with it! Go wit. Allegedly! From the ridiculousness of naming this
trolley, to the grace and poise of figure skating... Here is our guide
courtesy of Kat Down. The one I'm excited about is the women's singles
competition. Because for the last couple of years we've had Evgenia
Medvedeva, the princess... Queen of the ice! She's been untouchable for
two years. She has. Until the injury dock her out of - a couple of major
competitions. This year at the European championships she lost her
title. Outprodigiesed by her own training partner. Team-mate,
training partner and the current junior world champion. If European
champion in the same year as you are coming out of the junior events, and
now got to be would be of the favourites for gold. It is
phenomenal. I think what's interesting to note - this is
something across the board with all the disciplines - is that at the top
level in juniors, junior Grand Prix, world champions, the medallists are
doing the identical material technically that those people at the
European, four Continents, and world championships are also doing. So, it
- to them it is - I'm doing the exact same material, but I have half
a minute more to do it with. It is going to be a great competition.
It will be the two Russians up the top. It depends on two
It will be the two Russians up the top. It depends on two delivers all
the material on the night. Can you do the triple triple combinations
but can you do them beautifully? Can you have a performance that connects
with not only the audience but specifically the judges. That will
be the interesting thing. Everybody is great, they're all prepared. But
then somebody like a Kostner comes along, comes back into the skating
world in quite a big way, got the bronze medal at European
championships, didn't have the greatest skate but really could be
the grand team and the beautician amongst all these jumping beans to
upset the apple I'd like to see Medvedeva win the
gold, though, after dominating for two years. And with the unlucky
injury I'd like her to come out and say to Zagitova, this young thing,
"Hang on a second, I'm still in charge here." For a few more
seasons. It's time to go over to the women's singles free skate in which
15-year-old Alina Zagitova leads, and to find out how she does and the
rest of the field we have our commentary team there.
Emmi Peltonen, the two-time national champion of Finland. And her father
won four Olympic medals in ice hockey, silver in 2016, bronze 1994,
1998 and 2010. Emmi Peltonen's going to be quite a way off the medals
here but she'll be looking to improve on her position of 18th
after the short programme.
Beautiful flow and light on the first triple toe loop, not so much
on the second. Needed -- - needed the hand down. Oh, down on the Not
enough flow across the ice once the elevation had happened on the
takeoff of the jump.
takeoff of the jump. Lutz. Not enough flow across
Little better there with the triple loop double toe loop.
Double axel loop, triple salco, much better flow across the ice there.
Just the double loop there, needing that triple.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE
Well, that was all unravelling out there on the ice for Emmi Peltonen
at times. She held it together to finish.
You were talking earlier about one of the skaters and me saying that I
want it to feel like it's coming at that moment, and that's exactly what
this girl just did. You watch in the middle of that step sequence, maybe
it was the fact that the technical hadn't happened and she was feeling
it and she was in that moment, but choreographically that was such a
lovely programme, music absolutely suits her, and it's such a shame
because the jumps are so clean and so precise when they happen. And
choreographically, I have to say, I'm going to give credit. Mark is
the cover grapher of -- choreographer of that. And this is
the moment where, if you were to take the jumps out of that
programme, would you skill want to watch that girl skate? Yes, I would.
Absolutely, yeah, no question. First triple low loop easy. One -- second
one needed the hand down and there are so many red boxes on the jumping
elements here. Haven't seen this girl enough in practice or
competition to know if it's a - not enough self-belief. Look at the
flight. Easy on the double Axel. Light, fine into the rotation.
Light, fine into the rotation. And again it's that lovely quality of
edges within the steps and the movement, put down there, the single
flip. So much given away.
flip. So much given away. Again, interpretation is her highest score,
up in the 7s.
up in the 7s. Performance also in the 7s. I would have been a little
higher in performance. For the commitment to the movement that she
was given. But that is not going to help her chances, certainly not to a
season's best.
Well, her season's best is 106.80.
It's 6. -- 101.86. So Emmi Peltonen, of Finland, in fifth.
Our next skater, representing Australia, Kailani Craine.
APPLAUSE Kailani Craine, the four-time
Australian national champion, and she's chosen the Moulin Rouge
soundtrack this season, looking for a bit of that virtue and magic that
-- Moir magic that -- that I saw in the previous dance. Have I ever
egged it?
Kailani Craine is one of those skaters that gets scrutinised on her
rotations and jumps. She will want to absolutely nail every single one
of them.
Tripping lutz, double toe loop. -- triple lutz, double toe loop.
That second triple lutz will probably go under review.
MUSIC PLAYS
Triple loop, loop, triple Salchow.
MUSIC PLAYS
Nicely with the jumps.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE Well, no problem with the jumps in
that she stayed on her feet but it's the rotation that will come under
scrutiny. How is it looking on the old computer there?
Couple of Reds. -- reds. Triple lutz. But the movement is still
clean as is the triple loop triple Salchow combo, but both have minus
negative grades of execution from the judges. No, I thought she
attacked that brilliantly this time around. The technical score in the
top left-hand corner, above that, Elizabet Tursynbaeva of Kazakstan.
Yes, and -- Elizabet Tursynbaeva of Kazakstan. Yes, and I would expect
it to be. Again, it's not a problem when it works and they're strong and
solid. She doesn't have the quiet quit on the flows of the jumps, the
nice flow on the landings you have coming in and a lot of the other
girls and women have really lovely extensions and they use that to pull
away from the landing and the jump. But, yeah, it's up and down on the
spot in many places but again it was the rotation. Look here. Question
isn't so much on the rotation, it's whether that's actually the correct
edge and there we government now I am looking and both the second
triple lutz yep. Boom, see that last quarter turn on the ice. And the
triple Salchow in the combination have been undered, so downgraded
there. This is the jump that's in question. Yep. Again it's hard to
see with the naked eye but on the slow mow, not a question. Her foot
is finishing the rotation of the jump by the time it's hit the ice.
Yes, she's landing and then finishing. And it's just something
that's - sort of has been allowed to happen and I have to say in our day
you were backwards or you weren't. And there is a benefit of the doubt
for a slight under, just under a quarter. And - yeah, personally I
would say no. It's either fully rotated or not. But then I don't
write the rules at the ISU. Much as you'd like to.
Amend I think there's a few of us in our commentary positions who would
like to amend and, as I would say, get rid of the grey. Certainly been
the buzz I've been picking up.
11.84 points, it's a new season's best then for Kailani Craine. --
111.84 points. It's a new season's best then for Craine. She slots into
fourth place.
Yes, I'm really happy. The next skater represents Germany. Nicole
Schott.
Schott. Nicole Schott then, the German national champion.
German national champion. And she skated her short programme in the
team event, didn't go to plan. Pulled it back on Wednesday when she
skated again in the short skate. And this is our first look at these
Olympics of her free skate.
MUSIC PLAYS Lovely triple flip to open. Good,
solid landing edge there with some running flow. Can she get the same
now? Triple low loop, triple toe loop. Better on the second jump than
on the first.
Hand down.
MUSIC PLAYS
Just starting to slightly fall apart.
Again just not getting the quality in the landings that she wants on
these triple jumps.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE
Well, she's got a cross in the box there, so that's definitely an
element missed, and a good start but it did all start to unravel Yes. --.
Yes,. Just a little tentative, and as you saw with the Finnish skater
such a natural musicality in her movement and really lovely across
the ice but just not a commitment to letting yourself go for the big
jumps. Few little mistakes, didn't get the second triple flip, which
needed -- which you needed to have as a combination so now it's been
called underrotated plus downgraded for the repetition, so just 1.49 for
that element. As opposed to 6 or 7 points she would have got had that
been the combination. Yes, the choreographic sequences is the X in
the box. So what went -- what went wrong there?
Rather oddly I didn't know what she intended for said choreographic
sequence. Again, there are... People who - yeah, you can see that was
actually underrotated and the hand down there on the flip. I was going
to say it's quite difficult to spot when people make mistakes in their
choreographed sequence. Because for me the entire thing should be
choreography. Why there should be a specific sequence where you go this
is choreography. "Watch this". Yes, I don't get it. Judges have watched
practices, have seen where this specific choreographic element has
been placed in the programme.
been placed in the programme. So the judges aren't coming into this
competition cold. They have expectations. Yes. On these
athletes. Yes. They will come and watch practices if they can to try
and get an understanding of where people are, the technical panel
certainly come and watch, make notes on the layout of the programmes.
There are researchers also for a lot of television companies who come and
do a programme layout, know where the elements are within the --
performance.
I think she's gonna be dropping. A few places. Yeah, quite a few
places. 109.26, so Nicole Schott down into fifth.
down into fifth. Elizabet Tursynbaeva of Kazakstan still
leading the way. Kim Hanul brilliant performance from the Korean, she
hangs on to second, the 15-year-old.
Next to skate and representing Slovakia.
Slovakia. Nicole Rajicova. So, Nicole Rajicova representing
Slovakia but another skater at these Games who's US-Bosch and has chosen
to represent a different country. Her parents are Slovakian.
Her dad is her coach.
MUSIC PLAYS
Double Axel, triple toe loop to open.
Lovely landing out of that triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
That triple lutz will go under review for the rotation.
MUSIC PLAYS
Better on the second triple lutz.
MUSIC PLAYS
Oh, made the triple loop and the double toe loop but I think that
second double loop at the end of that combination might be under. Not
so with that second triple loop. It was a cracker.
MUSIC PLAYS
Oh, don't lose it on a spin!
So close to the end and that concentration just sliding away
because she thought, you know, I'm nearly there - nearly done a
brilliant job of my Olympic Games! LAUGHTER
She's gotten the credit - level 2 on the spin. A shame. She fought
through a lot of that. Dad will be pleased She will be happy with that
too. Lovely quality on some of those jumps. Doesn't have the flexibility
within the spin positions. That we will -- positions that we will see
in other skaters. I think it slipped - the blade just slipped off the
hand and may have got her finger there.
MUSIC PLAYS Aim sure there are a few jumps on review. Definitely not that
one. Definitely that one. LAUGHTER
Yep! That Lutz has been called under. He's jumping for her!
LAUGHTER Yep. I had a question of one of the
others.
And, yes, the second trip it Lutz has also now been called
under-rotated.
Costly errors.
She doesn't match others from a technical point of view. Would have
absolutely cleaned up if the two jump elements hadn't been pushed
down. And she was two spots above her. The component scores are not as
high. There may be a bit of jiggle going on. There is dad on her right.
ANNOUNCER: The scores please... You can see the resemblance
ANNOUNCER: 114... A season's best of 114.60. She's done it with her final
performance at the Olympic Games! Up into third position for Nicole
Rajicova, behind Elizabet Tursynbaeva and Hanul Kim.
Isadora Williams. Another US-born skater. Her mother is Brazilian. So,
Isadora became the first skater to represent Brazil at the Olympic
Games in 2014. She came 30th then, so she's definitely on for an
improvement on that here.
MUSIC PLAYS
FORCEDWHITE
Trip it Lutz, double toe loop. Would have liked triple-triple, but not
the quality of landing on the first jump.
Better on the triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE That's the best triple so far.
Triple loop. The first of the jumps to be in the green.
MUSIC PLAYS
Not so good the second triple Lutz.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE You really feel for her, because she
came out on Wednesday and delivered a charming short programme, but that
was scrappy. Yep. Strong and solid the other day. She doesn't have the
technical content package in the long programme. So it was always
going to be a drop. She was always going to get - going to go below the
other girls, but chef wanted to -- she would have wanted to got the
jumps not only clean, but get positive grades of execute points
from the judges to stay up in this second group. I think she's going to
drop fairly near the bottom now. Under-rotated on the first triple
Lutz. I'm sure there are others that are going to be reviewed. We're back
into the 6s for component scores, plus the deduction. Two-foot landing
on the second jump, on that toe loop. You can see her pulling it
round, can't you? It's forced. Clean edge on the takeoff of the Lutz,
but... Just not quite clear. And the second triple Lutz has now also been
called under. Her tech score has plummeted into the high 30s. She
would be looking for the high 40s.
Just not her day, I'm afraid.
ANNOUNCER: The scores please...
Isadora Williams has earned in the free programme 88.44... 88.44. It is
an expensive free skate for Isadora Williams of Brazil. She drops down
into 12th place. And that is last place.
place. So, 12 skaters to go at this Olympic Games. The ladies' free
skate wrapping up the competition here. We are cranking up the quality
as well as we move to the conclusion of this competition and in the next
six - some ladies who would prefer to have been further up the
standings. There is Gabriel Daleman we just saw skating out of shot. She
is the closest to challenging for a medal, but she is still 10 points
off the bronze medal position currently occupied
currently occupied by her countrywoman Osmond. Does chef what
it takes? -- she has what it takes. A gap - she will not get that far
there. Are other skaters who even with a few mistakes still have a
stronger technical score in that short programme. A lot to make up.
We should never say never in this sport because, as I said, a think a
few times it's a slippy surface out there! All the ladies on the ice
right now know they want to have a strong performance. They all have it
in them. Nagasu from America skates last. She will be going for that
triple axel again. Yeah. She became the first US woman in Olympic
history to land a triple axel during the team event. There's been all
kinds of hype all over social media, particularly in the US, about
whether we will see it again. She tried it in the short programme. It
didn't quite come off, did it? Overcooked the takeoff. But she
still has massive points, just for the attempt of it. Absolutely. A
clarification is that tonne yay Hard -- Tonya Harding did it as a world
champion previously, but fell in the Olympics. So Nagasu gets the glory.
Americans love their stats. They would love to see her do it again in
the individual competition here.
Maria Sotskova then of Olympic Athletes of Russia. There are two
more big stars to come. They are fighting it old for gold. Maria
Sotskova, the other Olympic athlete from Russia - way off the pace.
Flying under the radar, as far as her countrywomen are concerned. A
subpar short programme meant she qualified in 12th. Let's see if she
can stay on her feet here. The warm-up was not anything like she
would have wanted. Single jumps galore. But she will need triples in
combination here if she wants to make up for that short programme. It
will be a triple-triple combination to open. Triple Lutz and toe loop
she wants. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
LAUGHTER Do it when it counts!
MUSIC PLAYS
Not known for great speed across the ice.
CHEERING But the quality is good. And that
was a lovely triple flip.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Again, light and airy on that triple
loop.
A big combination coming up. Triple flip. Loop. Triple Salchow. Used to
carry the speed through from the first jump. And just double on the
Salchow. APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS
The last of the triples. And she's got it! Triple Lutz!
CHEERING
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING
APPLAUSE
CHEERING Well, all that matters is what you
do when you're out on the ice! Maria Sotskova put it all behind her, that
subpar short programme, the terrible warm-up. Yes! She produced the goods
when it mattered. Lovely, lovely quality in there.
CHEERING Such an elegant skater. Nice quality
to the jumps when they work in her favour.
CHEERING Needs the rotation - I find her a
little soulless in giving me something while she's performing.
Well, particularly when you compare her with Evgenia Medvedeva, which is
inevitably going to happen, since she's another Olympic athlete from
Russia. Yes. Sadly someone of this quality, who is somewhat forgotten
because of the juniors that are out there and then and her two
team-mates. She will be delighted. Well, she's younger that Medvedeva.
17-year-old. But the way people talk about her compared to the others, it
is like she's past it, gone, never going to be up there. Triple Lutz.
Triple toe loop. Again, lovely pulled back line. A shame about the
combo. Yes, the flip.
combo. Yes, the flip. Might have that one under review. Coach and
coregrapher. Coach in the white jacket had one of the biggest double
axels that I have ever seen. She would rock it! Was Russian champion
- or USSR champion at the time. And some of the biggest jumps. Flew
across the ice. Fantastic!
I'm not a big fan of that rotation style. The kind of hand-up like a
fin above her head. It's not that attractive in slow motion. But I
tell you what is attractive for her - all the green boxes. So, plus GOEs
we have leapt into the eighth in terms of component scores as well.
