High winds yesterday caused havoc at the Winter Games, as International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach dismissed allegations that North Korea tried to “hijack” the competition for political gain.
Angry snowboarders lashed out at organizers after the women’s slopestyle final was held in heavy gusts, causing nearly every competitor to take a tumble.
It came after the women’s giant slalom was postponed until Thursday because of the wind.
Photo: Reuters
While the skiing was postponed, the slopestyle went ahead with near-farcical results, as athlete after athlete hit the deck, including gold medal winner Jamie Anderson of the US.
“The weather was bad and too dangerous,” bronze medalist Enni Rukajarvi of Finland said.
The International Ski Federation said that conditions were “challenging,” but defended the decision to go ahead with the event.
Photo: EPA
Heavyweights Canada won their first gold of the Games in team figure skating, while the Olympic Athletes from Russia took silver to add to their earlier short-track bronze.
The Russians, with their teenage ice starlets Evgenia Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova, took their first silver of the Games after Canada in figure skating, while the US was third.
Three-time world champion Canadian Patrick Chan said determination was the added ingredient that had made the difference between Sochi silver and Korean gold.
“We had determination this time around. We saw the potential we had in Sochi and didn’t capitalize on it. This time we really want to nail it into the coffin and win this thing,” he said.
US quad boy wonder Nathan Chen will be working overtime in training after making mistakes in his short routine, while Mirai Nagasu made history by becoming the first US woman — and only the third woman overall — to land the fiendishly difficult triple axel jump at an Olympics.
Clearly overjoyed, the 24-year-old, who was skating at her second Olympics, pumped her fists and grinned as she skated off the ice.
“Maybe it’s the Japanese genetics, but lucky for me I’m American, so I’ll be the first US lady,” she said after her performance.
Japan’s figure skating superstar Yuzuru Hanyu took to the ice for his first training session — which lasted less than 15 minutes.
The defending champion, who has been recovering from ankle ligament damage, suffered a scary moment when he slipped and fell as he departed, before getting up with a wry smile.
In biathlon, Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier won the 10km pursuit for her second victory in Pyeongchang, before France’s Martin Fourcade took out the men’s 12.5km pursuit.
Following his upset eighth place in the sprint yesterday, Fourcade collected only one penalty point for shooting in blustery, freezing conditions and crossed the line with 12 seconds to spare over Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson.
Already France’s most decorated winter Olympian prior to the race, Fourcade brings his tally to five medals overall, including three golds.
With that tally of golds, he joins alpine skier Jean-Claude Killy with three Olympic titles, a French all-time record.
North Korea, with their high-level delegation and large, female cheering squad, have also been front and center in what has been seen as a propaganda coup for the isolated state.
However, Bach played down concerns that North Korea was manipulating the Games to suit its own agenda.
“This is about the role of sport to build bridges, to open doors and nothing more. It’s just a symbol for sport and it’s a symbol for the fact that when you go over these bridges, you can come to a positive result,” he said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely