And again, turmoil for Christie.
And again, turmoil for Christie. I can't believe that. She has been
penalised again. Elise Christie gets the chance to race for gold. A
nation holds its breath. Christie tries to make it on the inside and
she crashes out. Christie is out of that once again. Elise Christie,
trying to get to the Olympic final. She has crashed again on the final
bend, yet again she ends up in a distraught heap
The Olympic flame burning brightly in Pyeongchang on day 11 of these
Winter Games and a fire in Elise Christie's belly means she is out on
the ice, hoping to skate in this morning's heats of the 1000 metre.
She suffered a nasty ankle injury after crashed a night of Saturday's
1500 metres semifinals and after spending some time in visible
discomfort the 27-year-old left the Gangwang Ice Arena in tears on a
stretcher after her bid for a first Olympic medal once again ended in
despair. You she is this morning in the 1000 metre heats, hopefully
later on, she has been on the ice practising today and in an hour's
time we expect to see her on the start line. She is going in the
fifth heat. Let us get the news from the camp. The performance direct for
short track speed skating is Stuart Blanco. -- is Stewart Laing. The
news is that a lease is going to try and raise. What does that mean
western market we've worked really hard over the last two days to get
into the position she is in now and what we have said all the way
through is that we take each step as it comes. She is heading an here,
going to get on the warm up ice, see how her ankle is, and make a
decision after that. If you were to assess her fitness in percentage
terms for the layperson, where we did he? Good question, we don't work
in percentages like that. I would say she is strong, able to do the
majority of the things we would be looking for in the thousand metres
and I would say she is probably going to take to the ice around
80-90% fitness. Our Uihlein lead to look at her when she gets the ice
and say she is 80-90% and say we will give it a go, what you have to
be satisfied with? Do be fair, the decision is with her, we have done
the medical reviews up at HQ, the performance and medical team are
happy with where she is out, now it's a confidence and safety thing
which is why she will come down, get onto the warm up ice and we will
reassess and make sure the ankle is OK and then we will take it from
there. How is she? She seems quite chirpy on social media, is she well
mentally? Absolutely, you know what she is like, her usual playful self,
she's been on social media, wishing all the other Team GB members good
luck and well done but their performances, she was singing on the
eyes this morning in training, she's in the best place that she can be.
That is good news for all her fans and good news for her friends, Sarah
Lindsay was part of the short track speed skating family for over a
decade, you've known her since she was 15, she came down from Scotland,
left school, set herself up in Nottingham, what is your ink of the
situation? Firstly how amazing she is back on the ice after being
stretchered off on Saturday, she has an amazing support team, and they've
got her back on today, she skated this morning and she feels good. In
this day and age, the way athletes communicate with the public is not
through press officers, is through the medium of social media and this
is what she had to say today. To everyone, at I'm just about to go
and try and compete, I skated this morning for the first time and it
went quite well considering the circumstances. I'm looking forward
to seeing if I can get out there today, and like to thank everyone
who helped me get to this point and everyone for their support back
home. She was smiling, she was singing on the eyes this morning,
this is remarkable, isn't it? She's tough, she has one race today, she
has to get out there and get through the race, she's not going to be 100%
but that gets very today she buys herself a couple of extra days
recovery before she has to scape the quarters and semis and the final on
Thursday. Let's head out to the arena. Wilf O'Reilly will be the
expert analyst. He can join us now. We'll 80-90% be good enough to get
through her heat?
through her heat? I would have thought so, on paper she should get
through quite comfortable, she is in the fifth heat, she will know what's
happened at the races prior to her heat, getting through first second
will qualify, 80-90% should be sufficient even though it's an
Olympic first round. Who else should we look out for? I think at the
moment, the Chinese are having a real disaster games. The first time
there's never been a Chinese skater in the final. They will be looking
to make amends. The Canadian timber town has had a medal in the 500
metres and the 1500 and I think Choi, she was looking amazing in the
1500. Quite a large pool of people that could take medals on Thursday
and as there is said, if Elise Christie skates today she will buy
herself another 48 hours' time to go into the quarterfinals on Thursday.
You've seen her, I assume today, how do you think she is looking? She
looked quite comfortable, the 1000 metres, I say, it's an elongated
Sprint, the start would be quite important, I think that is where the
problem is going to be, to be able to start comfortably and get on the
pace run the word go. I'm assuming we can definitively said she will
start because they were telling us earlier if they were going to pull
her out they would have had to have said by 9am our time which would be
25 minutes ago. That's right, ultimately she could not show up on
the start line, she would get a did not finish, it's called that she has
to make herself, does she feel confident and comfortable enough,
all the medal support team are quite happy that it's not going to be a
long-term injury if she skates. Just a word on Charlotte Gilmartin and
Kat Thomson, Charlotte has had two heavy falls, is she in a physical
and mental state, and good enough to get through? Again, on paper, I
think both of the skaters are quite comfortably capable of getting
through to the next round, it is the Olympic Games. One of the things in
the Olympics that is different from the World Championships, the World
Championships is an accumulation of points, the Olympics is a one-off
hit and unfortunately it hasn't been going too well so far. Thank you, we
will hear you in commentary and we will be joining many of those heats
to give you the full story. Sarah, from the point of view of someone
who understands short track speed skating and has been in these
situations with heavy crashes, trying to get up, to skate with
pain, when do you feel it and how does it affect you, do you feel it
at the start? The ankle problem is going to be at the start of the
race, there is a lot more impact, luckily this is not 500 metres, the
start in the 1000, it's important to get into a good position early on
but she has great speed and she can't make moves and can overtake,
even if she's not 100% from the start it is not crucial. She is
going to be in-line two, the way she's been skating, I remember you
said in the semis you felt she was leaving it a bit too late and
therefore got herself into a slight panicky situation which ended up in
the crash. Would you rather she simplify things? I think for her in
the next race she needs to skate clean, get through and I think if
she makes an early move and gets to the front, takes control of the
race, she is going to lead in and coast through quite nicely. The 500
metres, ad is really frightening, the 1500, she sort of dismissed, all
the way she's been saying 1000 is my aim. Yes, she likes the thousand
metres, considers at her best distance but I really think we need
to look at one race at a time and be happy that she has recovered so
quickly from a nasty crash and she's back on the ice which is great.
Exactly, incredibly impressive. We'll hear more from Sarah later,
here are some of the other names to look out for this morning.
As we mentioned, 22-year-old Kat Thomson fighting for a place in the
quarterfinals, Charlotte Gilmartin has had two two events. Huge day for
both curling the men face the fancy pants of Norway and the women got
the game is back on track with a win against Japan, we've should you a
record-breaking ice dance competition as two of the very best
went head-to-head and the costumes stayed intact. Mica McNeill and make
a more who have been helped by cried funding campaign are the only
British arbours and will be live for the wrong this morning and we will
see how the Jamaican bobsleigh team there. The coach but, taking the Bob
with them but they are by contract, literally. Nigeria, the first
African nation to compete in bobsleigh are there too. We'll catch
up on the latest in a curling in case you weren't up in the early
hours, the men and women from Britain had crucial qualifying
matches, we
Britain had crucial qualifying matches, we look at the ice dancing
before going to the short track speed skating. All the great British
women in action. The fast and furious 500 metres men's qualifying
and we will see the gold decider in the 3000 metres relay for the women.
Catching up on everything else. We will head onto BBC Two after 1pm,
concentrating on the women's bobsleigh and ice hockey.
And the news from ice hockey, the men's ice hockey player from
Slovenia Seagate year glitch has tested positive for a banned
substance. The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed he tested
positive for fenoterol, a drug which opens up the airways, he has
accepted it and will leave the Olympics within 24 hours.
Olympics within 24 hours. Three Olympic old medallists, Torvill and
Dean which is wonderful.
Olympic old medallists, Torvill and Dean which is wonderful. Rhona
mentioning the drugs story with the Slovenian ice hockey star.
Slovenian ice hockey star. -- Ziga Jeglic. It looks as if the athletes
might lose the medals, a drug, Maria Sharapova tested was a dearth for,
meldonium. What is that men to do? I have no idea! LAUGHTER I would not
have a clue, once the B sample is in, they will make a decision. The
Russian athletes were all to be clean, you know. It helps with the
insurance, that drug, doesn't it? It may not help but the actual sport
you are playing it's all about training and getting ready for it.
Absolutely. But as appointing, given that the Olympic Athletes from
Russia are supposed to be clean. Given everything that we have gone
through to get to this point, it's disappointing. His wife will be
furious. She knows it's her bronze level as well and that is not good
news. Let's have a look at the standings. This is one of the
biggest days or British curling, bar none, here is work the British men
were willing into their game today and in very good third place, to be
honest. Playing really well, Kyle Smith in his rink, getting stronger,
joint third with Canada. But they did need another good result and
they were up against Norway and Rhona, you called Norway... Fancy
pants. They were very exciting trousers. With the hammer in the
first end, Kyle Smith with this shot to take three.
first end, Kyle Smith with this shot to take three. Yes, an open draw for
three, not a hard shot, Norway just did not make the shot in the first
end. What an opportunity for Britain. Open draw for three, thank
you. The start, going 3-0 up, into the second end, Norway with the
hammer.
Yes, so again just struggling in this game to get off the mark. And
he is saying, come on, do it more. And he caught the top one, and gave
Britain won, so 4-0 up for Great Britain. So that is pretty close. Do
they have to get the measuring stick out? Great Britain had stolen one,
so they went 4-0 up into the fourth Ed. And again, going into this
fourth end, it is so imported from Britain to score when they have got
their last stone and keep that advantage of the lead. So again,
really nice shot from Kyle. Just a wee Nick, and perfect for Britain.
And into ends six with Great Britain now leading 6-3, and this was pretty
impressive. Again, Norway trying to throw
throw everything at them again, Britain had the hammer and yet
again, a great shot from Kyle, the draw for three. And thanks very
much. And 9-3 is a really big lead. Norway carried on. They did. But
they needed something massive to happen here. Yes, throwing
everything at it, trying to score a big end to get back in the game, and
it just wasn't working for Thomas Ulsrud today, everything he tried,
he struggled. And that pushes the red right into the centre of the
house, so it gives Great Britain the steel. Under that point, Norway
conceded. So, the handshakes were made, and that means Great Britain
are now into second equal with Canada and Switzerland, so looking
really safe. One more round robin match left against the USA. Would
you expect them to win that anyway? Certainly the way the boys are
playing, definitely. Sweden have already qualified, eight matches,
just one loss. But the Great Britain men getting stronger as the
competition goes on? They are definitely gaining in confidence,
their shot play is much more accurate, they are making a few half
shots before but now they are really on top of it. The ice is winning
more with the stones being sounded a little, and the boys are playing
well and looking confident. Rhona was saying earlier on, the question
she was asked on Radio 2 by Chris Evans. What did he ask you? Can you
curl on skating ice? Because there are quite a few skating rinks in
England...
are quite a few skating rinks in England... Sacrilegious! For the
curlers, that is. They need the ice very smooth. We have turned up at a
curling before saying could we just get our feet on the ice, and they
gasp. No we. Torvill and Dean, get out of here, you can't skate on our
ice! Let's have a look at the women's standings. Many people may
have woken up to see Eve Muirhead in action, and again, with the women,
they have had their ups and downs, they had a really unlucky incident
against Sweden with a hog line violation against Muirhead. But
basically they needed a win. It would settle the nerves and leave
their fate in their own hands. It was against Japan, and they have had
a very good game so far. But at the end of ends six with the scores dead
level, what happens here? They had taken three, Japan, and Britain had
fought back well.
taken three, Japan, and Britain had fought back well. They had fought
back and really went for it in the sixth end, but they don't have the
hammer. But Japan are lying, and they have got that second and third
counter, so it is so important for Eve to lie second shot, which she
does perfectly behind cover. So the Japanese skip now needs to do what?
She could lift this double to take a three, which I feel is a turning
point in the game, because it certainly turned it in Britain's
favour now, because they swept this the whole way and just further the
guard. And that knocked it off line, and meant that Britain stole. They
had a steal. To steal three is a massive point in the six then. Japan
got right back in on their tails again, Britain now leading 6-5 with
the hammer in the eighth. And this is where Japan set up the end well,
they are actually lying three at this point, and this is a key shot
Eve
this point, and this is a key shot Eve. And again, you want to not
touch that guard, which she doesn't. And she comes in and that the yellow
back and lies in the shot, and that is fantastic there. It really puts
the pressure on Japan. So, into the tenth end, Britain now with 85-
lead. -- now with an 8-5 lead. And open take out, just needs to put it
anywhere and she has won the game. Perfect. So, a little edgy at times
from both skips, but some great shot play by the British team, and
another win on the board. And you sense that the more urgent it gets,
the better Eve Muirhead plays. Great Britain up to third equal now with
Japan. South Korea, the host nation, have already qualified, so it is
semifinals next and that will decide who goes into the gold medal match
and who goes into the bronze medal match, but Great Britain have one
more match against Canada, who are struggling. Absolutely, they lost
the first three and won the next three, but they lost this morning,
so they are on a sticky wicket right now, they know they have Britain to
play, Rachel Homan and Eve Muirhead have played a lot of games against
each other and they know each other well. New light on what is their
head-to-head record? It is pretty even, I don't know exact numbers. So
this game coming up is a big game, more sofa Canada than Britain. I
know how supportive all of those Olympic athletes are to each other,
and I know Eve Muirhead and all the guys will be sending all their
positive vibes towards Elise Christie. She really does look happy
on the exercise bike. I think the relief that that soft tissue damage,
it might hurt, but it is not going to prevent her skating, and she will
be out there in heat five of the 1000 metres at around about quarter
past ten this morning, that is a remarkable recovery facility who was
taken off on a stretcher after the semifinals of the 1500m and thought
that her were over. She is looking very strong, so let's just hope, to
be honest, it is time for her luck to turn, please? Right, let us
discuss the record-breaking ice dance competition, which after the
short programme now moved into the free programme. For in a half
minutes for the two best couples in the world to freely express
themselves, and you can see that the French pair had such trouble there,
because
because Gabriela's dress had a trouble which stopped producing her
best, they were up against Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Let's join
Robin Cousins and Katherine Downes. COMMENTATOR: This is the ice dance
free dance here at the Gangneung Ice Arena, and we will see gold, silver
and bronze handed out on this final day of the Olympic competition.
Silver medal position at the moment for the two-time world champions
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, the reigning European
champions, and they are less than two points behind Tessa Virtue and
Scott Moir, who lead the way at the moment. That wardrobe malfunction,
her dress falling off during the performance yesterday, really
knocked them, but still less than a point in it.
APPLAUSE
Its silky, it's smooth, it's sublime. From the off, this was
billed as a battle for goal between them at their training partners,
Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue. Papadakis and Cizeron saying, be
that. Individually strong, good, solid skaters. Together, it's
special, and that's what happens. The music will start and then you
see, and it is the detail for me, even the way the fingers intertwined
in the opening move, it just draws you in, come answer your attention.
And they feel every moment that they are together, there is that
connection.
connection. A new season's best, a new world
new world record, 123.35. And it is going to be a very big ask now for
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir to claim their second Olympic title. Tessa
Virtue and Scott Moir, then, the world champions, the 2010 Olympic
champions, in the gold medal position coming into this free
dance, but they are going to be extraordinary if they want to win
this gold medal. They are going to need to beat the new world record
laid down by Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron just two routines
ago.
CHEERING
It's brilliant but is it enough for Olympic old?
The world champions from Canada. They wanted to deliver and they
certainly did! I tell you, I am looking at the screen is trying to
do the maths and it is tight at the top. Goodness me. They know they
could not have done any more. Tessa Burchill and Scott Boyer had no
wriggle room, there was nothing for them to play with, they could not
leave it out on the ice. They didn't, they absolutely smashed it.
-- Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. They have done it! The comeback is
complete. Silver in Sochi four years ago, they took two years away from
competition, they returned to win World Championship gold last year
and now it's Olympic gold! Absolutely thrilling. Phenomenal.
Amazing champions, an amazing performer is! Yes, very different to
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. These two are supreme. I
don't think we could have skated any better and with the pressure
mounting we sort of felt the weight of the world as we took to the ice
and we looked at each other and said, let's skate for us, we deserve
this already and we love this programme, least we were able to do
that. He went into the programme knowing you needed a massive
performance to beat a world record scorer. We train with Gaby and her
partner, we had to come out hungry and have our day we did that, that's
what we are most proud of, a lot of things can go different ways, we
stuck to our plan, we are proud to come out of this competition with a
gold. When you do a world record performance and you don't get the
gold, what do you feel about that? You know, it's... It's sport, it's
like that. What is done is done, the points are what they are, we are
proud of what we did today. We had such a good feeling on the ice, it
was one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had so far.
We are just really trying to enjoy that. What a competition. And for
Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, there are third Olympic gold medal, they
won one in the team competition in Pyeongchang, in Vancouver in front
of their home crowd but this, the tightest of the lot, you see the
brother and sister payer, Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, only
the second brother and sister pairing to get the medal. Who were
the others? It was a French team. I have always loved the Canadian
pairing, the fact they happen dancing and skating together since
they were kids, over 20 years, this was the gold medal winning
performance in Vancouver, a huge moment for Canada. They got beaten
in Sochi, retired, came back again and the only player that have beaten
them are Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. This was billed
as the big clash and they were so far clear up the bronze medallist,
it was about a big two. Amazing event, I got tingles watching both
performances, completely different styles of skating. The French
pairing have that beautiful clarity of line, almost like ballet and then
you have the drama, the emotion that Scott and Tessa bring to the ice.
Those two styles were completely different. It was a choice. The
judges are looking at it technically and artistically and in actual fact,
Gaby, they won the free dance but it was all to do with the short dance,
but sort of lost them the medal because they were just one and a
half points behind and it was so tight in the free dance. That was
the result at the end. I have to ask you, Chris, it was so dramatic when
she stood on her partner's legs when he was squatting, surely the blades
heard their legs. It does, trust me. I stood on his legs a few times. But
it's all about holding tone. You two love this routine. Beautiful to
watch, fluid, organic. And you could just watch it and not worry about
anything happening. No dress malfunction today, it was just,
yes... We have an empathy with these guys, I have worked with them on
their short dance, such a lovely couple, very gentle, good sense of
humour, their style of skating is not representative of them because
they are good-humoured and fund but the quality of skating is second to
none. Robin Cousins said and commentary when they stayed together
something special happens. Yes, they have a special aura about them and I
think they don't realise it, do they, how good they are? Would you
say the reason they didn't win the gold-medal, Tessa Virtue and Scott
Moir won the free dance, they lost it because her dress broke. That's
taking it away from Scott and Tessa, they had an amazing performance.
What they have done for skating is amazing but look at the clinically,
it all happened in that short dance. It did, didn't it? As for Nick
Buckland and Penny Coomes, they have done so well to get here to
Pyeongchang, you think they'll be happy enough with their performance,
making it through to the free, finishing 11th? I think for them,
they would have liked to have finished higher but given the
adversity they have had with pennies bashing her kneecap in eight lasers,
Nick has had his heart issues, a couple of years before that, getting
to this Olympics is an Olympic event in itself. -- Penny smashing her
kneecap in eight places. Given the issues they had, is there another
Olympics in them? I think they have decided, this is the third Olympics,
isn't it? You know what? Never say never. That is a neighbour. We
thought that after 84 and you know, ten years later, we said, let's give
it another go. Crazy people! It can happen. For a Tessa and Scott, they
have been skating together such a long time, the comeback has worked,
two gold medals from these games, look at how young they were. My
goodness. Nine and six. It's endearing, in competition now a lot
of people change partners but to see these guys from such an early age
staying together for that length of time, it clearly helps. They are 28
and 30, that's not ancient. No, no, it shows the passion they have for
it to be determined to come back and not finish where they were as silver
medallists, they wanted to get back to being gold medallist. Third
Olympics, we were 35... It would be a third gold medal but a fourth
Olympics. How old did you say you were? 35.
were? 35. I wasn't! She was older! I knew he was going to do that. Thank
you both so much, thrilling competition, dutiful to see that
level. Elevated to such a high level. Do you fancy it, run? I love
watching it, so
level. Do you fancy it, run? I love watching it, so dramatic, but not
for me, thanks. An awful lot of skaters in different disciplines
started off as skaters which is what Elise Christie did, she got fed up
with the judging process, and she wanted to switch to a sport work she
could control the outcome, she chose short track, we have seen you can't
always control bad, she will be skating on the 1000 metre heats,
taking to the ice in around 15 minutes for her heat, she's just got
to survive nine laps of the track and through we hope, to the
semifinals
and through we hope, to the semifinals on Thursday. We will also
have the keys of the men's 500 metres and the first-run of the
women's bobsleigh, a British team in that, Mica McNeill and Mica Moore,
help from a cramped funding project to get out there. Cars help from a
crowdfunding project. We will concentrate on short track speed
skating and women's Bobsleigh.
COMMENTATOR: they've gone done. Turmoil from Christie. I can't
believe it. Christie has been penalised again. Elise Christie gets
the chance to race for gold. A nation holds its breath. Christie
tries to make it on the inside, she crashes out. Christie is out once
again. Elise Christie to get into the Olympic final. Christie has
crashed again on the final bend, yet again she ends up in a distraught
heap on the floor.
And I think it's fair to say these Winter Olympics have shown us all
too clearly that with every glorious winner comes the despair of those
who lose. Elise Christie has had more than her fair share of that
feeling. Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland are going out to support
her, and in the next 15 minutes we will see her back on that ice,
because she knows that sport and indeed life doesn't always go to
plan. It's how you deal with the setbacks that defines you, and Elise
Christie is saying, fine, I can do this, and just wonderful to see her
smiling, happy, laughing ahead of her heat on the bike, and there she
is heading out into the prerace area. Do they call it a hotbox? The
heat box. And maybe what has happened actually freeze Elise up
mentally, because she has nothing to prove, just by being out there,
being fit enough and strong enough to line up in her heat, she can
think of anything else that happens is a bonus. She can be happy that
she is just back out on the ice and it didn't end on Saturday for her.
John, hello, good morning. What is your take on what you would like to
see from Elise Christie and indeed Charlotte Gilmartin and Cap Thompson
in these heats? I think it is about getting up to the front of the race,
there was talk about how well Elise would get off the start with the
ankle, but I want to see the girls get up there, it is quick from the
start, they need to be as soon as possible and it will keep all of our
nerves calmed. And Sarah Yu was then it is the push from the start that
might be the most painful bit if she still has this heavily bruised and
battered ankle. If the ankle is not 100%, potentially the impact of the
run at the start might be uncomfortable for her commerce as I
said, luckily it isn't the 500 metres that she is left with, it is
the 1000, so I think to get out there and get up near the front
would be a good move. Give us all a little bit, we will let you guys
relax, they are firmly behind Elise, all the rest of the team just
ribbing her luck could change, because her Olympic story so far has
been one of terrible knock backs, frankly.
Elise Christie came to Pyeongchang is the overall short track world
champion, with high hopes of an Olympic medal, and after her triple
disappointment in Sochi four years ago, it looked like that success
might just come in her first event, the 500 metres.
COMMENTATOR: Christie tried to make it on the inside, but she is out of
it once again! I know it is short track and I am supposed to be
prepared for this, but it still hurts, you know? Once again,
heartbreak in the final, and sadly, the 1500 metres would be even worse.
Christie in third place, and it is between her and Christie as they
come round the final bend, and Christie has crashed again now in
the semifinal. Fortunately, no bones were broken, but her right ankle
still isn't 100%. With short track speed skating, the
boot is moulded around the ankle, and it is a very delicate area,
because of the pressures you are going through when going around the
corner. So on the shimmering they will be looking at Cannes she handle
the pressure which will be put on the ankle by the boot and also the
pressure that has been created when she goes round the corner at 40 mph.
Fortunately, Elise's injury has improved enough to allow her to
return to training over the past 48 hours. She is strong and able to do
the majority of the things we would be looking for in the 1000m, and I
would say she is probably going to take to the ice at around 80 or 90%
fitness. Elise has received thousands of messages of support
from members of the public as well as from some of her heroes such as
Dame Kelly Holmes and Jessica Ennis-Hill, all of which, if she is
fit, could provide the boost she needs to get that elusive medal. I
am just about to leave to go down to the rink to try to peak today. I
stated this morning for the first time and it went quite well
considering the circumstances, so I'm looking forward to seeing if I
can get out there to race today. I want to thank everyone who has
helped me get to this point and everyone from the spore background.
That look back on Elise Christie's story so far. What kind of
personality is she, Sarah, you never really well. She is a huge
personality. She is a bit kooky and are out there, she is lots of fun
but she does know how to switch it on and be a professional, and she is
very professional when it comes to her sport. And it clearly matters to
her so much that other athletes are supporting her, people who know what
it's like to be in this position. That is really lovely. Nobody really
understands what it feels like unless they've been there
themselves, so I think when it comes from people like that, I think it
means an awful lot. John, as a skater, is she the best the Britain
has ever produced? I would say so, yes. The results back that up. She
just needs to put in that performance over the next few days
that will reiterate that, and it is great to see all the team around
her, Joe and Gemma, making her feel comfortable, just as we see that she
can be as relaxed as possible. It is not about winning medals today, it
is about qualifying and just doing enough. And full credit to the team,
they have done a great job patching her up again. And that is what they
are therefore, they are there to get her around. They have planned a
different scenarios and well rehearsed and trained on their side
of things as well, so that is their side of the job. And what is the
latest on Charlotte Gilmartin, because she has had a couple of
crashes. She is good, looking forward to the 1000m again, we talk
about it being more hustle and bustle, and she likes that, she has
a good race and hopefully she can get into the competition and build
their confidence. Charlotte goes in heat eight,
heat eight, Elise in heat three, because you get a sense of the
hustle and bustle of the pacing of the 1000m. 500 metres you never get
a chance to recover, 1500 metres seems to hurt a lot, 1000m is in the
middle. Tactics in the race early on a very important, to get a good race
from the start. And lane two for Elise, is that a good position for
her? We want to see her in the lead with about six laps to go, it
doesn't always play out like that, but she has strengthened a good race
to start with, and you would want to make it as simple as possible. I
suspect there will be a big crowd as well, because main
well, because main -- Choi Minjeong is going in this heat, South Korea
is the very heart of short track speed skating, they love it, and
that is Choi Minjeong there. We will find out how she got on and join the
third heat live.
COMMENTATOR: Welcome to the gangland Ice -- gangland Ice Arena. We're
just waiting to see whether there is any late Riparelli in this last
heat.
heat. And we are just watching now the highlights of the previous heat,
this is Choi Minjeong, in the 1500 metres, and she looks comfortable
and confident as you would expect from someone who has a gold medal in
her pocket already. Here we go, the confirmation of the result, with
Choi Minjeong going through. The skaters are out for the third heat.
The Korean who moved to Kazakhstan a few years ago, Suzanne Schulting
from the medal and
from the medal and Netherlands, and Petra Jaszapati from Hungary who
made the final of the 1500 metres, she is at the back of the moment,
going wide on the outside. She is a new name in the sport, she has had a
very good race so far. And the Ashley athlete from Russia still
raising the speed here with six laps to go. Suzanne Schulting, a former
world junior champion, leading the way at the moment. Kim is right
behind her.
behind her. Jaszapati just hanging at the back by now. Nobody seems to
want to take this race on. Suzanne Schulting tried to shut the door on
a Katharina Fritsch kova there. She is on the front, and Jaszapati is
still on the back for hungry as they take the bell, Kim in the blue of
Kazakhstan, Suzanne Schulting staying in the front, she will lead
them home, and relatively unchallenged, she is ahead of
Efremenkova, the Olympic Athlete from Russia, those two pretty
comfortable qualifiers. And it shows the conditions of the ice, it is
looking very good. Almost a second outside of the Olympic record, said
to have skated sobbing like that in the second row shows the conditions
are good. And next we will have the fourth heat, but let's just have a
look at this one. This was a rare thing in short track speed skating,
a race devoid of controversy. The athletes are bit more relaxed, they
know what they need to do, and we have had in the last three short
track days, 34 penalties from 12 different countries, just to give
you some idea how many issues have been going on, and how many
penalties have been awarded to all of these countries. And who would be
a judge or head judge? So, that is confirmation of the results from the
third heat, Suzanne Schulting and Efremenkova safely through, no video
review, a pretty straightforward thing, and there they are marching
away from the arena, and the quarterfinals are on Thursday.
Kathryn Thomson is in this next one, the 22-year-old who has raised all
three distances here. A quick look at the line-up for Kathryn Thomson,
it is pretty tough, she has Jessica Kooreman of the United States who
was fourth in this event in this event four years ago. Valerie
Maltais, and Arianna Fontana who won the 500 metres earlier in
competition here in Pyeongchang. Kathryn Thomson moves around the
outside, she knows that Arianna Fontana will be challenging at the
end. Using that speech he has got from the 500 metres, so really she
knows that is the place where she needs to be. Valerie Maltais from
Canada moves up the inside. And Kathryn Thomson knows she has to try
to mix it because she is very much the outside of these four, but she
is staying as near to the front she can, and she is still in the running
here at the moment. Valerie Maltais leads, biding her time in third
place, Arianna Fontana. And the Italian moves into first place.
Arianna Fontana in blistering form goes to the front, two laps to go
over the line, with Valerie Maltais in second place, Kooreman in third,
and Kathryn Thomson losing place with the others. This is going to
form, Kooreman is trying to mix it to see if she can upset the odds,
she is going to try to get away on the inside. And Maltais stays on her
feet, Kooreman has but has to settle for third, and in fourth Kathryn
Thomson of Great Britain. That was a superb piece of skating by Arianna
Fontana. Valerie Maltais will have to wait and see what the official
result is. I wouldn't have thought that the American had right of way,
so to speak, so the referees are in fact going over to the replay, and
we will have to wait and see what their final decision is, that you
can see the Italian Arianna Fontana on the inside track moving through
very comfortably, and this is the discussion really between the
Canadian and the American, who was really right, and she is just moving
up the inside, and Kooreman of the United States clearly not pass the
Canadian, and I don't think they will be any court on that. Arianna
Fontana is so consistent, six Olympic medals, but now on the track
as Kathryn Thomson departs the Olympic Games, her first Olympics,
having had the experience of all the events, Elise Christie, the world
champion, is coming up onto the track next. That is confirmation of
the results of the fourth heat. No video review required. There is
Elise Christie, clearly not fully fit with that ankle damage. Picked
up in the crash in the semifinal of the 1500 metres the other day. But
keen to have a go here. If she can just get through this heat, she will
have another couple of days to recover. Lara Van Ruijven is ranked
12th in the world, Andrea Kessler of Hungary, and Magdalena Warakomska
from Poland.
And away they go, Christie goes down before they reach the very first
corner. Her races over before it started, she is still on the ground
as the race continues, the officials go to check on her, the other
athletes are coming to a halt, I think we will be restarting the
race. But whether Elise Christie will be able to restart the race, we
cannot be sure. Her team-mate Charlotte or Martin will be in heat
number eight, here it is again. I think she put her toe on the right
skate into the ice, she caught the blades of Kessler. No words for
this. She clips the back of the blade of Kessler as she goes on the
bend, they are allowed to restart. Now the question is, do they feel
that the fall, I think it's over. APPLAUSE
I think the Olympic Games is finally over for Elise Christie. She is
skating over to the side of the track. I don't think it is, they are
checking the blades, they are allowed to do this, they are
repairing the eyes. Just checking the blades. When I had my problem in
Lillehammer I had to leave the ice, here they are allowed to check the
blades to make sure everything is OK. She is going to go again. Elise
Christie is not finished. I wondered before the camera was on her, she
spoke to one of the officials, who pointed to where the exit was. The
crowd started applauding, I think they thought it was over, Elise
Christie will take to the start again. Heat five.
Away they go. Christie at the back of the field, at least she has
avoided trouble, she can get up to speed, I think the start was going
to be the hardest. Absolutely, particularly after the fall, she
can't put pressure on it, now it's a question, nine laps, skaters won and
two will go through, we are hoping and praying for her to qualify. Six
and a half laps to go, Van Ruijven from the Netherlands in front,
Kessler from Hungary second. Elise Christie should not have a problem
getting through. The draw, pretty kind to her, relatively speaking,
can she get up to full speed, can she find a way through to finish in
the first two? The last lap time, nine points 75, she moves through
into third place, one and two to qualify. Christie ready to make a
challenge, three laps to go, Van Ruijven comes round, Christie has a
look at the inside, stays on her feet, she sees a little gap, forced
out why, staying third, Van Ruijven taking around with three laps to go,
Christie taking a long way around, goes into the back of her opponent,
forcing her way into second place. A battle, Van Ruijven from the
Netherlands leading but have they love to go, Christie in position to
qualify, Van Ruijven first over the line, risky in second, Kessler
forth. At the second attempt, the race was completed. She picks
herself up from the ice, literally, to have a second goal and this time,
she manages to get the job done, she is through the heat and Elise
Christie, the world champion, still in the women's 1000 metres, she
limped away from the start, doing this hardware. She certainly is,
squeezing through. Wouldn't be surprised if Kessler gets a penalty
here, she of course was the skater on the outside of Christie, Visteon
was going down again, manages to stay up, the River Reeves looking at
the video replay to find out whether or not Kessler, in my opinion
blocked on Christie but of course Christie finished in a second
qualifying position, she will go through to the quarterfinal on
Thursday. Quite a physical race as she is carried from the arena. At
least not on a stretcher. Running repairs for Elise Christie. We await
the judges verdict on the race. Was a physical race that she was
involved in and involved in the physicality. Absolutely, showing the
courage this young lady has, sheer determination, it would have been
quite easy to turn round and say I am going to stop, I am injured, but
there was another incident. Kessler, and then there was another one.
Kessler comes in onto Christie. Doesn't Christie get involved... A
little bit as well. There are two issues, you are not allowed, if
someone comes up the inside, you are not allowed to change lanes, block
the skater coming up the inside. Looking anxiously at the scoreboard.
High above the rink. The review is taking place but I'm hoping it's
coming close to reaching a conclusion now. Elise Christie has
left the scene of the race. But the result has not been confirmed. As of
yet. The referee has gone across. Yellow card Elise Christie. That is
really amazing. I cannot believe they have awarded her a yellow card.
That really puts the tin hat on her Olympic Games. It's hard to think
how it could have got any worse. But it just has. Elise Christie is out
of the Olympic Games. She finished the race in second place, came over
the line in a qualifying position, she's been given a yellow card, that
means she has been thrown out of the competition. Of the 1000 metres.
Over for her. The final event. That's it. We'll have to reflect on
that shortly. Meanwhile the racing continues. Heat number six.
The Netherlands in fourth place, the athlete in red from China, going to
the front, the Olympic silver medallist. Six laps to go. I'm still
in shock about the yellow card. For Liz Christie. There is a massive
crash and there is only one skater still up. Seidel up as well. The
skaters are all over the place. At the front of the race, the Chinese
athlete the only one who avoided the crash. She has three to go, the
others scampering around behind her. I'm not sure of what happened, I
think Seidel was going on the inside of the bed, collided, both skaters
went down, taking them both down, the skater from Russia went down as
well with one and a half laps to go. A lap to go. The Chinese skater will
glide home effortlessly in first place. She wins the heat, the others
are still racing and the Olympic Athlete from Russia, I think will
take second. Ahead of the Netherlands. But I think certainly
the Olympic Athlete from Russia hurting as she crossed the line,
high-speed, spectacular speed for the three of them. We are now up to
36 penalties in four days, a yellow card. Can you explain what that
yellow card means, in football if you get a yellow lid means you get a
warning but you can carry on as before. Cars yellow card. Tell us
exciting for the means and why they have given her. It means, short
track speed skating there is a Labour on Bing and barging, some of
that intentional, some of it not, when a skater is given a yellow card
they are taken out of the petition, 1000 metres in this instance. That
is because the referee felt it was intentional as opposed to
accidental. What was intentional? As I already said, the camera decision
we are seeing here are not the camera positions that the referees
have available to them. It this makes it very difficult, they are
seeing stuff from different camera angles van der Voort we are seeing.
-- than what we are seeing. It happened so quickly we have no time
to reflect but I am sure Clare Balding will be able to do that in
the studio when the seats have finished. Two more heat is to come,
we are waiting for the verdict from heat six, that is quite the skaters
are standing, not disappearing to the dressing room. Just to clarify,
a yellow card means you are thrown out of that distance. Absolutely. A
red card would mean you are thrown out of all the competition. Any
distance. Absolutely. We are seeing, the Chinese skater moves, quite
comfortably, Seidel of Germany moves into the front, there is no issue
there. I think the issue really happens a lot later in the race.
This is after the initial fall.
We are not really seeing the footage, what is really happening.
Both girls waiting for the official result from the referee. It's almost
like the figure skating, the deliberation zone as I would call
it. The scowling stops when it does not go your way. Kirchhoff was the
skater who finished in the silver medal position and profited from the
crash that Elise Christie had in the first race, the 500 metre final.
There may be two penalties, two different incidents, two different
labs. When we get to a final in short track speed skating, if enough
of them I disciplined you can have a medal going to someone in the B
final.
final. Two penalties. Do you have any complaints with that decision?
This is an issue we have been discussing. Rob Wotton we can see, I
think it was a relatively fair call. -- from what we can see. Both cost
infringement. Here is heat number seven.
An Olympic relay gold medallist from Sochi, three-time World Championship
medallist, won an Olympic bronze in Vancouver. The penultimate heat in
the women's 1000 metres. Typical tactics by the Canadians.
tactics by the Canadians. Kim from Korea takes the lead.
Korea takes the lead. St Gelais and Kim swapping the lead.
Making her way into the Olympic team, other than John Henry Kruger,
on the blades that the United States, it's not been a great
Olympics. St Gelais looking comfortable, winning three silver
medals at the World Championships, including one in the housing
bidders. St Gelais overtaken on the outside I Kim from Korea. The gap
starts to open. Superb piece of overtaking on the outside. St Gelais
stretching back to him from Korea in the lead. A lap to go. Really spread
out around the track, we can clearly see who is going to be one and two.
Kim and St Gelais. The Japanese skater in third. The United States
bringing up the rear. A much more straightforward race. I don't think
there will be any issues there, no video replay necessary. We are
looking at the referees, this American referee Alan Grisham is
going over to the video replay so we will have to wait for this official
result, I think that's the incident, just tries to move up the inside,
normally speaking, if you do get advanced to the next round you have
to be in a qualifying position, either one or two, even if there is
a penalty awarded she was not in a qualifying position. Therefore it
just means that skater gets a penalty. Those two crossed the line,
clearly better than the other two. One more heat to come, it features
Charlotte Gilmartin from Great Britain. 27 who crashed out of both
her events so far. Best result in the thousand metres in the World Cup
competition this winter was seventh in the Netherlands. A four time
European Championship medallist. Kim leaves the arena, we have a last
look at this race. Kim and St Gelais were the first two. Clearly no
problems. Really about whether there should be a penalty. Awarded to the
American.
There is a penalty, and it is just being announced now. And the
American gets the penalty, and Samir Rachel
Rachel remains, but she wasn't in a position to potentially qualify
anyway. Let's get on with the last final. Kim Boutin has a medal
already. Charlotte Gilmartin therefore Great Britain. Hitomi
Saito from Japan, bronze medal last year, and CMascitto from Italy is
straight down already, and she wasn't involved with anybody else,
so they will not restart the race. It was like what happened to Elise
Christie, so therefore the starter will not restart the race.
So you will say that Kim Boutin is the most likely to win this race,
but Charlotte Gilmartin needs to stamp authority on to this. The
British camp are extremely down after what happened to Elise
Christie, but it is important now that Charlotte Gilmartin tucks into
that second place and maintains her position. Five to go, Charlotte
Gilmartin in second place behind Kim Boutin of Canada. It is Hitomi Saito
and Cynthia Mascitto she needs to keep behind her now. Kim Boutin has
got the speed she needs to come out on top in virtually every scenario
here. She makes it look so easy, Kim Boutin, even in the curve, two arms
on her back. It is important that Charlotte really hangs onto the back
of her tail now. This will be a big race for second place, Charlotte
Gilmartin being put under pressure from Hitomi Saito of Japan. She is
in a fight now to qualify, one lap to go. Kim Boutin leads the way, and
it is Hitomi Saito in second place, Charlotte Gilmartin losing a bit of
ground now. It doesn't look like she will be able to close the gap, she
can't, and Kim Boutin wins that heat, as one would expect. It went
to form, but Hitomi Saito, ranked 23 in the world at this distance in the
end just had too much speed for Charlotte Gilmartin, who goes out of
the competition at the first hurdle. We can see that for by the Italian,
she jumps back up, of course she fell on her own, she is only skating
the 1000m, she didn't take part in the 500 or the 1500, so I guess the
nerves got the better of her, and Charlotte Gilmartin they're just
being taken over by the Japanese. At her best, Charlotte Gilmartin has
the ability to get through a heat like that? Absolutely. But it wasn't
to be, and Kim Boutin looking pretty confident with a couple of medals in
her pocket already. And here's the confirmation pretty quickly, Kim
Boutin and Hitomi Saito going three, Charlotte Gilmartin in third place,
so Kathryn Thomson, Charlotte Gilmartin and Elise Christie all
failing to make it through from the heats of the women's 1000m.
So, let's take a quick look now, qualification of the
quarterfinalist. Suzanne Schulting, a medallist
a medallist last year, Efremenkova who got up off the floor to qualify,
and the rest of those who have made it through, including Yara Van
Kerkhof and Kim Boutin.
Kerkhof and Kim Boutin. Shim Sukhee won a medal in Sochi four years ago.
Those quarterfinals will be on Thursday.
CLARE BALDING: And just huge sadness that Elise Christie won't be among
them, and nor will Charlotte Gilmartin and nor will Kathryn
Thomson, but for Elise Christie to be brave enough to get back out
there on the ice, having a fall on the first start of her heat, still
getting up and going out again, finishing second and then to get
disqualified, that just seems pain beyond... It's not fair, John. That
is what sport is, and that is why we keep wanting to watch it, because we
just don't know what is going to happen. She gave it a good go today,
and what happened on the start is another twist in the tale, but she
gave it her best shot and that is all we can ask for. She clearly
wasn't feeling. If, because she went for it, on this first start, to try
and get out in front. Yes, she did, I thought she would skate off and
try and do something later, but she caught the skate of the other girl
and tripped, and she looked a little bit shaken, probably, from that
fall, because she wouldn't have been expecting that to happen. And to get
back up and go again, it probably rocked her confidence a little bit.
I think going into that race before that she would have been feeling
quite happy that she was in a good place, and the medical team had done
a great job and cleared her to race, but I think then that would have
shook up, and then when we go on to see the actual race. She takes a
different tactic. You can see the confidence is not there. If she was
going to sit in the race, you would want to see her go around the
outside in keep it as clear as possible, because we talked about
trying to get to the front and after that start that wasn't going to
happen but then she starts making smaller inside moves. So on the
restart, you can see that she deliberately going for a slow start,
to build up the pace gradually, not going to get involved in the
argy-bargy, but unfortunately makes the decision to go around the inside
to overtake rather than sweeping round the outside, and therefore
gets into trouble twice. And that is where she has ended up getting a
yellow card, because although mentioned by Will you do get a card
or dangerous skating, but I don't think that was this one, it was the
fact that she picked up two penalties in two different
incidents, and I think that amounted to the yellow card. She looks
confident the back, and looks like she is winding up the Yuchen see
where she is not as confident as she would be in a race like this, she is
taking
taking up the inside options and moving up the track slowly. It is
shorter to go on the side but more risky? Definitely. Around the
outside you have more space but you do need the strength, and that is
where not having as much confidence probably meant that she went the
easier route. So that undertake was fine? Yes, and you wonder shisha
granny tax eye but she gets caught in an incident there, and I think
she does make quite good speed coming out of the corner to make the
overtake, but obviously the Hungarian girl shuts the door on
her. And had their just been that one incident, it might have been all
right. By the sounds of it she would have got a penalty for that, and
then she gets another penalty here when Chi double pushes against the
Polish girl, and then that leads to a double penalty which further
yellow card. So she hasn't done anything dangerous? It is a double
infringement, so effectively in football it would be two yellow
cards and therefore the red
football it would be two yellow cards and therefore the red? Oh,
dear. And I think they are she can't carry on her speed, obviously the
girl that is in front, the Dutch girl, hasn't gone quick enough to
open that gap for Elise to slot into, so then Andrea Kessler from
Hungary is able to shut the door. She has almost come across the track
too much. Nicky Gooch, the coach, carrying her off to protect as much
as possible. In your opinion, John, is the disqualification just? Yes.
It is a racing incident, and we talk about trying to make it as clear as
possible, because if you don't you come into the hand of the referee,
and they have a chance to watch the video back and that didn't had two
penalties. We are going live back to Pyeongchang to talk to Elise
Christie.
Just tell us what is going through your mind right now. To be honest,
not much. A few days ago, I didn't think I would be getting on the ice.
I did everything I could to turn this around, I had ligament damage
in my ankle, and putting a skate on with that is not the comfiest thing
in the world. And we did everything we could to turn this around, and it
just wasn't meant to be. If it was any other competition, would you
have been on that start line today? No, I would've been off the ice for
five or six weeks. I would have been in rehab. I wouldn't have got on if
it was the World Championships, and that wouldn't have been my choice, I
would have been told I wasn't getting on. The only reason they
gave me the choice is because it was the Olympics. The worst that could
happen is
happen is that I fell off the start, but to me that didn't matter. I
trained all my life this, it was everything to me, and... It's done.
I think everyone watching will think that you've got a hell of a lot of
guts. Thanks. I don't know. I just felt like I owe it to Britain, you
know? I can put my hands are right now and say I don't know why I have
got the yellow card. When I watched the race, I was kicked on the start
and fell over, I have never had a yellow card in my life, never mind
penalties, I barely get penalties. I went to the inside, and on the
video, I am past the girl, so I have no idea. The only thing I can think
of is possibly the referee doesn't think it's safer meter race with my
ankle wages, because he was in courage in me to get off the ice
after the fall at the start, and if that is it, then fair enough, I can
see why he might not want me to race like that, because it might not be
the safest. We know how much work you put in, and you're talking about
putting short track out there, I think you have done that, you are
the world champion. How do you some up these games? Because I think it's
fair to say that it hasn't gone very well. You'll have to ask me
tomorrow, I think. Right now I'm a bit shell-shocked. I worked hard to
come back from this injury, most people wouldn't have skated with my
ankle the way it was, I can barely bend my knee. The only thing I can
say is I can promise Britain that I will fight back from this and I will
come back for Beijing, and hopefully I can do Britain proud of then. Back
to Beijing, so I know that after the last time, you felt like you
couldn't go on, but this time you don't feel that? It's different this
time, you can go to Beijing? Yes, I have so much belief in the programme
and myself, none of that was my physical capability. You know, it
was just short track. What else can I say? Everyone has been such a
massive support to me, Team GB, to turn this around. Everyone at home,
most of the people, anyway, I can't believe how supportive they have
been, and I definitely think I can come back and medal in Beijing, it
is frustrating having to wait four years. It wasn't to be this time.
Listen, despite what has happened, we are all immensely proud of you,
and you are the world champion, and lots of people come to the Olympics
and don't win medals, so we're really proud you had the guts to get
out on that start line, and we are looking forward to seeing you back
in Beijing. Thank you, and I would like to thank all the kids that have
sent me messages. I really appreciate it, the kids that have
sent messages saying they are inspired by me, they have no idea
what that means to me, but it is amazing that five-year-olds and
seven-year-olds can find me inspiring, that brings tears to my
eyes, you know? Thanks very much. Thanks.
Elise Christie admitting she is still shell-shocked, doesn't
understand why she got the yellow card, but confirming this is not the
end of her Olympic challenge, she will be back in four years' time.
She will be 31 by then, still determined to win a first Olympic
medal, but her Olympics for this year, for 2018, is over. Sarah, what
did you make of what she said there, and of what has happened to her
today? I think it was a really nice and honest interview from her, and I
think she probably is a little bit shell-shocked, and she needs to let
things sink in. And book a holiday! Take a little bit of time off. She
has four years until the next games, and lots to do in between them, but
I think maybe a bit of downtime. She mentioned that the referee was
having words with her after the first false start, after she fell on
the first start for her heat, and is that the referee there with the
headphones? That would have been one of the referees, yes. And do you
think he's checking she's all right? Would think he's saying. He would
have been just checking, the duty of care being the head referee for the
girls, he would've come over and checked if she was OK, and
obviously, would have been asking her how she is doing, to find out
whether she is ready to go again. Is there any right of appeal? No. In
this instance, no. They have checked the video numerous times, we don't
see the same footage as they get to see, the referees will see it
overhead and in front and down the straight, so we don't get to see
that footage may be until after the event, but yes, there is no right of
appeal here.
Sarah, she was saying she doesn't understand why she got the
infringement, there were undertakes that were not illegal, not worthy of
a penalty. She has not had the chance to have a look at the video,
how you feel when you get off, all the adrenaline, what happens during
the race, it flashes past you very quickly, she might feel differently
when she looks at the video replay and she has gone and analysed it. I
think she has a point with racing against Kessler, the Hungarian girl,
she probably may feel a bit harsh on that because she got alongside her
and she tried to make space but unfortunately it was not there. With
the Polish girl, I would say that was a clear penalty. I think when
your intentions are good and you are not intending to cause trouble or
cause a penalty, it doesn't feel there, because that's not what you
are trying to do. Do you think she would have raced differently, a
fully fit Elise Christie, despite, if the ankle was and still hurting,
a belief that Elise Christie would have gone round the outside and gone
I'm better than you lot. Without a doubt, who she was racing against,
she would have sat at the back and gone round the outside is not gone
to the front at the start and dominated. She can clearly see where
she is out, she was obviously disappointed in that interview but
she realises maybe today she was not at full fitness and there's nothing
else you can do. She gave it her best shot, today wasn't meant to be,
she probably realised that with the injury. Desperately disappointing
for British fans, desperately sad for Elise Christie but so impressive
she can come out and say after that I am going again, going to try for
another Olympics. Let's go out to Pyeongchang and speak to Wilf
O'Reilly, how do you sum up today? Basically, immense courage that she
has shown to get on the ice, clash blades with the Hungarian Kessler,
to go back to the start of the 1000 metres, 20-30 metres off the pace
and close the gap in a qualifying position and what I believe, I
happened to seeing the actual replay that the video referee sees but what
I understand is there are two issues that have happened during the course
of the race and because one was a penalty and the other was a penalty,
I actually don't feel it was a penalty at all but I haven't seen
the video footage to confirm that. Basically two penalties means you
get a yellow card which is a warning for dangerous skating. Do you feel
at all because Elise Christie is as high-profile as she is, because she
had the issues are ready, aren't the judges watching her more closely
than anyone else? If you are one of the favourites you are always being
watched a lot more closely than any other skaters, generally in my
opinion what happens, a lot of the well-known names skaters are quite
often given, sort of, the chance, if you like, the benefit of the doubt
and are allowed to go through but clearly the referees are under such
pressure, they are basically saying, based on the footage what they see,
they are the people, Babel be giving penalties to. To be fair, they have
been pretty brave, they took choice the home favourite out of the medal
winning position in the 500, it's not like they are making unpopular
decisions for everybody. Elise Christie mentioned she thought the
referee might have given her a yellow card because they perhaps
might have thought it wasn't safe for her to race but they can't do
that, can they? I wouldn't think so, if he felt that wasn't safe for her
to start and he should never have allowed her to start the race, as it
were. I don't really know, there is something that we are going to
Seville for the ISU conference in June and the rules and regulations
will be voted upon and it is something I will be putting forward
to try and emphasise to the rest of the world if somebody is given a
penalty, why? This is a big load to British Short track speed skating
not just because there won't be a single representative left in any
race for the women but also because of the way the funding structure is,
you know, whatever you think about, the World Championship nettles, the
gold medals that Elise Christie she has won, they don't count, its
Olympic medals. Mothers have a massive effect for the future of
British are track speed skating?
British are track speed skating? -- will this have a massive effect? The
whole world has seen what has happened and hopefully Babel realise
the sport is about investing in the future, finding new talent,
hopefully my successes in the past, Nicky Gooch, and Elise Christie's
success will all continue and contribute to future funding. Elise
Christie has said she wants to be back in four years' time, can you
and you know... I did hear that. I mean, the weight Short track speed
skaters go on the pattern of their career, is it possible to come back
in your 30s and still be the best? Absolutely. It's all about
experience. I mean, somebody was asking me, what should she do after
this and I said maybe she should take a year doing long track speed
skating, working out and training but taking a break from the
high-profile level that she has within the sport and hopefully three
years into Beijing, 2022, start focusing maybe take another route. I
have to say that long track speed Skating looks quite tempting, nobody
else in the way. Absolutely! Thank you so much and I'm sorry for you
guys out there that it's been such a disappointing day but thank you for
everything you have contributed. Thank you very much. And it is,
gosh, so much to take in, as Elise Christie said, she can't begin to
think rationally about this, you are in the moment, you will have an
emotional response, some up how strong you think she has been,
Sarah, to want to do this today and also after the first of all, to say
no, I am not giving up right now. Yes, we should be really, really
proud that she is back on the ice today and she gave it everything she
had, it was her one last shot. She had quite a lot of pressure on -- on
her, the golden girl of the sport, emotionally this build-up for years
that leads into the Olympic Games, this has been a plan for her for a
long time. I think she needs to come back down and relax before deciding
what to do next. I went to see her in Korea before the games and she
kept talking about how she had to risk it all to gain gold. Do you
think she has risked too much in the 500, 1500 and today doesn't really
count because she wasn't fit and therefore was making decisions
because she didn't feel strong enough but particularly the 500. Not
really. We talk about her being world champion, when she became
world champion last year she finished fourth in the 500 metres
and she did this time. With place Olympic was what she got at the
worlds, that's no mean feat, very impressive. I think in the 1500 we
spoke, we underestimated the quality of the semifinal she was in and
obviously having a silver and gold medallist in your semifinal will be
tough and watching the replay back from the 1500 metres, she was half a
metre out of mailing the overtake and go to the final. You are right,
there was Lee and Choi and they ended up gold and silver in the
final. She was up against it to finish first two, she had to take a
risk in the 1500. When we talk about taking a risk, that's not settling,
make sure you keep moving, you attack to win the race, be in the
medals, if you start settling, the more you save, you are not moving
up, you are moving backwards, things you need to try out. Take a risk and
want to win but that does not mean you risk everything, we are not
putting it all on the gold medal, she still wanted to be successful
and take a risk in the race to do as best as she possibly can. In terms
of talent, training, commitment to the sport, Sarah, she came into
these games, you know, nothing is a certainty in short track speed
skating because it seems to be incredibly rough, it's a very rough
sport, but to leave it now with nothing, with no medal at all, you
are right, fourth place is best Olympic finish in the 500 metres but
she goes home with nothing. Doesn't that seem cruel? And if you look now
at her Olympic experiences, in the last two games, I mean, that is
desperate. I mean, even in short track speed skating, that is
unlucky, isn't it? It's all part of the story, isn't it, for when she
wins, I think. They will make a movie. Do you believe that can
happen? If this ligament damage is bad and if it has been made worse
today, she's going to take a long time to recover. With recovery for
things like that it depends how you treat it initially. She doesn't have
to do anything else, no other commitments, she can focus on that
recovery, making sure it's back to. And then decide about training.
Where are the younger short track speed skaters coming through, John,
and where are they now? What has Elise done to increase interest in
the sport? To have a world champion in the sport, so few people
competing in the country, it's massive, everyone wants to emulate
what Elise has done and go on and be successful in the World
Championships and the Olympics. We set up an academy in the last couple
of years since she became world champion, we've found a new athletes
from other sports but improving the athletes currently in the sport from
recent levels, down to club level, in the last week alone we've had
over 150 people register their interest in the sport, it's not in
the fairy tale story we wanted people are excited about short track
speed skating, they are enjoying watching it for some reason. It's
great to watch. Some of that excitement. They want to have a go,
it has been massive over the last four years and we've been able to
move forward, the sport is growing, that's fantastic. People are
enjoying watching it, let's go back for more with
enjoying watching it, let's go back for more with Simon. COMMENTATOR:,
we have a crash, the Netherlands, they have stopped the race. It's not
the first time we have had a race stopped this evening, local time.
Daan Breeuwsma, from the Netherlands. Sprawling on the ice.
What do you make of this? He clashes skates with the skater from
Kazakhstan. You can see it from the reverse position. Clash blades as
Daan Breeuwsma stamps on the
Daan Breeuwsma stamps on the blade of his opponent, they are checking
the blades are OK, they are a changing them completely, changing
the blade. I think all three countries,
including Charles Hamelin. The heat that we have missed so far, an
Olympic athlete said a new record. A Polish surprise qualifier. There was
a crash, predictably. A United States athlete was penalised but
would not have gone through. In the second of the
second of the heats, Samuel Samuel Girard from Canada went through very
comfortably. In heat
number three Seo Yira went through. It was chaotic and untidy. We are
almost ready. The running repairs on the track have been frequent. As
they fill the gaps, they spray them frozen again. Talking about running
repairs, Simon, the Kazakhstan team really working on the
really working on the blades of Denis Nikisha. They get up to speeds
of 50 kilometres an hour, it's important they have their equipment
right. Have you had any more time to reflect on the race of Elise
Christie? I am still in shock, I came up from downstairs, still in
shock to see she got a yellow card, I will probably ask someone this
evening can I see the official reason why, they will probably said
no but at least I will be able to ask. Packed in here again once more
as we wait for the rerun of this heat number four in the men's 500
metres. Such a mad dash, no room for error whatsoever. Particularly in
the first round, these heats, the seeding order is randomly done by
the computer. After this, it's done by the fastest skater drawn in the
number Lane. They will come up to the line shortly. Daan Breeuwsma has
never finished better than 14th in the World Championship. Denis
Nikisha six in the world last year. Limb from Korea, the Olympic
champion. Away they go. Clearly this time. Denis Nikisha from Kazakhstan
goes to the front.
He has seen a little gap, and he goes sliding through it. Denis
Nikisha is storming away now. Lim Hyojun has gone very wide here,
Charles Hamelin tries to get through on the inside. As they come round
now, Lim Hyojun takes the bell with the advantage of some considerable
distance back to second place, and the career wins it.
the career wins it. Charles Hamelin of Canada is in third. I wouldn't be
surprised to see Charles Hamelin get a penalty therefore an infringement
on Denis Nikisha. And that
on Denis Nikisha. And that is why Daan Breeuwsma got through into
second. Once again, we saw Lim Hyojun who is in the form of his
young life here. When you have an Olympic gold medal in your pocket,
it is easy to take risks, and you feel a lot more relaxed. You see him
go through, making it look so easy, and this is where the problem
happened with Charles Hamelin and Denis Nikisha. It is because Lim had
gone very wide on the corner, and Charles Hamelin saw the opportunity
and try to go through. Particularly what happens in short track, if you
are good on the 1500m it doesn't necessarily mean you will be good of
500 metres, we start to see more and more specialist. Charles Hamelin
knows he is the culprit, he has walked off the rink. That was more
of the scowl and stop box for him as he disappears. He was ninth and 13th
in the other two vents, it is not really been his Olympics. And he
does get a penalty, he knew it, that is why he walked off. And Denis
Nikisha from Kazakhstan is advanced, so Daan
so Daan -- Lim Hyojun, Daan Breeuwsma and Denis Nikisha all go
through. And skaters who are advanced are advanced to the outer
lane. And a reminder that we have eight heat here. Now, next up, we
have the Olympic Athlete from Russia on the right-hand side. And the
false start gives me a chance to complete this line-up.
complete this line-up. Ren Ziwei there
there in the red, and Knegt is the world champion at this distance, he
is the big Hope for the Dutch
is the big Hope for the Dutch here all the skaters will now have to
wait. It was skate and other two who was given the false tarte.
Turbat two from Kazakhstan, he has done well to get into second place,
Ren Ziwei is in second, a bit of a gap back to Sjinkie Knegt, the
Dutchman, putting himself into position, one would think. Very
similar situation as Elise Christie, at the back. You don't need to
panic, you still have two laps to go. There will be one lap to go next
time over the line, Sjinkie Knegt squeezes in on the inside of
Alexander Sheldon. It is really tight, and Sjinkie Knegt is out of
it there because the Chinese athlete Ren Ziwei wins it, and the Russian
athlete benefited from the battle between Sjinkie Knegt and
Zhumagaziyev. Sjinkie Knegt coming from third place, moving into
second, and it can go any way. Would you say with an athlete as good as
Sjinkie Knegt in a race like this, would it not be better for him to
put himself towards the front earlier where he avoids this sort of
scenario where he was in a more desperate situation on the last lap
when he was really under pressure? As I was saying before, when you are
drawn in the heat on the very outside lane, this is the Olympic
Games. It is so tight, the level of short track speed skating is so
tight amongst the athletes, that can make the difference just from your
lane draw, so obviously he is coming back from fourth place going into
third place, moving up slowly. So we have to wait and see now what Peter
Worth, the referee from Great Britain, has to make of this. So,
Ren Ziwei provisionally first. And just waiting for confirmation of the
result from this 500 metres. The judges have reached a conclusion,
thankfully it didn't take too long, so let's have a luck again as
Sjinkie Knegt try to find a way through. And Sjinkie Knegt is given
a penalty, and the Dutchman is out, and Zhumagaziyev of Kazakhstan is
advanced to go through as well as Ren Ziwei, and Aleksandr Shulginov.
That is the confirmation. Again, flabbergasted with that decision.
You could see him moving across, closing the gap, and then they
awarded the penalty. Plenty to talk about with your short track friends
over dinner later on with the decisions tonight! And now, heat
number six. The Japanese skater was fifth in the 1000m here. Pavlasek
nick, the athlete from Russia -- Pavel Sitnikov, and,
Pavel Sitnikov, and, with Shaoang Liu taking control of this early.
One or two go through to the quarterfinals, and Abzal of
Kazakhstan taking control. And Sakho from Japan, he wasn't going to take
any chances in that race, he got away well, he stayed there, but he
got away from the others, not least for Pavel Sitnikov, for a while he
was in a good position, but then he lost his balance is the challenges
grew in ferocity. But Shaoang Liu of Hungary led from start to finish,
blocking well, not allowing any skaters to come past him, compose,
you can just see there, he almost got knocked down as they approached
this bend, you could see the hand on the backside of the Hungarian
skater, Liu. And as he is coming out of the bend, knocked off balance,
both skates on the ice, really carving into the turn to make sure
he goes across the line first.
he goes across the line first. A lot of pressure put on Shaoang Liu as
Pavel Sitnikov has been given a penalty, so Shaoang Liu qualifies,
as does Ryosuke Sakazume from Japan, and the Kazakhstan skater advances
as well, so some of these races in the court of finals are going to
have additional skaters, it will be more traffic. Until this afternoon,
this evening, we had 34 penalties from 12 different countries. I think
it is probably up to about 45 penalties now, and now we have a
North Korean speed skater in the red, Jong Kwang Bom. And the North
Korean skater goes down, and we will have a restart.
have a restart. I don't understand that, he fell with nobody in the
way, no contact with any other skater whatsoever, and they are
having a restart. , so the second opportunity afforded here. Let's
watch this once more. He dug his toe from the right skate, and clearly
you can see here there is no contact whatsoever. The only contact comes
after he has fallen with the Japanese skater, who manages to stay
on his feet. That will be the reason why they have restarted, we are up
in the stands and we can't really see that far down to the ice. That
was a very nervous start for the loan North Korean short track racer.
And he will have garage a couple of divot out of the ice with his
blades, so the repairs are pretty quick here. They pack some ice in
and then spray it so that it hardens instantaneously and we shouldn't
have too much of a delay here. Hwang Daeheon is fourth ranked in the
World Cup in this distance, he is up athlete they have high hopes of, but
it hasn't worked out so far. For one, it has been brilliant, and for
Hwang Daeheon it hasn't been quite so good, 14th and 17th in the two
events so far. Very disappointing considering his World Championships
performance.
performance. Thomas Hong of the United States is in this field as
well. The tracksuit tops are off once again. And they will go once
more.
more. Cato Watanabe of Japan, and the North Korean is on the deck and
out of the race very quickly. Leading the way by a mile here is
Hwang Daeheon of career, being chased by Watanabe of Japan, quite a
gap back to Thomas Hong of the United States. And it is all about
the time, they are trying to skaters fast as possible because the time
they set in the heat will determine the lane they draw in the
quarterfinals. It looks like Hwang Daeheon is really going for it, he
will win this by a mile, and Watanabe will go through to the
quarterfinals, soap Hwang Daeheon in first place, Watanabe in second,
Thomas Hong of the United States in three, and still skating around,
getting ready to come into the finish is Jong Kwang Bom of North
Korea, but his race was over very quickly. He got into a bit of an
elbow match almost from the very gun. They didn't take part in the
limit qualifying events, and the IOC awarded them an extra spot to try to
promote the event in North Korea, but it clearly he has very little
experience at this level, and that could be dangerous for the other
skaters. You can see him there pushing that right hand. And
Watanabe on the outside, he is just pushing him away, and again, he is
just knocked off balance, and it will be interesting to see what
Peter Worth has to make of this. But this man had no trouble whatsoever.
He is a class act, isn't he? Really comfortable, a great start for him
in these 500 metres. The short visit to the competition for Jong Kwang
Bom of North Korea. First international event of any note as
far as we can tell from him. Yet again, the judges are reviewing the
action. And I think he will be the culprit in this one. Of receiving a
penalty, I really think we do, I think we are up to number 47 by now.