Yes. The first time we have seen straight greens across the board. So
we have a new leader with - by quite some way. 134.24.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE You are right - straight up into
first position, exactly where Maria Sotskova would be expecting to be as
we enter these final 12 skaters in the ladies' free skate.
CHANTING She hangs on to her position.
CHEERING Acknowledging the Russian crowd,
because there are flags all over this arena. They have come out to
see which of their skaters will take home the gold.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Karen Chen, then, for the USA. An
arm - a former US champion. No relation to Chen from the men's
programme, who landed the six quad routine - the first man ever to do
so. It's been quite an Olympics for record, hasn't it? Five world
records set so far.
MUSIC PLAYS This young lady wants to set a
record of her own. She was fourth at the world championships last year.
So, on paper would have been a medal contender, coming into this, but not
had the season she wanted. Huge triple to open. Probably a bit too
much fire on that. She would have liked that to have been in
combination.
MUSIC PLAYS
Triple flip might come under review.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE That was lovely! Double axel loop,
triple Salchow. Lots of running, edge, and speed on the entrance and
exits of both those jumps. Now, second triple Lutz. Needs to be a
combination. And she's made the double!
APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS Ah! Way off the hip on that
preparation for the triple loop. That's a shame.
MUSIC PLAYS
Maked bag, then, from Karen Chen of the USA. Great stuff in there -
explosive jumping. She has real power, hasn't she? No disguising
that... You can have the speed... You can have speed and power but you
have to have to control that goes with it. Lost its way in the middle
there. CHEERING
I'm thinking there might be some reviews. Definitely some negative
grades of execution going to come from judges on certain elements.
Overcooked that takeoff on the first triple Lutz. Had to let the
combination go on that. Was able to pick it up later. But I can see the
landing of that second double axel from here on the ice. And it's not
clean. It is... At least a quarter turn... Whether or not it is going
to come up on review... There certainly a downgrade on the triple
Salchow from the double axel combination.
Not a great angle from here. We can see she was absolutely leaning left
and leaning into the take off, well before she was ready to actually
leave the ice. And didn't regroup in time really for that triple Salchow.
So, that was a mistake you don't want to have happen. She's also now
been downgraded on the triple loop.
Sits a head of Sotskova at the moment. Not sure how many points she
has in hand, but I've a feeling she's thrown those away in this free
programme.
programme. Yes, she was two points ahead of Sotskova. Not the greatest
of margins if you are going to go out there and fall a couple of
times. Yes. APPLAUSE
She's international 10 points off her in the tech score alone. Yes.
Not going to use the P word... But she will drop. Plummet. Plummet! I
was wondering what that would be! LAUGHTER
You by think she's going to drop, certainly below Sotskova.
ANNOUNCER: Karen Chen earned 119.75. So it is just second place for Karen
Chen. She would have been hoping to be at the top of the tree. Maria
Sotskova, Olympic athlete from Russia, leading the way from now.
ANNOUNCER: For example, from the United States, Brady Tannell. She
was first to skate yesterday on the ice. Missed the world champions.
Didn't have a ranking. Had to skate first. Led for much of the short
programme. Came out, performed brilliantly, and qualified in 11th
place.
MUSIC PLAYS
She would have been looking for a top 8 place in the short programme
but had a fall on her opening jump in the short programme which she has
not done all season. So, very uncharacteristic. But this is the
Olympics. What can Bradie Tennell do in the free programme? Triple Lutz.
Triple toe loop. CHEERING
That's the one that let her down in the short programme. But it was as
solid as a rock, as is the opening jump element.
Easy triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
Stepped out the triple toe loop from the double axel. Got to keep this
momentum going now.
momentum going now. Same thing on the triple lutz. It was all going so
well.
Triple loop double toe loop double loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
Terrific jump in the undercut sit spin, which is something we don't
see very often at all.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Just that one fall on Wednesday
spoiled the short programme. Two trips today. Yes, no deduction,
though. Which will be the main thing but just uncharacteristic again. But
this young lady making her world debut at this level. In the Olympic
arena, so a lot on her shoulders as the US champion. Got medals in a
Grand Prix that she wasn't expecting to get. But has performed so
consistently until the Games. But she is solid and has a lovely
quality to her skating and performance.
Cut the hand on the blade during the spins, which is why you see lots of
girls wearing beige gloves as protectors. Some people say, though,
those gloves spoil the line of the hand because the performance does go
right the way through to the fingertips.
It has to go beyond the fingertips. Beyond the fingertips! But some
people say a glove dulls the lines of hand shape and arm if you like.
Yeah, underrotated on that lutz, so downgrade on the triple toe loop
after the double axel and the triple lutz which are those two elements
that she had the red boxes for. Everything else is a solid green.
But we're only in the 8s for composition and interpretation at
the moment. Yes, other skaters will only wrap a finger sock for the
finger that they will use to lift the blade. It's not the outside of
the blade, it's the inside, which is not that - there you go. That's
probably what did it right there. She got a bit of -- bit of toe pick
in the hand. ANNOUNCER: The scores, please. Bradie Tennell has earned in
the free programme 128.34. 128.34 then for Bradie Tennell.
then for Bradie Tennell. And she is -- she is in second place. She
leaves these Games with a bronze after the Team event, USA coming
away with a third place behind the Canadians and the Olympic athletes
from Russia right at the start of the Games. Seems like forever ago
now. That has pushed Maria Sotskova,
Olympic athlete from Russia, up one more spot, and she's got a handsome
lead. And Gabrielle Daleman will be trying to chase that down. Here's an
athlete who would dearly have liked to have been further up the
standings after the short programme. Qualified in seventh, 2017 world
bronze medallist behind her country woman Kaetlyn Osmond who currently
sits in bronze medal position and Daleman would have liked to have
pushed for that but she's 10 points off the pace of that bronze medal.
