PM
Now then! There's gold on the line at the Sanki Sliding Center as the men's skeleton reaches its climax.

Alexander Tretiakov of Russia leads the way with a combined time of 2:48.27 from the three heats thus far.

He’s followed by Martins Dukors of Latvia half a second back in second place and Mathew Antoine of the USA a further two seconds behind in third.

With such a healthy lead, it will take either a superhuman performance or catastrophic mistake for anyone to wrestle gold from Tretiakov.

As he’s in the lead, Tretiakov will have the advantage of being the last to take to the track.

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:13:26 PM
T.J. Oshie stares down the ice as he prepares to fire USA to a shoot-out victory over Russia (Getty Images).

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:04:27 PM
What about this suggestion as a reward for USA shoot-out hero T.J. Oshie...

T.J. is Great!!! Deserves smthg.. I don't know.. Honourable mention in executive order from the CIC? Pulitzer? Grammy? At least PhD Honoris Causa from some Ivy League Univ...TRACat 3:52 PM

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 4:00:12 PM
This group of Russian fans aren't too deflated by the score though...

Nick, Moscow: "It was a great game even though we lost" #cnnsochi #sochi2014
by benwyattcnn via Instagram

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 3:52:22 PM
A trip worth making for one group of USA fans who saw their side win earlier today.

Linda Madrazo, NYC: My son's a hockey player. Rangers season ticket holder. The greatest games ever!" #cnnsochi #sochi2014
by benwyattcnn via Instagram

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 3:51:50 PM
Turns out that USA V Russia match was just as tense on the ice as it was in the stands...
Rachel Nichols
@Rachel__Nichols
Team USA winger Max Pacioretty on shootout: "I didn't know whether to watch or not watch...I almost had a heart attack."
Feb. 15, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 3:48:17 PM
Unbelievable scenes at the Adler Arena, where the men's 1500m speed skating is building towards a thrilling conclusions.

Do not adjust your screens! A Pole, not a Dutchman, is currently in gold medal position!

Zbigniew Brodka is in first place after setting a time of exactly one minute and 45 seconds.

There isn't even a Dutchman in silver medal position, with Canada's Denny Morrison currently sat in second position.

Defending champion Mark Tuitert has slipped to third place, while Team USA's Shani Davis could only skate himself into seventh.

by tom.mcgowan 2/15/2014 3:00:31 PM
So close for the USA!

Patrick Kane burst through one-on-one with Sergei Bobrovski with the chance to win ... but he can't beat the Russian goalie who stands up bravely to block.

That was close. Great save Bobrovski! 90 seconds of overtime remaining.

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 2:59:30 PM
Rachel Nichols
@Rachel__Nichols
Olympic hockey overtime: 4-on-4, for five minutes (sudden death). Then a shootout if necessary.
Feb. 15, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 2:57:21 PM
Ben Wyatt
@BenWyattCNN
Over eleven thousand in the dome today, and they're all cheering and jeering #cnnsochi #Sochi2014 pic.twitter.com/2dOma8kxo6
Feb. 15, 2014
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by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 2:56:17 PM
The hooter sounds and it's overtime ladies and gents!

I'm pretty sure Russia will beaggrieved at that disallowed goal. The net was only slightly off its moorings and made virtually no difference to the play as it unfolded.

That's all ancient history now though. Who's going to be ice cool and take the victory?

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 2:54:49 PM
90 seconds to go and USA have a power play as Yevgeni Medvedev is sent to the bin.

How important could that be in the remainder of this one. Power play USA coming up....

by eoghan.macguire 2/15/2014 2:49:56 PM
Dutch dominance looks set to continue at the Adler Arena.

Vancouver gold medallist Mark Tuitert has launched a blistering defense of his title, speeding to the top of the leaderboard.

Belgium's Bart Swings is second ahead of Stefan Groothuis of, you guessed it, the Netherlands.

American Shani Davis is still lying in wait though...

by tom.mcgowan 2/15/2014 2:48:42 PM