And the skater from the peoples were of career, Jong Kwang Bom, receives
a penalty from the referee, but it doesn't affect the result at all,
and that is confirmation of the result. One more heat to come, and
my goodness me, what a high-quality one it is as well, this is almost
worthy of an Olympic final. Han Tianyu
Tianyu of China, Shaolin Sandor Liu, John-Henry Krueger who won Silver in
the 1000m the other day, and what a field. Someone will have to make way
here.
here. Shaolin Sandor Liu thinks he needs to get to the front, and he is
being chased by Han Tianyu. John-Henry Krueger from the USA at
the back just has to wait, there is nothing he can really do. This is
going to be really tight, one lap to go and over the line. Shaolin Sandor
Liu from hungry leads the way, and Han Tianyu is in second place,
Seaman Elistratov trying to steal it at the end, I'm not sure if he will
find a way through, I'm not sure if he found it, such a high-quality
field, nothing John-Henry Krueger could do about it in terms of moving
up from the back, it was a high paced, high quality race, on the
first two over the line, Shaolin Sandor Liu and Han Tianyu.
I think it says it all, the way they started, one, two, three, four on
the line. Shaolin Sandor Liu paced himself by going round the outside
and then it was game over the. For the near shaped it, in a race like
this with four really good skaters, the lottery of how they start, will
that be the decisive factor? Probably. The sport is still growing
and learning. We need to look at the rules and regulations of the first
round pick, because the seeding of the races is based on the World
Cups. In World Cup status, this is correct, but in terms of the lane
draw they get on the 1000 metres, it is done by the computer on the very
first round. And he looked very comfortable indeed. Shaolin Sandor
loop going through in qualifying, as well as Han Tianyu from China.
Elistratov won a bronze the other day in another event. And that
completes the men's 500 metre heats. The quarterfinal line-up, who has
impressed you so far? I think Wu Dajing is the man to look to. Like
the long track yesterday, the 500 metres is such a top event, so many
people that can qualify. And can take home gold. I don't like to say
any name, because probably after Thursday evening, they will go out
in the quarterfinals. The crowd have a chance to grab a drink, a stack,
and catch their breath. They are resurfacing the ice and then later
on we have the potential mayhem of the ladies 3000 metre relay finals
with four times as many athletes on the track. STUDIO: We will certainly
be back for that. Amazing for the short track speed skating. If you're
tuning in wondering what happens to Elise Christie, at nine o'clock this
morning it was confirmed she would line-up for her heat in the 1000
metres. This was the event in which she is world champion. John and
Sarah alongside me to analyse what happened. In the first starchy tried
to take the lead. What happened? She to run, she went off hard. And she
caught blades with the girl next to from Hungary and tripped over and
fell. Probably a little bit rattled. What are the rules on the restart?
They will restart the race if there is a clash before the apex block,
the middle block of the first corner. If police had fallen there,
it disturbs the race because she would have stopped Andreas Kessler
moving forward in the race. The race has been disturbed. We have seen
other races where they have fallen on their own and carried on. A
pretty hard impact on the ice. She holds the right ankle, which is
where the problem has been since a fall in the semifinals of the 1500.
Nicky Gooch, the coach, made adjustments to her skates and the
referee talks to her as well. The assumption was it was over and she
was out, but she lined up again. We all thought that, we sat back in our
hearts sank, we thought it was finished. She went over to the side,
sorted out her blades and then started the race again. Different
tactics this time. She wanted to give it her best shot, but we know
in 1000 metres she can still make up some ground. It looked like when she
got going she was skating quite nicely. She catches up with the pack
and starts to make moves and then you see that she is not her usual
confident self. Her options are either sweet whites to go round them
all or pick them off one by one on the inside. I think she was trying
to make it easy for herself, make the overtaking easy without making a
big move round the outside. She looks very conscious of her ankle
while she is skating round. As we see from the first overtake, she
makes it quite nicely, comfortable, the gap appears and she slots in.
She read it well and makes it look easy. We start to think, here we go.
But no, the next one is very first real issue comes. She makes the
overtake, she gets alongside her, and that's where a lease in her
interview mentioned she didn't think it was a penalty. But the problem
is, she causes the crash, and that is the first penalty. She looked a
bit wobbly, did well to recover and then goes for the undertake again.
She makes this one quite nicely but I think it's when she starts to
block and is too forceful on her blocking to shut the track down. And
that means penalty number two, resulting in the yellow card. She
knows there, the Bell has gone and somebody has taken over her on the
inside and there is not enough time to get back to second place to
qualify. She was deathly trying to hold her position to get through to
the next round. She is alongside the Hungarian girl there, but she can't
get enough space to make it comfortable. And that causes the
crash.
crash. She is pushing and using her arm a little bit. She doesn't want
to get back pastor. Nicky Gooch carrying her off, that was always
the plan because we didn't want her to walk in her skates. Walking round
in speed skates with long blades is not the most comfortable, so with a
sore ankle, the idea was to get her off the ice and get her as quick as
possible with her skates off, because fingers crossed she was to
redo the next round. It is to Elise Christie's credit that she lined up
twice and went straight to David McDaid after to give this interview.
First of all, tell us what's going through your mind. To be honest, not
much. A few days ago I didn't think I would be getting on the ice. I did
everything I could to turn this around. I had ligament damage in my
ankle. Putting a skate on with that is not the comfiest thing in the
world. We did everything we could to turn this around. It obviously
wasn't meant to be. If it was any other competition, would you have
been on the start line today? No, I would have been off the ice for five
or six weeks. I wouldn't have gone back if it was the World
Championships, and that would have been my choice... That wouldn't have
been my choice, I would have been told I couldn't go back. But the
only reason I got the choice was because it was the Olympics. To me
being kicked and falling at the start didn't matter. I had trained
all my life for this, it was everything to me. And, yes, it's
done. I think everyone watching will think you have a hell of a lot of
guts. Thanks. I felt I owed it to Britain, you know? I want to get
short track out there. It's an amazing sport. At times it can do
this to you. I can put my hands up right now and say I have no idea why
I got the yellow card. When I watched the race I was kicked at the
start and fell over. I have never had a yellow card in my life. I very
rarely get penalties. I went up the inside. I went past the girl on the
video. I have no idea. The only thing I can think is possibly the
referee doesn't think it is safe by race with my ankle the way it is
because he was encouraging me to get off the ice when I fell at the
start. If that is it then fair enough. I can see why he might not
want me to race like that, because it might not be the safest. But,
yeah... We know how much work you put in and you are talking about but
in short track out there. I think you have done that, you are the
world champion. How do you sum up these games? I think it's fair to
say it hasn't really gone very well. LAUGHTER
You would have to ask me tomorrow. Right now I'm a little bit
shell-shocked. I worked so hard to come back from this injury. I think
a thousand people wouldn't have skated with my ankle the way it was.
The only thing I can say is I can promise of Britain that I will fight
back from this and I will come back for Beijing. And hopefully I can do
Britain proud then. Back to Beijing. I know after the last time you felt
you couldn't go on, but this time you don't feel that. It's different
this time, you can go to Beijing. Yes, I have so much belief in the
programme and myself, and none of that was my physical capability. It
was just... Short track! What else can I say? Everyone has been such a
massive support to me. Team GB has turned this around. Everybody at
home, most people, anyway, I can't believe how supportive they have
been. I definitely believe I can come back to medal in Beijing, but I
just have to wait for more years. It just wasn't to be this time. Despite
what happened, we are all immensely proud of you. You are the world
champion. Lots of people come to the Olympics and don't win medals. We
are really proud you had the guts to get out of the start line and we
look forward to seeing you in Beijing. Thank you. Thank you, and I
would like to thank all the kids who have sent me messages. I really
appreciate all those kids sending me messages saying they are inspired by
me. They have no idea what that means to me, but it's amazing that
five-year-olds and seven-year-olds can find me inspiring. It brings
tears to my eyes. Thanks very much. STUDIO: Elise Christie doing well to
hold it together and be as philosophical as she can be. This is
the rule infringement she committed. If there is more than one
infringement,...
As John and Sarah made clear, there are two incidents. The first, John,
was this 50-50 or was this a lease's fault? As she goes down the straight
and across the start line, she gets alongside Andrea. -- or was this a
lease's fault. But then the Hungarian girl is back in front. You
put your hands... Your fate in the referee's hands. The second one was
Elise Christie trying too hard to shut the door and making sure the
girl doesn't come past. It's the last lap and she's trying as hard as
possible. For me that was a clear penalty. You have seen a lot of
short track skating between you and have been involved ourselves. Were
you surprised when the yellow card came up? Yes. Surprised to see the
yellow card because like Elise says, she's never had a yellow card and
it's probably the one thing we haven't seen yet from her. It's
another one that we throw into the mix. We talk about it being a tough
sport and not fair on Elise, but she finds different ways to put us
through the mill, sort of thing. We talk about that sport, it's unfair,
but for it to keep happening to the same person over and over again,
it's tough. However many times we watched that interview come you
don't get desensitised to the emotion of it. Every time you watch
it, you have a lump in your throat, tears in your eyes. It's a sad end
for this Olympics for her. For anyone watching at home who doesn't
know Elise, they will be feeling that emotion. And you feel it keenly
because you know her so well. And I feel the butterflies before she goes
out to race. I have sweaty palms, I can't breathe watching the race as
it unfolds. And afterwards, when she wins, I have tears in my eyes happy
for her, screaming the room down. And when she fails or falls or
crashes or loses, I feel that too. Such is the interest in Elise
Christie, this is a global story, not just a British story. The
overall World Cup champion, the world jabbing at 1500 and 1000
metres. All the rest of the press wanted to talk to her. And you could
hear in the crowd, the shock when she went down at the start of the
heat. The crowd have been supporting her. She spent a lot of time in
South Korea and they understand their short track speed skating. You
could see the time she gave to all the media outlets to answer the
questions that they had. That in itself is draining. The whole
experience has been exhausting, and yet, within those interviews, to be
able to say, I am prepared to come back in Beijing and take even more
of this. That's a testament to what she said about the programme behind
her, the support she had and what she has been through since Sochi.
You have seen how she has been able to face up to her issues in these
games. She has been emotional, but that's her coping mechanism. The
team around have put everything in place and that will be there when
she comes on, probably more so, so she can come back and they will make
sure she's in the best possible place, especially in the next couple
of months because she will have to go through rehab and make herself
fit healthy again. Wilf O'Reilly was asking if she might make the
decision to go to long track skating or indeed cycling. Are those
realistic options?
She loves sport, I think she is an athlete, I don't think she will move
into another sport. I can't speak for her but I think she will want to
do activity and she might want to go and play some sport but I don't
think she will switch - due loves short-track. And you can't
underestimate the skills that are involved in another sport, sort of
things and I think she would like to have a go at other things edit if it
gives her that mental break and that freshen up sort of thing and
hopefully we will see her back on the ice and raring to go. When you
go through your big debrief with British short-track, do you try and
work out, why does this happen at the Olympics specifically, when
clearly, there might be disqualifications but the same
things do not happen at the World Championships? Yes, there will be a
big review and hopefully there will be some clear evidence that we can
point our fingers to certain things but at this moment in time I can sit
here and say pretty confidently that the guys have done everything they
possibly can. Yes, we have had some bad luck but that is part of sport
and we plan for different scenarios, but the guys will be sitting there
tonight absolutely devastated but they were no getting up tomorrow
that they did everything they possibly could to get a lease,
Farrell and Josh and all of the others in the best possible
condition to compete. Sport is so unpredictable and we have got all of
our hopes pinned on one athlete. The stronger the depth in our sport and
the more people we can get involved, then we're not in that situation
hopefully in four years' time, and there is a much stronger team going
in and more than one person can be our medal hope. And we have seen
that in skeleton, with Laura Davies backing up Lizzy Yarnold. And we
have got some great grassroots, some great clubs doing fantastic work
with some young kids, and we're really seeing that improving but
they need the support and help like any other sport. If we get that as
well, we can really move forward, we've got some fantastic athletes in
our sport, we just need to keep them coming. Elise Christie's exit from
these Olympic Games will be the headline on day 11, but here's what
else has been happening today. Great Britain's men's curling team look to
be on course for a semifinal spot after a convincing 10-3 win over
Norway. It was also a very good day for Britain's female curlers, who
beat Japan eightsix, and they're now well placed to qualify, with a just
one match, against Canada, to come. Talking of Canada, Tessa Virtue and
Scott Moir became the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history
after winning a second gold medal of these games in the ice dance,
pipping Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, who took the
silver. And Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland finished in a creditable
11th position, their third Olympics together. They have both had to
overcome serious injury issues. Cassie Sharpe lived up to her
billing as favourite by taking the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe
gold the Canada. Great day for them. Meanwhile Britain's Rowan Cheshire
completed her comeback from a horrible crash in so cheap with an
impressive seventh placed finish. But in qualifying for the men's ski
halfpipe, Murray Buchan and Peter Speight narrowly missed out on a
place in Thursdays final. The American trio topped the standings.
Now, there was more breaking news this morning, with the Court of
Arbitration for Sport and announcing that a player from the Slovenia
men's ice hockey team, Ziga Jeglic, had tested positive for a banned
substance. He will leave the Games within 24 hours after accepting a
positive test for the band asthma medication. And that news became
publicly just before Slovenia's game against Norway this morning, and
this is how they get on with out him.
Can Norway use their energy, or will it be Slovenia, with the superior
skill, to reach the quarterfinals and a blood chilling matchup with an
OAR side who have been a class apart in this tournament so far? Slovenia
will want to start this one quickly. That one is held onto.
That one is held onto. Goes across the zone, and that is over the top.
Another shot and a goal! Or is it?! It is! Took some time for the
referee to recognise that! 28 seconds of the power play have gone
and Slovenia have the lead!
and Slovenia have the lead! Well, he was set up three separate times and
the first two went right over the net. Then the captain Mursak tried
for a third time. And Norway score! And Tommy Kristiansen will get the
credit! This game is up in the! A place in the quarterfinals very much
at stake!
at stake! What a pass and that was wave too nonchalant from the
Slovenian defender Kovacevic. Tommy Kristiansen driving hard to the net.
It is going to be power play time if as the browser will now go.
SETH BENNETT: CAPNEXT we are going into overtime - 60 minutes can't
split these two!
split these two! Thoresen, can he finish in style! Could be a chance
now... They score!
now... They score! Norway have won it in overtime!
it in overtime! There is no-one in the blue paint, you've got to think
this is a good goal.
this is a good goal. Norway are quarterfinalists after beating
Slovenia in overtime here at the Winter Olympics. And Kent Simpson
joins us, he was a professional ice
Winter Olympics. And Kent Simpson joins us, he was a professional ice
hockey player for nine years, represented Canada and has played in
the UK for Sheffield Steelers. Can I talk you first of all about how
Slovenia were affected by missing Ziga Jeglic and also more on what it
is he has tested positive for wanted you can imagine this was a big blow
to the team just a couple of hours before they took to the ice if one
of their best players taken to the court of arbitration and it is
anti-doping, an asthma medication. And the bed biggest thing is puddle
and banned substances but because this person might have asthma, all
you have to do is disclose it and if you does so, typically you can carry
on playing. So it almost seems like this was Miss communication, the
team officials did not let the anti-doping officials know that he
was taking this which means it is a violation. And actually he put his
hand up and said, yes, guilty, I'm out. Exactly. It does not sound like
he opposed it was said, I didn't do this. He admitted guilt, which leads
you to believe that he thought he was innocent. This was something
that he thought he was allowed to take. But in this day and age, with
all the anti-doping, it's just incredible. It's just a mistake of
huge amounts. And talking doing -- talking to Amy Williams last night
she said she would not even drink from a bottle of water if it had
already been opened. She would start a fresh one in case something had
contaminated it. Exactly right, anything you're consuming you've got
to let your team doctor note and make sure they're B officials know,
it is that simple. Bring me up to speed on the ice hockey as it
stands. In the women's final we have got final everybody predicted? Yes,
it is Canada against USA. It has been a wonderful tournament. We have
seen other teams playing very well, just not quite to the level of the
Americans and Canada, and as is usually the case is now going for
gold. And in the men's? We're just working our way towards the
quarterfinals and Norway came from behind to beat Slovenia, so, a tough
day for Slovenia. And you've got the likes of Sweden, Canada, Czech
Republic, they're waiting for their teams' qualification today. And
we've seen some fantastic action in it already. I noticed at the end of
the USA-Canada game in the heat, did you see the fight, in the women's
game? It adds to the action! Fighting is part of it sometimes?