MUSIC PLAYS
We watch the speed into this triple triple.
Oh! Well, that's not something we usually see from Gabby.
And she's down on the triple lutz.
Needs the triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE
That triple lutz would have need to be in combination, so it's a
deduction. Dear. It's so difficult to watch when it starts to unravel
like this.
She'll have two deductions, the next one doubles, so she's gone from two
points to a four-point deduction.
APPLAUSE
Again just the double Salchow before the double axel.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE Well, I think if Gabby could have
stopped the music and started again, she would have done.
And she had such a great performance with this piece in the team
competition. She's got to go away knowing that "I was part of a gold
medal-winning team by skating really well." In doing so. There is Team
Canada standing up, Tess va -- Virtue, Scott Moir, and Patrick Khan
at the back. They would have dearly hoped for better for her.
We've all been there, as a skater. When it -- there's days when you
feel like you put the skates on the wrong feet, and unfortunately some
skaters can recover quickly. Others it just unravels, and Gabby is one
of those. The joy of that performance that we saw in the team
event, and I saw a little bit in the warm-up of it, a little tentative.
As I say, she normally barrels and flies, great height. And the minute
that first - there's a downgrade there on that one as well as the
fall. Coaches Lee and Brian.
fall. Coaches Lee and Brian. Yeah, Gabby skates with - trains with
others. And a Canadian national champion
this past season. Yeah, but it's been a tough one for her.
Yeah. The last one. She had to have abdominal surgery. Had to withdraw
from the stars on ice tour in May last year to have an abdominal cyst
removed. And that was after winning the bronze medal at the world
championships so she was on a high and the then she had to take time
out of the sport to have that surgery and fully recover.
Just an 8. For skating skills, and composition. The others down in the
mid-and in performance low 7s because I have to say she did give
up in terms of the performance. It just did not carry through.
ANNOUNCER: Gabrielle Daleman has earned in the free programme...
103.56 points. She has a total score... Down in seventh for
Gabrielle Daleman and she can't bring herself to look at the scores
at all. APPLAUSE
That's got to hurt. She was looking to be at the top of the pile. But
she slipped down to seventh.
And the atmosphere will surely lift now. Listen to this roar.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE The last chance for the Korean
supporters here to cheer on a home skater at this Games, Choi Dabin. 18
years of age.
years of age. And Korea's number two skater. Their number one still too
young to compete at the Games, such a rich seam of talent in Korean
skating.
MUSIC PLAYS
I thought this young lady was very undermarked in her component scores
in that short programme two days ago. Just beautiful. Oh, squeaky on
the landing of that triple lutz. Possibly going to be up for review.
Better on the triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
Double axel, triple toe loop.
MUSIC PLIES --
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE Clean in the triple loop.
Big jumping pass now. Triple lutz, triple toe loop, double toe loop,
and she's got that one!
APPLAUSE All her jumps done.
MUSIC PLAYS
With the choreography sequence and into the final layback spin.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Listen to the crowd.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Choi Dabin raising the roof! Clean
as a whistle. Just that one downgrade of the triple right at the
beginning. -- lutz right at the beginning, but green boxes across
the board and that is what the Korean crowd wanted to see for their
final skater of this Olympic Games. It is just minus 0.10 for that lutz
and that has now gone green. So the review was deemed that the triple
lutz was fully rotated, and base GEOs so -- GEOs so - wow. We will
have a new leader. And deservedly so.
Certainly in the technical score, I'm watching and hoping that the
skating skills are in the high 7s, transitions, high 7s, performance
has gone into the 8s. Composition not as strong for me in the free
programme as it was in the short programme. Well, she had four marks
over Maria Sotskova after the short programme.
programme. And you'd expect her to edge above her given that
performance. She has beaten Sotskova on the tech
score but Sotskova has five points on her in the component score. It's
going to be close.
A little more speed in the free programme across the ice generally
would really help. It's not so noticeable in the short. But it is
in the free programme. The jumps are light. Good, strong technique.
Season's best is 127.93. Where does it sit today?
it sit today? ANNOUNCER: Choi Dabin has earned in the free programme
131.49. A new season's best, and we do have a new leader - Choi Dabin of
South Korea. She can finish her home Games with the roar of that crowd
ringing in her ears. What a way to sign off.
APPLAUSE
ANNOUNCER: Next to state from the United States of America, Mirai
Nagasu. Right then, it's triple axel time. Mirai Nagasu became the first
US female skater to land a triple axel at the Olympics and there's
been all kinds of hype written about her in the US press. Does she have
the bottle to go for it here? Qualifying in ninth she has nothing
to lose. But a lot to gain if it works out.
And her free programme in the team event was her best ever performance.
And she's going to want to try and remember who that felt like at this
very moment. Because the triple axel is the opening move. She did it in
the short programme but just overcooked it so didn't have the
landing she wanted. No, she's come out of it. No, element.
Triple flip, triple toe loop.
That's the ticket. Come on Mirai!
MUSIC PLAYS
Very nice, double axel, triple toe loop, double toe loop.
Popping the lutz there. Got the flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE Well, in the end there's been so
much talk about the triple axel and she came out of it all together. Do
you think it's been distracting to her that, you know, the eyes of
America are on that first jump and in the end she gets a cross in the
box? It's been like that with her for the
past year, year and a half, because one of the things with Mirai she
will have the great skate but then most of the triples will be
downgraded. So to see these green boxes for her, that's great. There's
single lutz in the middle. That's obviously the red. There's zero for
the axel at the beginning and that triple flip. The big question here
is gonna be, are we gonna see no American woman in the top 10 at an
Olympic championships? And that would be a big shock.
would be a big shock. Mirai really threw herself into meddle contention
after landing the triple axel in the dance. She wasn't expected to medal
really at these games but after that everyone was like, "Hang on a
second, we've counted her out too soon. "
It could happen and it's a shame because what people will remember
and look at on paper from these Olympic Games is not really
indicative of these three American women have tried and put out there
on the ice. She just again was in the perfect place. Triple lutz. Not
the positioning that she would really have wanted for that. Did
make the rotation. You can see that. Not sure about the landing of that
toe loop, though.
toe loop, though. So this season for her, she has been getting better
calls on the rotations of the jumps and she was very close to the wall
as well on that takeoff. And that would have wanted to have been a
nation. So again psychologically, you know that wall is coming. You
can't push it further away from you.
ANNOUNCER: The scores, please. 119. 61... 19 r 19 -- 119. 61. Only third
place for Mirai Ngagasu. So much buzz after she landed that triple
axel. She was hoping to do it here, both in the short and in the free
skate. She finished fourth at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. She was
dealing that triple axel would earn her a medal here. But it's not to
be. It's time pore the final group of skaters to step out on to the
ice. CHEERING
Among these six - the medals will be decided.
CHEERING We really have been treated to
something truly special. While we wait for the final group to begin,
what have you made of the competition so far?
SILENCE A little tight and tentative, to be
honest. Strong technical performs, but let down by the overall
performance and some lovely performances that didn't quite have
the technical content. But it is these six ladies on the ice now who
we are waiting to watch and who will, I know, give us a performance
that encapsulates everything that women's figure skating needs to be
right now. Yeah. This is the group we have been talking about from the
start of the Games. You can see in the mix - Alina Zagitova skates
fourth and Evgenia Medvedeva, the two Olympic athletes from Russia -
these two have just been head and shoulders above the worse. Well,
Evgenia Medvedeva has for the last two years. Then she fractured her
foot last year, coming back into the European championships. She was
obviously favourite for the title, but then this 15-year-old came along
and pipped her to it. And... Absolutely! They both broke world
records in the short programme. Could we see another one in the free
skate? Well, it's been a Games, hadn't it, Robyn, for new world
records. I would not be surprised. Look out for the scores. The record
is 164. 46. That set by Medvedeva herself. That is the score to beat.
Yes. In terms of the layman, when look at skating, it is very
difficult to extinguish between the quality. What should we at home be
looking out for in particular to kind of see the difference between
perhaps that gold and silver medal position? I think what you're
looking for is the commitment to the jumping elements, and by that I mean
you want the skaters not looking tentative as they go in, "Will I?
Won't I?" What we have seen with most skaters in the final group -
they will all go in with pretty good speed on the take-offs. What we want
to see is the same speed as the exit. That will be a quality that
people in the judging panel will look at. Is it fully rotated? We
will be able to see those types of things in replays. But also that
connection to the music and the performance, because we have to
remember - it's not just about being able to do triple-triple
combinations and having everything else, there are the component
factors that need to be taken into consideration, which are the skating
skills, transitions, performances, the compensation and also the
interpretation of the music and the performance itself. I think in
layman's terms - it's the chills! You watch it, do you feel it? Do you
remember Tessa Virtue skate? A lot of people said that was the moment
of the Games. They felt the chill, the emotion. When you watch at home,
if something makes you feel that way, it's because it's good. If they
land the jumps and they make you feel the chills - that's what you
are looking for? In between. Do they keep your attention in between. I
suppose four years ago the gold for Russia rised eyebrows. This time
around in Korea, is anyone debating that the two are the best in the
world? Yes. You cannot discount the quality of some someone like Kaetlyn
Osmond who is sitting in third place, who got the Japanese skater
-- we have the Japanese skaters, with beautiful quality, lovely
edges. What people are saying - it's that given factor. We foe what the
two Russian girls are able to do. We know the quality of them
technically. But some questioned the motivation of the creation of the
performances. By that, they are putting the difficult elements at
the back-end of the performance, they make sure that every move they
make is getting them points. But is it at the cost of the overall
aesthetic? Whereas you have somebody like Osmond, the Canadian, Kostner
from Italy, who really actually work it the other way around - they look
at theover all-performance -- the overall performance and will
integrate the choreography with the jumping and spinning elements to
create a Co hesive pack -- cohesive package. There is debate over which
one works. They both work. Which will win gold, silver and bronze we
will find out shortly. You have set that up perfectly. One thing is for
sure - we have beauty in store. Back to you. Thank you so much. These are
the six we have been waiting all Olympics long to see. The ladies
competition as been down to Evgenia Medvedeva and Alina Zagitova. Which
of the Russians would come out on top? We cannot discount the quality
in this final group. There is Evgenia Medvedeva. Just working her
way through her warm-up. There is her coach looking on. The coach who
is also in charge of the young pretender, Alina Zagitova, who is in
the lead coming into this free skate competition. Would have been tough
to manage that dynamic on the day off!