Sometimes it is, you have got to push for every inch, but when it is
Canada-USA, the tension is ramped up that it more. If you think it is
going to be the gold game and it is going to be even more. And you will
be part of that commentary team on Thursday. We're going to be heading
off to Bobsleigh fairly soon, the first of four runs in the women's
bobsleigh, with Mica McNeill and Mica Moore going for Great Britain.
They have had an interesting time getting to Pyeongchang. Have a look
at this story.
at this story. One of the hard years that you've worked thinking, this is
the Olympic and is, we want him to go into it in the best shape was a
ball, and then it kind of gets stopped. It was absolutely
heartbreaking. BBC Sport understands that British bobsleigh is set to
withdraw funding from its women's team just five months before the
Winter Olympics. Mica McNeill says she is gutted and shocked to be told
by bosses there was no money left to fund her team because of an
overspend.
overspend. It was my career low, very, very low, as low as you can
get. You've worked hard and it is crushed and you don't know if you
can turn around from that. Athletes don't just give up, we really have
to be positive and just put everything into it and think, there
has to be something that we can do. So, just had to try.
So, just had to try. Obviously, learning that we were not going to
get our funding for the winter was very difficult, but I think that we
instantly came together with a plan that we could move forward swiftly
with, because the season was coming around very quickly, and I think we
did that very well, and Nico put a lot of hard work into it.
lot of hard work into it. I honestly didn't know if it was going to work
and I thought we might get a terrible response, we might get a
lot of criticism for setting this up, but we set it up and it just
kind of started rolling. And I think it was day six, we hit 28 grand or
something, and it was like so emotional, I just found myself
shopping one day with my mum and she said, what are you doing? I just
started crying, because everything was just so overwhelming.
was just so overwhelming. Bobsleigh is such a small sport, you don't
think that people are watching all looking out for your results. That
people were willing to support us and help us on our journey was
amazing. We want to say thank you for all your contributions to our
campaign, we're a so grateful. We've had a good few days back on the ice
and we are so excited for the rest of our season. We can't thank people
enough McKenna some people would have put money in there and they
might not know actually how much it does mean to our team.
does mean to our team. At any major champs, anything can happen, and it
is whoever performs on the day, and I think that me and Mica, what we've
been working towards is getting that consistency and making sure that we
can perform on the day. The Olympics, it's every athlete's
dream, you know, it's kind of the highest level that you can compete
at. And it would just mean, just to there is so special, and to be
competing for a medal is absolutely incredible.
We are about seven minutes away from the first run of four in the women's
bobsleigh, and Nicola Minichiello is with us, who has competed in the
Olympic Games in the bobsleigh and also Amy Williams, of course, medal
winner from Vancouver. Did you get a good night's asleep? Not too bad,
thank you. She flew in last night! Now, you basically discovered Mica?
Absolutely and something I'm very, very proud of. The track that I used
to train in in North Yorkshire, Nicola Tralee came along for a
school taster day, saw her and loved her and really pushed her to get
involved. Right through to the Youth Olympics. She is a huge talent and
the biggest thing, mentally, she's a so strong and so determined. And
what do Mica and Mica bring to each other, what would make them a good
combination, they've clearly gone through an awful lot...? Actually
just a word on Jamaica. Their coach left, what was that all about? A
whole lot of drama about actually not that much. So, culturally, yes,
she's German, hugely successful in her own right, she didn't quite fit
into the team. There were some issues, a of tensions and so the
Jamaican federation took the very brave step at this point in the
Olympic cycle, that's not make mistake, virtually all of the teams
are falling apart at this stage...! They took the decision to move her
into a role where perhaps she was more suited and she could use her
skill set, let's put it like that. And she decided that that was not
what she wanted to do and she was going to create a whole lot of
drama. She didn't own the sled, she never owned the sled, it is the same
sled that they had been using all season, however she decided to go to
the press and cry and talk about this ambassador. I am off and I am
taking my bob with me! She made it her job to destroy the Jamaican
team, which is really sad for somebody who has contributed so much
to the sport. And Jamaica are women competing for the first time in
this, obviously, we had them in 30 years ago! And also Nigeria, first
time ever?
Obviously these equipment will not be the same level as the Germans,
the Americans and as, but they are here and competing in the games and
it's wonderful to see. You want them to get down safely and you hope they
all have enough coaching to be able to get down safely. Hopefully the
bobsled stays upright and they get over the finishing line. It's not
about them winning medals, it's about them inspiring a generation of
young African children who say, they like me, I can take part and I can
this. Maybe this is a possibility and an opportunity. This is the
course they will have to cope with. From a driver's point
course they will have to cope with. From a driver's point of view, where
are the major issues, what is difficult about it and what do you
need to do? It's not dangerous or particularly fast, but it's very
technical. Velocity is key, going through the top level of the track.
Curves one and two, it's open at the beginning and it's designed to throw
them into the wall. Curves four is very different to the training.
Keeping the Riedle this going. The next challenge is to come off curves
nine and going to a bendy straight, ten and 11, there is no corner to
it, but it is designed to knock your speed off. Downhill through the last
two sections, this is where people were having problems last year, but
they were trying to cope with the top of the track. Carry as much
speed as possible up the hill through the last two corners. What
sort of speed will they get up to? Around 125, 128 kph. Amy, you were
watching the events unfold, and the track is very exciting and things
can change. The athletes all seem to love it. There are flat sections,
uphill sections, a unique track with always something going on. It's very
technical. You can all get down safely in one piece, but it's how to
get the speed from all those tiny details. We want to mention
Humphreys, the pilot of the Canadian Bob, going for a third successive
Olympic gold medal. She has topped the time sheets in practice. She is
a double Olympic champion coming into this and coming into it you
would have to say it's hers. But she has had issues with the track and
hasn't really got into it.
hasn't really got into it. It's a massively open field. Great Britain
will go 17th, just before Jamaica. The ice isn't deteriorating as much
here. It's not a disadvantage. The women's is capped at 20, in the
men's they had 30. John Jackson and John Hunt in the commentary box.
Looks like a decent crowd because there will be a Korean team going
down, and they will be first on the ice. COMMENTATOR: Indeed, Claire.
Welcome back to the Sliding Centre. We have had around four and a half
thousand people here every night. Bobsled is the end of the evening
action in Korea. Welcome back, more excitement absolutely guaranteed.
The Koreans will be off first. John Jackson is with me and as ever has
been keeping an eye on the important air and ice temperatures. The ice
temperatures tonight are around minus eight. That's consistent with
what we have seen and we know it is good for the British because their
equipment works well in that sort of temperature. It's good for us. The
action is about to get underway. The Korean pairing underway first. Kim
and Tim. No relation. -- Tim and Tim --
-- Kim and Kim. The pilot is Kim Minseong. They were on the 18th here
on their World Cup event last March. They got a pretty moderate 5.66
start that time. They are away to great roars. We will see if they can
get under that. They will need to, the start record here is 5.2 five.
5.6 to suggest they will struggle to improve what they did last year in
the World Cup when they only finished 18th. Not a great start
through two and three. A little tap as they go through four and the flat
section coming up. They should know the track very well but the limited
time in racing this season is probably why they haven't settled
into it. A great line in 212. This is the team that will put down a
marker. Maybe the first two or three will struggle round it but once we
get to the fourth and fifth sled and onwards, we will see the Afterburn
is put down as the world-class pilots come down the track.
pilots come down the track. A new track record, but we have seen those
records fall regularly. A pat on the back for that. We will see shortly
how fast that was with the likes of Humphreys, Meyers Taylor, and the
Germans to come very early on. It was nice and clean. At the bottom
was very good. A couple of mistakes at the top but it could be first
round nerves. It's their first Olympic games, at that home games.
It has the added pressure. This was beautiful through here, one of the
best lines we have seen throughout the competition so far. It's
difficult to thread that through the eye of the needle. The Koreans off
to what is a good start. Kim and Kim. Next, history in the making,
Nigeria. Not just the first from Nigeria to contest bobsleigher the
Olympic Games, they are the first from Africa. Moriam Seun Adigun is
the pilot with 25-year-old Akuoma Omeoga in the brake position. Moriam
Seun Adigun was a former Olympic hurdler. Raised in 2012 at the
Olympic Games. -- raced in 2012. They have gone a little bit quicker.
A great start. They are very good athletes at the top, but it's now
how she dries. She has driven the top of the track very well, but we
can hear her cutting a bit of ice through the entrances into the
corner. Working a little bit too much, driving out too fast and
hitting the wall. All in all, just doing too much. You see her nearly
hit the roof. It's not a good line, but it's because she is doing too
much at the beginning of the corner. She isn't really an experienced
pilot, which is why she's making these little mistakes all the way
down. But for the first run of an Olympic Games, she just needs to
settle into it. Not too bad, just getting a little bit ragged the
further she has gone, the Dragons tale at nine and ten. It was scrappy
thereafter, and she has fallen a second behind, Moriam Seun Adigun.
The Koreans set the mark. Look at the joy on the faces of the people
following them. Lots of Nigerian flags around. They are thrilled to
be here, making a little bit of history.
history. You would expect it from a pilot of her level and experience.
Relatively new in the front seat. See how low she is, rising and
touching the roof. That's not the line you need. A big mistake through
the chicane. It's all these little mistakes that manifest into bigger
mistakes, and then a slow time at the bottom. The Nigerian pair clear
the track. Kaillie Humphries watching on. She goes forth, after
the Olympic Athletes from Russia. Rodionova, and
Rodionova, and her brake, Belomestnykh, who used to be the
brake for Nadezhda Sergeeva. Again, the transition between two and
three, and four and five, causing the issues. We saw that a little bit
in the men's race yesterday. The athletes not getting a transition
right and it's really tricky. Now she's building speed through the
fastest part of the track. That tap will not help, a bit of airtime. But
she is holding speeds to stay in front of the Koreans at the moment.
But time is dropping away. Does she have enough to stay in front as we
come to the flattest part of the track up the hill. Could easily lose
out, the Koreans have a chance of staying in front. Indeed, Kim and
Kim stay in front of the Russians and Nigerians. Not an awful lot in
it, but Rodionova goes second at the moment. But some real quality to
come over the course of the next half an hour. You can see how the
track is holding up over the last few days. Even these sleds, some of
the slowest in the field, are hitting close to 85 mph. That wasn't
too bad down the straight. A bit of airtime coming into corner 12. She
had to overdrive it, which would have cost against the Korean, who
was really nice at that point. The Times are already quicker than the
World Cup event of last March, when it was much warmer. Everyone
watching on for the brilliant Canadian Kaillie Humphries. So many
fascinating stories. The big headline for her is she is chasing a
third consecutive gold medal. You will see that some pilots like to
wear gloves and some don't. Kaillie Humphries is the only person to
actual goggles, everybody else wears a visor. That's one of the
differences between her and the rest of the field. Another difference,
she has Phylicia George on break, I want for athlete. A finalist in the
100 meter hurdles in London 2012. Her old brake Heather Moyse will go
later with Alysia Rissling. They will go ninth, fascinating pairing.
It's very quick out of the blocks. But we will see if there are quicker
times from the likes of the Americans and Germans. Kaillie
Humphries has been a little bit inconsistent. We have seen some fast
Times and some sort of slow times. Has she been playing games? It's not
a perfect line through there. But you can see the gap she is opening
up over the Koreans. She will not be worried about them now, she will be
thinking of staying in front of the Germans. But the bottom half of the
track has not been great. That up to more than 82 mph. It's a new track
record, half a second quicker than the Koreans. Kaillie Humphries is
here and means business. Chasing a third gold medal. And that's a
pretty good start. It's a pretty good start, but I think she should
be quicker than that down the track. I don't think it will be enough. You
can see her going through the track, some little bits overdriven. Try to
get the muscle memory in there straightaway. Looks like she catches
the sled... Maybe from the other angle. A decent marker for the rest
of the teams to follow. But as a run as a whole, I don't think quick
enough, but we will see. We will, and with some really good to come.
Bendy 15 was perfect, that line up the hill is exactly what you want.
Kaillie Humphries, one of the greats. Her campaign is underway.
The Germans, Jamanka, waiting. And now, for America, Meyers Taylor,
like Kaillie Humphries, one of the great names in the sport. She has
won everything, every single big honour except gold medal at the
Olympic Games. She has been a bronze and silver medallist, picking up
silver in Sochi. A tremendous athlete, going away with Lauren
Gibbs, a superb brake. The start record. Five point two to is the
start record. Seven hundredths quicker than Kaillie Humphries just
went. Meyers Taylor is on fire. One of the top starters all the time.
The only team to maybe challenge them are the Germans coming up in
eighth position. But if Meyers Taylor puts in a good run, and she
has focused on the last few years on her driving, to be consistent.
That's not a great line, but does she have enough speed in the sled to
stay in front of Kaillie Humphries? She is starting to move away now,
hundreds by hundreds. It didn't cost too much. She was 18 hundredths up,
and she has increased its to 20 at the finish. Two tents up. Meyers
Taylor having a storming run, despite seemingly making a real hash
of the chicane just down the curve nine.
Their equipment really works and it really likes these faster tracks,
their sleds just excel, we didn't really see it yesterday because they
lost so much speed at the top of the track. If she claims this up, she's
got at least another two tenths is to find in the track. She has taken
half the wall with her there, John! Yeah, and that used to be her style,
and that's why she ended up losing the gold on the last run in Sochi
and ended up with silver, for driving like that. She just needs to
tidy that up because she doesn't need to worry so much about Kaillie
Humphries now, it's her team-mate, but this is going to be great race
over the next four runs. Next up, for Germany, Mariama Jamanka and
with her, Lisa Buckwitz en brake. Number three in the world. Mariama
Jamanka, an ex-hammer thrower.
Jamanka, an ex-hammer thrower. She has not had a particularly good
start, speed wise. If she gets this right, though, which... It shows
that this equipment does work, she knows the track well. She finish
fourth then and now she's getting through clean, so she could also be
a challenge for the medals. Great run so far, everything looks clean,
uses the exit of seven well to push yourself down. A little bit high
there, though. Can she close in on Elana Meyers Taylor at this point,
is she going to stay in front of Kaillie Humphries? It looks like she
is now coming towards it, the Germany equipment really likes the
speed at the bottom of the track. This is going to be interesting. Can
she get within a tenth of a second of Elana Meyers Taylor? She's just a
two hundredths off her. Again, mistakes through the chicane didn't
prove costly. Mariama Jamanka is in this race for gold without a shadow
of a doubt. What a consistent year she has had. We saw her finish top
six in all eight races through the winter. She never missed a beat, and
she's really on song, starting her Olympic Games as well. She is, and
what a great start, what a confidence builder that is.
JOHN JACKSON: The mistake that she made coming into exit nine, into the
chicane, wasn't quite as bad as the one made by Elana Meyers Taylor, and
that's why she managed to close up towards the back end of the course.
JOHN HUNT: Kaillie Humphries in third place at the moment.
third place at the moment. Waiting on the sidelines, Stephanie
Schneider, for Germany. At next up, another strong American team, Jamie
Greubel Poser together with Aja Evans. Aja Evans, from South
Chicago. Jamie Greubel Poser, bronze medallist in Sochi.
medallist in Sochi. And together with Aja Evans, Jamie Greubel Poser
won the World Cup race here last March, where sheep eat Elana Meyers
Taylor in an egg citing Phyllis Chan who is to say they won't be top two
again here? Let's see how Jamie Greubel Poser can react. This team
are either a little bit off the pace, and you would expect that, but
this team are slightly more refined. They've working together for so
long, the Americans switch their women around a lot on the brake but
this is the winning pair from four years ago, so she is having a good
run so far. Is this where she is going to open a little bit of over
gap if she does not make a mistake on this crucial corner? Almost got
away with that, but has she got enough in the tank to really keep
the speed on at the bottom of the track, where these sleds like to
accelerate? And she is closing in, so this is going to be down to the
hundredths of a second again just Mariama Jamanka and Elana Meyers
Taylor both found Goodspeed at the end... And Jamie Greubel Poser is
very similar! She drops in a close third. The three of them separated
by just seven hundredths of a second. We're in for another
crackerjack I think he, John, just like the men's event. We certainly
are. You can see now that there's three sleds lined up, just seven
hundredths between them and there's still more to come down who can fit
in between them. It really is going to be a tight run, and it will be
like that until we get to the fourth run. Is it going to be the same as
every other race that we've seen so far, where the medals are literally
decided by who makes mistakes as they're coming down on that last
run? Been really impressed by the standard so far. Next, we go for
Germany, the world number five, Stephanie Schneider, together with
brake Annika Drazek.
brake Annika Drazek. Stephanie Schneider, formally a brake, injured
the year before last, and in the World Cup last year funnily enough
was ragged at the bottom end of the track, made mistakes into 14 and out
of 15, so we will watch out for that. That is a team that I thought
would start a little bit quicker than that, so may be that shows what
form the Americans are in. This will be another good run, because she's a
very experienced pilot, in some ways, but can make a lot of
mistakes. It's just about how she gets down the track. She's been
driving well, when a little bit long on eight there. But if she gets this
right, again, just that little tap... But the German sleds like the
bottom of this track and accelerate. Is she going to start closing it,
like the others? Maybe not enough track to overtake. She was better at
15 last year here. Can she improve like Mariama Jamanka hammered she
has improved but not quite the same extent and she is in fourth place.