LAUGHTER Leave them alone!
LAUGHTER Leave them alone or leave them
strongly spice supervise -- supervised?! No. They know what they
need to do. They haven't gotten here by not knowing themselves. And
again, sometimes it is about taking ownership of your situation. Yes, it
needs to be planned, but, yes, leave them alone. Medvedeva is always kind
of detached from that element of competition as well. Yes. She says
she just - after this competition is done - she wants to feel calm and at
peace with what she left out on the ice. So, I don't doubt she will have
spent the last 1.5 days stressing over what she's got what it takes to
beat the 15-year-old coming up behind her. If you are skating here,
you are in the final group, you've got what it takes. Just one little
note - we talk at Zagitova, just 15, just 15. Tara Lipinski was 15 when
she caused an upset in Nagano. The most famous 15-year-old was Sonia
Henning who won her first gold in 1928 and then went on to win in '32
and '36 and is the most decorated woman in singles figure skating
history. If you are 15, you are at a good vintage for figure skating!
(LAUGHTER) That is ominous reading for
18-year-old Evgenia Medvedeva.
18-year-old Evgenia Medvedeva. Time for one last pep talk then. . Whose
countryman was 24 when she won gold in tore Torino.
CHEERING So Satoko Miyahara then, the
Japanese national champion. Currently lying in fourth place, but
just three points behind Kaetlyn Osmond in the bronze medal position.
And she rotates these jumps at a rate of norths. She's -- rate of
knots. She is just a blur flying through the air. She Del has what it
make -- definitely has what it takes to make up the gap and get herself
on the podium. There was question over whether her triple-triple
combination and her triple jump in the short programme should have been
downgraded. She will want to make sure she gives them no choice today.
CHEERING Triple loop is fully cleanly
rotated. No question there. But it's this triple Lutz, triple toe loop
combination that will be the first real test.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Clean for me. But review will see.
CHEERING Good on the Flynn. -- flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Lovely to see spinning in both
directions. We don't see that enough in figure skating these days.
MUSIC PLAYS
Big jumping pass coming now. Triple Lutz. Double toe loop. Double loop.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE She's done it!
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Double axel triple toe loop.
And the triple Salchow! CHEERING
MUSIC PLAYS APPLAUSE
CHEERING The last jump - the double axel.
MUSIC PLAYS
Beautiful position for the lay back. APPLAUSE
An absolutely on the spot for the spin!
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Satoko Miyahara chasing down the
medal positions! She could not have asked for anymore from that
performance! No. From what I could see, absolutely clean on the
triples. It will, of course, go to review. I think she does rotate so
fast, not a lot of height or flight. But she's just a little bitty thing.
You wonder where she gets it from! LAUGHTER
Great knee action. She has great knee and ankle reflex into the
jumps, and into the landings in order to prepare for second jumps in
combinations. We will be able to see there on the slow-mo replay coming
up, just where she generates that power to rotate as quickly as she
does. CHEERING
Here we go. Clean for me on that rotation. Yep. That's good. It's -
this is the jump that sometimes will get a call for a downgrade. But not
today.
Looking back. The judges are checking their little moments. They
are high 8s. 19 for a performance. Now a second for interpretation has
come through in the components.
come through in the components. And she is 75-plus for the tech
elements. So, definitely a new leader. And she has laid down a
gauntlet to Kaetlyn Osmond for that bronze medal position.
CHEERING She is breathing down the neck of
Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond. CHEERING
Look, someone made an exact replica of her dress!
LAUGHTER And put it on a bunny.
That was delightful. ANNOUNCER: The scores, please.
Satoko Miyahara has earned in the free programme 146.4...
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Satoko Miyahara with a new season's
best to take the lead! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
She is the one to chase down in this final group of six skaters.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE She knocks the Korean Dabin Choi off
the top spot. That piles the pressure on to Kaetlyn Osmond, in
particular, but any of the next skaters to come, who would lay claim
to a medal at this Olympic Games.
ANNOUNCER: Next to skate, representing Italy...
CHEERING This lady, who has enjoyed so much
success over her career, the oldest skater in the contest, 31-year-old.
Sochi bronze medallist. She is a little off the pace. 73hunt 15 for
her -- 73hunt 15 for her short programme saw her qualify in sixth.
A medal will be out of the question for Carolina Kostner of Italy.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Clean in. First jump. Got that
triple Lutz...
Off on the triple flip. Needed that to be the combination.
CHEERING
MUSIC PLAYS
tight on the landing of that triple toe loop. No combinations as of yet.
Oh! Double axel loop, triple Salchow. I question the landing of
that Salchow, though. I think it was clean, but it had absolutely no edge
at all.
APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Uncharacteristically error strewn
then from Carolina Kostner. She needs every trick in her bag to work
perfectly if she's to keep up with the young guns. Yes.
the young guns. Yes. They continue come Pete with her performance --
compete with her performance and style. She needed the triple-triple
combinations, of which we didn't see any. She got the triple Lutz back
this season. That was the huge bonus. It was the one thing that did
work. But very tentative with a few of the other landings. We saw her
skate that in the team event over in the Games, Italy coming fourth in
that team event. It was a lovely performance from Carolina then. It
was. Again, it didn't have the technical content that some of the
other young ladies have.
Lovely technique on the Lutz. A little bit over-rotated on the
takeoff. See her body always rotating before she even left the
ice. Again, that rotation continues through the air and continued
through the landing. Tight. Watch this landing. Absolutely - yeah.