And Kaillie Humphries, trying for this third gold medal, finds herself
in fifth position within 15 minutes of the start of the competition! I
think the Canadians haven't got that combination right. I think it is not
their best line up, if that's what they were looking to go for. We'll
see the Canadians next. Here's a further look at Stephanie Schneider.
Only real mistake here, she just runs on top of the ice and almost
touches the wood. You want to behind on that corner but possibly not that
high. Potentially, medallist, Stephanie Schneider takes her into
fourth place on her first run. Elana Meyers Taylor, the leader. Well,
next to go over Canada, a fascinating combination. The young
driver Alysia Rissling, but look who is her brake,. Ogilvy,. Ogilvy, a
brilliant rugby player, fantastic cyclist the Canada Sigel was the
partner of Kaillie Humphries for those two gold medals. She quit on
Instagram, Alysia Rissling begged her to come and join her building up
to these Games and Heather Moyse having thought about it said, OK, I
am up for this challenge. A brilliant athlete. The youngster
Alysia Rissling is daring as well, she went really well in Pyeongchang
last March to finish fourth. They could be a surprise package. They
certainly could, she has been driving well in training so she
likes this track. And got through their clean. I was waiting for a tap
on the wall but it did not come, she managed to get through there. At the
moment she's driving really, really well. She's got form on this track,
she likes it, the equipment works well, so this is nowhere the key
part is, she needs to get this right. As she comes into this
straight... And that looks like one of the better ones we've seen, other
than Korea. Oh, that mistake... She nearly crashed into that corner
there as she came out, that's not going to help her move towards the
front, but is it going to be enough for her to get in front of Kaillie
Humphries at the finish? That's going to be close. And she's sixth,
a little bit behind Kaillie Humphries. So, the Canadians fifth
and sixth at the moment. The leaderboard all about the Americans
at the Germans -- and the Germans at the moment. That was a tenth slower
than Kaillie Humphries. That mistake into 13 was not great. The start,
she should have been better, she's a little bit over the top of its to
driver there, she needs to be more behind it. Maybe that's her style,
but as she comes down towards nine, this was almost a really good line,
and then she made a mistake going into 13, where she tapped on the
wall, I don't know whether we will get to see that, just on the exit of
this corner... No. Almost where the back of the sled hit and they nearly
rolled in. Next up, for Germany, 24-year-old
24-year-old world number seven and silver medallist in the world junior
championships, an ex skeleton athlete made the transition to Bob
Slate a few years ago, Anna Koehler. Made far too many mistakes in the
top half of the track from two to four. And she is driving the sled a
little bit too much coming into the corners, which means she is working
too hard with the steering. She's going to have to do a lot of work.
But you can see how much difference in time there is compared to the
other sleds, and that's because of her mistakes at the top of the
track. They are just so costly and you just can't build speed up. And
Anna Koehler not making much impression, really. There is a gap
between Alysia Rissling and Anna Koehler, they're sixth and seventh
but there's a cavernous gap between them. Four tenths, which in this
sport is a massive gap. The front six are quite tight, then a gap to
Anna Koehler and the others. That you would have thought gives Mica
McNeill Mica Moore a bit of a chance of getting into the top ten. There
aren't too many top-class acts to come in. Little mistake here, just
coming into that corner late and almost like Nico Walther yesterday
but obviously he tipped over. Next to go, the second pair from Russia,
this is Nadezhda Sergeeva, number eight in the world, her second
Olympics. She didn't really achieve anything at all at Sochi. Finished
really disappointingly there. In 16th place. Her brake is Anastasia
Kocherzhova. Now, last year at this track, that World Cup event which we
refer to often, she was pretty ghastly after that she came in nine.
It completely fell apart for her. Let's see if she's learned any
lessons. Nadezhda Sergeeva on her way from Russia, and her start is
OK, not massively explosive but OK. It certainly puts her in the mix at
the moment with where she did is to be. Just a little bit of over
driving in three there. You could just see the sled cutting guys.
Seems to have settled into it now as we come into six and seven. Little
tap there. -- cutting guys. Coming into nine she really needs to get
this right. Over driving, sliding around, this is not really massive
mistakes but it is just little mistakes everywhere which are making
the time lead away. But she's still hanging in there relatively well,
considering the German who just came down before her, making similar
mistakes. It is better than last year for Nadezhda Sergeeva lady she
goes seventh, half a second off the leaders.
All shaping up pretty nicely. I can't really see, John, with that
sort of speed, that sort of time, how the Russian Nadezhda Sergeeva is
going to be a factor here when it comes to the medal chase tomorrow?
Certainly not for the medals. I would suggest, you know, at this
point in the competition, maybe is now trying to get top eight, top
six... She gets very high there. You can see how much a steering she is
doing, she almost handbrake turns it round that corner, just doing too
much. Next ago for Switzerland is 33-year-old Sabina Hafner in her
third Olympic Games, together with Rahel Rebsamen. Rahel Rebsamen has
got a twin sister evil in who often breaks as well. Let's see now, world
number nine together, despairing. -- twin sister Evelyn. Let's see how
she goes... Her start is pretty average. Yeah, they're not going to
be one of the best starters in the field but we know that if Sabina
Hafner gets this right and all they could have a really good run. It
just depends whether their equipment works. She is good pilot, she has
shown for form in the past. We will see how it goes. Just ran a little
bit high there and you do need to use the height of that corner to get
into what a, but that was just a fraction too high. And that all
we're talking about in these runs. -- into eight. Again it looks like
she's holding on maybe for that sort of top ten position, top eight, if
she can find speed at the bottom. Let's see... And seventh it is the
Sabina Hafner. She found a little bit, Dinxi? To go comfortably clear
of the Russian Nadezhda Sergeeva and just a fraction behind Alysia
Rissling. , so the fair first run for Sabina Hafner, who seems to be
talking to herself and gesticulating. There must be so much
going through your mind when you just done a run of 50 seconds like
that, John.
That was a really good run. Just the exit of seven, just a little bit
sooner. That wasn't so bad through there, just a little bit late. You
can see the difference in the lines between the leading sled and the
Swiss sled. Dropping at different points. That could be down to style
or their equipment and how it works and how they fine speed in the
track. Good start for the Swiss pair. The Austrians wait to go next.
But before that, we see another Canadian team. The first Olympics
for Christine De Bruin, the pilot, who only just squeezed into the
games. At St Moritz she needed to beat the American Britney Rhein
Bolt. She was in tears, performed moderately, but then the Americans
performed even worse and those tears turned to smiles as qualification is
guaranteed. Can she take her opportunity? This pairing is number
ten in the world. I would have thought their start would be sooner
than that. She did a bit of work in the first bend. Through the second
bend, off she goes.
bend, off she goes. This is the difference between a top pilot and
one of her standards. It's just little mistakes. It could be the
thing that costs her time on the run down. One of the best straits we
have seen so far. It's good, but is it enough to try to build speed and
pull herself towards the front of the back and see if she can get into
the top ten? Will be eighth or ninth at the moment for the Canadian,
Christine De Bruin, crosses over in eighth. She found a little bit of
extra speed late on, which is encouraging for her future in this
Olympic Games. She goes ahead of Sergeeva, just
Sergeeva, just behind Sabina Hafner. The
The defending champion Kaillie Humphries is currently in fifth
place. Not a bad run overall, just a bit of mistakes. Both brakemen and
the pilot running in. What a great shot, trying to get through that
little gap between two and three. It tight to fit the big sled through
there without clattering the walls. Deep into the second half of this
first run.
first run. The next for Austria, Christina Hengster and Valerie
Kleiser. Christina Hengster at her second Olympic Games. So much
experience and not too many years ago was one of the best in the
world. However, this year results have not been great and she has
dropped to number 13 in the world rankings. She has been up at three
and four in her time. You wonder as the years to come by, is she
struggling to maintain those high standards of yesteryear? She has
been inconsistent. When she was riding the crest of a wave results
were good. But she went to her home World Championships and she crashed.
That seemed to knock her confidence from that point on. Making a little
mistake at the top of the track, the same as the sled before her. We will
see. She can either be really, really good or really, really
average. That was a lower line into the beginning of eight. It's looking
more like one of the average runs, the speed dropping away. Seven
tenths back already. This is not a great run from a pilot of her
standards. No. Christina Hengster through 15, and it will end in
disappointment here. The top ten missed by a fair margin. She goes
11th. With a few more talented athletes to come. Christina Hengster
remaining a long way off her best. A lot of that was down to the start.
It was a little bit off the pace. You would expect being two tents of
the start, they would be at least six tenths off naturally anyway. She
has lost a little bit in the drive between three and four and four and
five. Coming in a little bit late and getting a little nudge. That's
why she lost a bit of speed at the bottom as well. Meyers Taylor is a
fraction ahead of Jamanka of Germany. Greubel Poser is right
there. Schneider goes up. Kaillie Humphries in fifth. That's the story
so far of the first run. Next for Belgium, Willemsen and Sara Aerts. A
very clean World Cup run, but they have been hampered by slow start
times. We will keep an eye on that as they push away.
as they push away. Again, Willemsen was one of the top five in the world
a few years ago and has slipped a little bit recently. A poor start
again. What chance of you got? You haven't. The issue you have now,
used to have some of the best equipment but it wasn't just a
contractor to the Belgian team, so everybody has the same equipment
now.
now. So everybody dries relatively the same. It's hard for them to pick
it up. But she is one of the most consistent drivers on the circuit.
She goes through a little bit late, has to work hard. If she can get
four consistent runs then you can pull your way back up the order. But
she is holding on well here. Into 15, she should be tenth at the
worst. She just faded back. In behind Sergeeva, just a heartbeat
away. Willemsen goes tent here. -- goes tenth here. All in all, not a
bad run, looking at the start time, she has overdriven it a little bit
and really did well to keep herself within half a second, and this was
one of the better lines through there. Not doing much work. She has
a good feel for the front of the sled. Great slow motion shots. Look
at the way the bobsled moves and wobbles around. The casing is
presumably relatively light? Most of it is made of carbon fibre so
doesn't way that much. Jamanka looking after her runners. Chatting
things through, in a great position. The next for Austria is Katrin
Beierl and Victoria Hahn. World number 19 together. Best run this
year was fifth at Winter Berg. Only top ten finish. But 12 months ago
here at this track she took almost every wall and corner with her, one
of the most untidy runs. She started by smashing into bend number two.
There could be a health warning with this run the. We will see how she
goes this time. She looks quite high. Just manages to get away with
it. Three was a little bit sloppy. But she just tabs on the wall there
again. Hasn't been driving that long. It's one of those pilots where
she can put in one good run, but can she put in four because of the level
of inconsistency she will have? Into the Dragon's Tail, a big mistake,
one of the worst entrances we have seen into that. That will scrub away
any advantage. Katrin Beierl doesn't seem to have learned very much from
the horrible run here last March. She is 15th.
She is 15th. Only the Nigerian team are slower. A room full shake of her
head. She knows it wasn't very good. -- a rueful shake of her head. That
big mistake at the entrance would have cost her a lot of time. She had
to work really hard to control the sled. Just little mistakes. This is
the big one that cost her all that time. A little nudge that puts her
into a big skid which sends her into the corner the wrong way. And then
she works hard to turn it from that point and it scrubs off speed. Even
the high five was quite half-hearted. Great Britain's turn
now, good luck to Mica McNeil and Mica Moore on the break. The story
is very familiar, funding pulled from underneath them last year. They
went crowdfunding. Maybe most of you watching at home right now sent a
few quid on their way. Nearly 50,000 was raised to help them be here.
Their training runs have been pretty good. If they can get into the top
ten or top eight region on this run then it would be a good first run to
settle the nerves. They want a good start. The British girls on their
way. Mica has only had ten runs, hadn't driven this track before the
Olympics started. Their Achilles' heel will be the start. But Mica has
been driving so well on this track. When she started close to the top
runners she has been up there with them. She makes a little mistake
there.
there. She hasn't been to the Olympic Games before and is
absorbing the whole atmosphere and embracing it. That's what's coming
across in her driving. And that's one of the best straits we have
seen. She is keeping herself in contention, but is it enough to stay
in the top ten? Starting to pull herself back to the front. She has
driven the track well. It's a good run. Terrific out of 15. She goes
sixth. My word, despite the little knock at four and slightly untidy
after and a slow start, what a good run that was from Mica and Mica.
This sled is quick. The equipment is quick. They haven't got the start,
but the reason the equipment is quick is because it is driven well.
Mica is starting to become a really good pilot. They just need to find a
bit more horsepower at the top and this is the reason they are flying,
she has nailed the straight every time. That's one of the best lines.
Five hundredths of a second off double Olympic champion Kaillie
Humphries. A fabulous first run, they can be well pleased. They will
be over the moon. What would be a great story is if they the funding
marker. Another great story, 30 years after Cool
years after Cool Runnings the Jamaicans, aiming to be inspired by
what happened 30 years ago. And make the youngsters of the future
similarly inspired. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian has talked
beautifully about the run they had earlier in the week. They have been
a little bit disabled with the internal wrangling is. That's now
has to be put to one side. We will see how the Jamaican pairing gets
on. Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian is an experienced pilot. She used to
compete for the US team and has won medals at World Cup level. She has
got talent behind her, but she is starting to build a new programme in
the Jamaican setup. A little bit long in eight. Can she get the
straight right? Coming round the corner in was a bit too far, and
that's why she had the tap. These little mistakes are costing time.
Just dropping off as they come into the bottom part of the track. I
think top ten looks unlikely. Maybe 12 or 13. It's gone slightly worse
than that for the Jamaicans, nearly eight tenths off the pace. They go
along side Rodionova, the Russian, joint 15th. Only two have gone
slower. I think she will be really disappointed with that. They were
hopeful they could replicate the seventh place of Winter Berg. They
were, but the difference this week, they have had issues with their
coaches. She slips on the handle, maybe one of the reasons she got
excited going into the handle. She missed one and it caused her to fall
into the bar, if you like. That shouldn't affect the drive, which
was a little bit messy, but because they didn't have a coach, they had
no eyes and ears on the track to help them find tune anything.
help them find tune anything. Meyers Taylor, all smiles, she is the
leader. The next to go, for Romania, Constantin,
Constantin, and the brake, Andreea Grecu, she has developed into a
fantastic pilot herself. But Constantin has the honour here. 17th
in Sochi. Capable of a bit of a surprise. She is a really good
driver. They just haven't had the starts they have needed. But when
she has got it right, she could be one of the surprises in that top six
or top eight area. But she has to have a perfect run. It's looking so
good, so far. Building into seven and the big drop off on the exit of
eight, as it starts to accelerate. Into nine, she nearly got away with
that straight. Just centimetres away from perfect. Hopefully she can keep
on building speed, stained in the mix of the top ten, top 12. Get the
first run down and then settle into the rest. She takes 12th, the
Romanians doing really well.
The Romanians do really, really well, a bit like the two
19-year-olds in the men's event yesterday. She should be happy with
that, there wasn't many mistakes in that run at all. Just unlucky on the
big she came to skim the wall, but this is where their issue is, it is
just at the start. They don't have the most powerful of athletes on the
sled, so that's why they're off the pace. Just there, that little skim
off the wall just pushed them across, otherwise they would have
had the optimal online into that corner. Looking happy. And rightly
so, they've done very well. It has flown by, run one. We're down now to
the last pairing. For Belgian, this is An Vennieuwenhuyse and Tony. Now,
they've been hampered by slow starts for much of the 12 months just gone.
-- and Tony. Their best World Cup finish was tenth. Last year, though,
at this World Cup track, they were absolutely beautiful through that
key nine and. A slow start, one of the slowest we have seen. And she
also had a crush in unofficial training, then we first got here.
She is one of those drivers who gets it right and is quick, or she's
almost hitting every corner. So, it depends on what we are going to see
from her on this run. It is looking good so far, but is this where it's
going to fall apart if she doesn't get it right? She got it right last
year. That is one of the best lines that we've seen through there, but
she's just been over driving the top of the track and again, a little
mistake. A lot of her deficit now is down to her start, that's all it is.
The run has been relatively good compared to some of the others we've
seen. She was 19th at the start and she goes up to 15th. And that is a
tie with Kim, in fact. 0.72 of the lead.
lead. Plenty of support for Sophie in the crowd here. So, that
completes a run number one, and so pleased she did well through the
chicane. That was a really good run, very tidy, the only mistake was at
13, and that would not have cost her too much time. The reason why she's
seven 10oz behind is just the fact that they were three tenths is
behind on the start, so all in all she should be happy with that. And I
think she will be when she reflects. That is run one done and dusted.
Mica McNeill and Mica Moore in sixth place. Could hardly have asked for
more. There is our leader, Elana Meyers Taylor. She leads by two
hundredths of a second from the German Jamanka, who is right on her
tail, with Greubel Poser in that bronze medal position again.
Stephanie Schneider, Humphries and the British girls are next - run two
to follow shortly!
Everybody has to start somewhere. BBC Get Inspired will help you get
involved and get active. Go to the BBC website to find our activity
guides and activity find a. Enter your postcode and the sport you
would like to try or just click search. So, where will you start?
Get active, get involved, get inspired. And we'll be heading back
to the Alpensia Sliding Center just after one o'clock when we are on BBC
Two for the second run. Nicky Minichiello and Amy Williams are
with me. Your reaction to the Great Britain women posting a time which
is sixth quickest? Great start to the competition. We knew she has had
it, she has really connected well with this track. We know the start
is not up there with Elana Meyers Taylor, but she's a better driver
and the combination, they just work really well and it is really
exciting to see. Not the best start but still able to come back. And
what did you make of it? Just brilliant, and the fact that they do
get on so well, great chemistry together in the bob, only 0.25
seconds behind so it is doable. To come down in sixth place in run one
is probably better than they imagined, I don't know quite what
their goals were. I think coming into it they would have been happy
with top eight but considering how training has gone this week, we're
looking at top five, top six. The athletes are always moving
goalposts!
goalposts! As soon is you get into top five, your goal becomes a medal
China let's have a look to see where they can improve and what they will
be analysing before they head out for the second run... So, the start,
not the fastest at the velocity is good so there holding it. And by
that you mean jumping into the bob when you're still going fast, rather
than levelling out? Yeah, because as soon as you actually hold your speed
you're actually starting to slow down. You want to keep that
momentum. The lines are clear, there are very few mistakes. You can see
she's just building all the way. It was a solid line and as we see on
nine, she had one of the best lines of the competition. How much
experience does Mica McNeill have of driving? She started in 2011, so
just before the Youth Olympics in 2012 but at this level, not an awful
lot, she's still developing. Their best World Cup finish so far is
fifth, so they are legitimate contenders for a top five place at
the very least, Amy? And a really good top speed, that is right up
there with the best bobs coming down. I think this shows great
potential and I really think everyone needs to stay glued to the
TV to see what happens next! Considering how much Elana Meyers
Taylor started ahead of her, and that differential at the bottom,
Mica has had one of the best drives of the competition there. And as we
have seen in the other sliding competitions, it is a driver's track
not a starter's tracked. Yeah, it seems you can get away with not
being in the top three offer start if you can drive it through the
corners and not make mistakes, you can still get a medal. Let's have a
look at the fastest crew out there from the first run, and this is
Elana Meyers Taylor piloting the US team, with Lauren Gibbs behind her.
Why are they so strong? Bobsleigh is down to three things. You've got to
start - they're phenomenal starters. Elana Meyers Taylor in herself is a
real athlete and together with Lauren Gibbs they get huge velocity.
And they have the best sled technology in the world. And the
driver, she's got better and better. The start and the equipment has made
a huge difference, but that's not take anything away from her, she's
training will jump in and this is now the only one that she doesn't
have. As you can see, it's not as neat as Mica, she's not quite got
the lines. If Mica had this sled and that start, she would be destroying
absolutely everybody. I guess it is the confidence of. Mica has got
almost nothing to lose, first Olympic Games. She's happy to be
there, having gone through the season which was a bit troublesome,
she's here, there's not really the pressure on her. So she can actually
go a bit hidden and just perform without the huge pressure on her
shoulders, and just maybe creep on up there and get confidence with
every single run. Is their information sharing from the
different sports? Will the skeleton team be sharing stuff that they've
learnt about the track, about anything else, with the bobsleigh
team? We don't normally, generally, however, there is some stuff that
you are going to be talking about. But then we do drive it quite
differently, we drive lines quite differently. Yeah, bobsleigh is
actually more like the luge in terms of the drive lines, because you've
got more control over the steering. So there will be some sharing but a
lot of it is not really transferable. Let's talk about
Jamaica. How did you think it went? Not great, the start was an
fantastic. You can see she slips off the handle and it settles her, it
takes her another three or four steps to get in,
steps to get in, and Carrie Russell will be aware of that. That was
proper damage. Yeah, it was just scrappy, so they will be going back
and sitting down and analysing exactly how they make it better for
the second run. They're 17th now out of 20, which isn't where they should
be. No, it's not. They would easily have been looking at top ten, top
eight, and really starting to mix it in there. So they will be
disappointed but we've seen on this track, anything can happen. And that
means they will go third in the second run, because they're going to
go in reverse order. That will be shortly after one o'clock on BBC
Two. Just to repeat, the British pair are in sixth place, the USA
leading the way! And that is a very good first run! Now, the women's
3,000m relay has been happening in short-track speed skating, and the
Netherlands actually set a world record time I winning the B-final.
But they haven't qualified for the a final. This is not a baton as you
would expect in a relay competition, and if you thought that short-track
speed skating was chaotic and full of crashes, well, to be honest, you
haven't seen anything yet. Let's see the A-final of the women's relay.
They're playing some dramatic sounding build-up of music in the
arena. I don't think we need it, we don't need any added drama for this
one. Imposition two, it is Italy. And Korea going to the front of. Kim
Boutin takes the first position for Canada. 27 laps Olympic final.
Canada. 27 laps Olympic final. And away we go! And what a race this
could be, the scramble to that first corner is taken by Italy, they have
the early lead! Canada in
corner is taken by Italy, they have the early lead! Canada in second
place. And Marianne St Gelais pushed into the action early. China in
third, Korea in fourth. And it's going to be a very tactical race.
The Italians don't want to be putting the pressure on too early.
And that's obviously why the Dutch completed that world record in the
B-final because this will be much more of a tactical race. Korea still
biding their time at the back. Pushed into action now is Kim Yejin,
moving up ahead of the Italians into second place. And now, potentially
into first. Canada are doing everything they possibly can to
maintain their position at the front of the race. Italy suddenly find
themselves at the back. And Kim Boutin is in second place behind the
Chinese. And the Korean, Choi, in third place at the moment. There was
no room, because when the change was made, they did well to avoid all the
traffic around them. They're still tightly packed, all four teams! 19
laps to go. The skaters are actually blocking any of the other skaters
from coming up the inside on the exchange.
exchange. For China, Li Jinyu on the front of the race. Still Korea in
third place, second it's Canada. Valerie Maltais for Canada is about
to make the change, and still, there's not much room out there at
all. China leading at
all. China leading at the moment, putting the hammer down and showing
some speed, as change is made once more. I think the Koreans are just
waiting for that moment to explode. Choi just tucked in behind the
Chinese, we've always had China and Korea challenging for the
gold-medal. Zhou Yang hands over to Li Jinyu joiner. In second place it
is Canada and it is really hotting up, it is anyone's gold-medal. China
starting to open a slight gap but the Koreans are stuck in third
place, they can't get through. Have China really decided to go for gold
and go for the last 12 laps?! There is a little bit of a gap back to Kim
Boutin now. Choi is in third place, Italy struggling to make an
impression, back in fourth. As one small, taken up for China and Zhou
Yang. The gap is opening! Korea are still hanging in there with Choi
Minjeong, who has got a blistering turn of pace. That was good tactics
by the Koreans, Canada actually helped them to come back to the
Chinese team. Looking for some space around the outside! Canada leading
the way, there will be five laps to go as they come over the line! Owing
to the front for the very first time, almost! China are still
leading! Rear town in second place. Handed over to Kim Yejin! Four laps
to go!
The Koreans are right on the tail of the Chinese. Korea in a good
position to potentially win this. Choi
Choi Minjeong, you can hardly hear yourself think. Choi Minjeong
leading the way. I think she should hang on to win. Choi Minjeong gets
it on the line from Fan Kexin. I don't know what to say about that. I
wouldn't like to be the referee who has to make the decision. When
Canada went down, they took the Italians down with them, and it's
short track and very mixed. What a stunning race. The Italians are left
very disappointed with two of their skaters going sliding into the
padding. In the closing laps. They have not been able to impose
themselves at all. It came down to a big battle between China and Korea.
What a race it was, what a stunning race.
race. We have to wait until the official result. Everybody
celebrating here. We don't know what the official result will be. I think
it will take some time before the referee gets over to the video
replay to actually decide what happens here. With so many athletes
out on the ice at the same time, there is so much going on. A lot of
emotion coming out. Tears of joy for some and disappointment for others.
We can take a look at this once more. We can see Kim Boutin, the
Koreans missing their exchange. They come back and exchange and they have
to touch. But they took the Canadians down, that was the first
instance.
instance. In the exchange, the skater, 128, falling down for Korea,
taking the Canadians with them. It will be very call. Basically taking
the Canadians out of contention. Absolutely. It could well be Korea
get a penalty after winning the gold medal, and that will move the
Chinese into first place. And then I think the Italians got second. And
that would mean the Canadians have third place. The Koreans are waving
as if they have won the Olympic gold medal, but it has to be formally
confirmed. There has been a penalty. Which way has it gone? It has gone
very quiet here. Two penalties! China have been penalised, Korea
win, and Italy end up with Silver! The Dutch, having won the pea --
having won the B-final... The Dutch get a medal for their efforts
without even making the final! Disappointment for China. Italy were
despondent because they had a couple of skaters crashing earlier. Maybe
as a result of that incident, actually. They suffered for it. But
Canada have been penalised here. It looks to me as if the Canadians were
impeded by Korea. Absolutely, I'm totally flabbergasted, I can't
believe it. Plenty for everyone to digest at the end of this session in
the Ice Arena. No wonder the Dutch can't believe it, they were not even
on the ice and they have won a medal. That has happened before. I
think it was Lillehammer, the bronze medal in the 500 metres after a fall
in the A-final,... The Korean team will be beside themselves with
winning but they will be mightily relieved. How nervous will they have
been down there? You have 12,000 Koreans supporting here. To perform
like this in your home country at the Olympic Games is astonishing.
There is the final result. Korea are gold medallists in the ladies 3000
meter relay. Italy winning silver and bronze goes to the Netherlands
because Canada and China both penalised in the A-final and the
Dutch won the B-final. Apart from that, nothing happening in the
relay! STUDIO: The crowd there absolutely loved it. The reaction of
the Netherlands when they realised they had the bronze stop silver to
Italy and gold to South Korea for the sixth time in seven runnings of
the women's relay at the Olympics. A great record. South Korea claiming
three golds from a possible five in short track speed skating at these
games. The medal table at the Winter Olympics now looks like this with
Norway out in front ahead of Germany and Canada.
and Canada. South Korea, four gold medals for them, and three of them
have come in short track speed skating. Sarah Lindsay has joined
us, Nicola Minichiello and Amy Williams. That relay, that was
bonkers. The relay can be a crazy event and it's really hard to keep
track when there is so much happening and so many skaters on the
track at the same time with people coming on and off the track. It's
fair to say the referees have been kept fairly busy at short track.
They have, with a lot of disqualifications in the last ten
days. And all for different reasons. We will look back at what happened
to Elise Christie now. Her Winter Olympics is over having not
qualified from the heats to get to the quarterfinals of the 1000
metres, the event in which she is world champion. It has been a
desperately disappointing day for her. Sarah, do you have any latest
from the camp? No. She has been through a lot. I think today was a
bit of a nail in the Coffin for her. Her last interview, we saw it was
very difficult for her to reflect so early. But she has gone out and done
an interview straight after the race and been honest and open, which is
commendable. We will see that interview in a second, but we will
take you through how events unfolded for Elise Christie. She made the
decision she was fit enough to start. This was the heat at around
10:15am this morning, the first start in the 1000 metres. She ran
straight from the start, the impact on her ankle might have been
problematic. She took a trip, clashing with the Hungarian skater
and went down. She grabbed that her ankle straightaway, and she hit the
right foot. They restarted the race. We were not sure she was going to
continue. It didn't look likely, but she went over to the side of the
barrier. Nicky Gooch was fixing her skates for her, the coach, making
sure they were still sharp. When she restarted she took her time,
essentially starting from the back. But in moving up through the field
she committed two offences. I think her confidence was maybe a little
knocked. Normally she would make a big move around the outside
possibly. She made some moves up the inside. The first penalty she was
given, she was disqualified for that the other day. I think that one was
particularly unfair. She got up into a qualifying position and we thought
she had got through and would have another couple of days to refocus
and progress with her rehab. But unfortunately she was given two
penalties and given a yellow card, which is almost unheard of, she has
never received one before. This is the second offence. She was
disqualified for that. It has gone against her again. This is the
second. With one lap to go, she has heard the bell and is in qualifying
position. She has held her ground. She is trying to qualify. Don't be
too alarmed of the shots of Nicky Gooch carrying her off, that was
always the plan shows she wouldn't have to walk on the skates. --
always the plan so she wouldn't have to walk on the skates. It was always
the plan to pick her up and carry her so she wouldn't have to walk on
those long skates, because it's very difficult. This is what she said to
David McDaid earlier. I did everything I could to turn it
around. I had ligament damage in my ankle. Putting a skate on with that
is not the comfiest thing in the world. We did everything we could to
turn this around. It obviously wasn't meant to be. If it was any
other competition, would you have been on the start line today? I
would have been off for five or six weeks. I would have been in rehab. I
wouldn't have got on with a World Championships, and it wouldn't have
been my choice, I would have been told not to go on. The only reason
they gave me the choice was it's the Olympics. The worst that could
happen is I would damage it more. And it will have, I got kicked on it
falling at the start. But that doesn't matter, I have trained all
my life for this. It was everything to me. And it's done. I think
everyone watching will think that you have got a hell of a lot of
guts. Yeah, thanks. I don't know, I felt I owed it to Britain. I really
want to get short track out there. It's such an amazing sport.
Obviously at times it does this to you. Honestly, I can put my hands up
right now and say I don't know why I got the yellow card. When I watched
the race I was kicked on the start and fell over. I've never had a
yellow card in my life. I very rarely get penalties. I went up the
inside and on the video I went past the girl, so I have no idea. The
only thing I can think, possibly the referee doesn't think it is safe I
race with the ankle the way it is. He was encouraged me to get off the
ice after the faller start. If that is the case then fair enough, I can
see why he might not want me to race like that because it might not be
the safest. But, yeah... We know how much work you put in, and you talk
about putting short track out there. I think you have already done that.
You are the world champion. How do you some of these games, because, I
think it's fair to say, it hasn't really gone very well! LAUGHTER
You would have to ask me tomorrow, I think. Right now I'm a bit
shell-shocked. I worked so hard to come back from this injury. I think
a thousand people wouldn't have skated with my ankle the way it was.
I can barely... The only thing I can say is I can promise Britain I will
fight back from this. I will come back for paging. And hopefully I can
do Britain proud then. -- I will come back for Beijing. STUDIO:
That's the attitude that has made her a world champion. It hasn't
worked out at the Olympics, in Sochi and again in Pyeongchang. Coming
into this game is she said it couldn't possibly be as bad as four
years ago. I fear that it has been. I think it probably has been,
unfortunately. She is strong. And she is planning on coming back. I
can't see in a million years her finishing yet, she has a lot of
business left on the ice. It seems harsh for all this to happen to one
person, Amy? It does. And from that interview I'm surprised at how
strong she was able to hold it together in that interview. To have
downfall after downfall, it can psychologically break you. There is
so much pressure as an athlete that you put on yourself to get a medal,
let alone the other pressures where you want to do well to win funding
for your sport. She said she wants to get short track out there to the
world and to Britain. She has, and I think in that sense she needs to not
be so tough on her self. I feel for her desperately. She said she has
appreciated that support. We are heading to the BBC One o'clock news
now. Winter Olympic coverage will continue on BBC Two. But Elise
Christie's games are