Stands still. Managed to pull the leg away. But, again, that's a
negative. She's been downgraded as well on the triple Salchow from the
double axel.
Certainly not going to challenge Satoko Miyahara for first place. I'm
thinking she might stay where she is, because component scores are
always going to be high. Not quite as high as they have been in the
past, which is good to see, because it wasn't quite of the same level
across the board from Carolina Kostner.
CHEERING
Yes. You get the impression these days she's being outgunned by these
bright new stars coming through. I wonder if this is the last time
we'll see her at an Olympics. ANNOUNCER: Carolina Kostner has
earned in the free programme 139.29 points. 139.29 then for Carolina
Kostner. ANNOUNCER: Currently in second. She
sits in second place then behind Satoko Miyahara of Japan. An
exquisite skate from the Japanese means she's still out in front.
ANNOUNCER: The next skater represents Japan. Kaori Sakamoto. We
have a Japanese leader. Will we see a Japanese 1-2 after Kaori Sakamoto
has had her say in the Japanese number 2 making her debut on the
senior circuit this year. She came through the short programme in
fifth.
fifth. Another charming skater. A Japanese -- the Japanese team coming
fifth in the team event. Real talent there.
MUSIC PLAYS She was bronze medallist at the
junior world championship war Zagitova claimed gold -- where
Zagitova claimed gold. This is her first performance on the big world
stage here in Pyeongchang. She has really done a fantastic job so far.
Kept her composure. If she does the same today with this free programme,
she might well elevate herself one spot.
CHEERING Triple flip, triple toe loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Salchow.
MUSIC PLAYS
APPLAUSE
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING Triple Lutz.
APPLAUSE
A triple flip double toe loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
Double axel triple toe loop, double toe loop.
CHEERING Lovely stuff!
Oh! LAUGHTER
Flipped out of the triple loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE What a skate! Her first major senior
competition. To pull that out of the bag is not bad at all! Just that one
tiny stumble. Greens across the board everywhere else. Not quite of
the quality of Satoko Miyahara. But goodness me - another fantastic
senior debut. APPLAUSE
So, so many young skaters in this competition. How many did you say
are under 20? Oh, there's only seven in the entirely final that are over
20. So, yeah, women's figure skating is almost a girl sport. It's a young
person's game Japan have a couple of the very best.
There's such an innocent quality to the way this young lady skates. An
edge call on the lutz. Meaning that instead of back outside it's a back
inside. Change of edge on the takeoff, so again the grade of
execution points come down from the judges.
judges. But one of those few skaters to be the same in component scores
to technical elements, 68.42 for tech, 68 for components. So, a
fantastic score. And, yes, she's not going to be heading for a podium but
Kaetlyn Osmond was looking out for one Japanese. She's now looking out
for two.
for two. Time for one more quick fact. Britain's Madge Sayers took
gold in the London Olympics in 1908 and she was 27. The eldest?
The eldest medallist, it was the ripe old age of 38. I don't think
she'd do very well here today. ANNOUNCER: Kaori Sakamoto has earned
for the free programme 136.53.
for the free programme 136.53. Kaori Sakamoto slots into third position
then. Behind her country woman Satoko Miyahara. And Carolina
Kostner of Italy.
Kostner of Italy. Which - well, I'd have thought it may have been the
other way round for the second and third position for now. After that
performance from Kaori Sakamoto. A great watch. But...
Kostner gets it on the components. ANNOUNCER: Next, Evgenia Medvedeva
from Russia. Here she is, she set a new short programme world record two
days ago. This long programme helped the -- Olympic athletes of Russia to
a silver medal in the team event -- Alina Zagitova. This is Alina
Zagitova, the young pretender, the gold within her grasp. Does she have
what it takes to bear the pressure on those 15-year-old shoulders?
MUSIC PLAYS
You don't look for the big jumps to be coming early in this performance.
The later they come, you do get bonus points. And Zagitova ends her
programme with all her technical jumping elements, so it's the
choreographic sequence and the spinless and the step sequence that
will come first. All about Macing out those points. -- maxing out
those points.
MUSIC PLAYS
Oh, that would have been the triple lutz triple loop combination, just
taking the lutz there. So how well does she think on her feet?
Double axel, triple toe loop.
Tripping flip, double toe loop, double loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
The second triple lutz will come now, and it has to be in the
combination, and she will want it to be with the triple toe loop.
Know, she'll do it with a triple loop.
And the triple flip.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
And it looked for a second like Alina Zagitova had been the first to
blink in this race for gold. That missed combination at the start but
she thought on her feet. Yeah, did not have the perfect
landing on that triple lutz. Although she has been given positive
grades of execution on it. But, yes, she came back. Has exactly the same
content as was planned, just not necessarily the order she would have
liked to have delivered it. I don't suppose it matters which order it
comes out, as long as it's executed as beautifully as she did it.
It will all come down to component scores.
scores. Mid- to the high 9s, the lowest transitions right now.
lowest transitions right now. 81.84 -- 81.4, four -- 81.84 points at the
moment for technical alone. That's already beaten the previous mark.
There's the flip. Double toe loop, double loop. Barely any time on the
ice in between.
Not a lot of flight or height on the double axels, it's not how they take
off.
The right leg cut across in front of the left. It's not good technique at
all for a double axel. If she was doing or working on triple axels,
kind of would make sense because you want to get into the rotation as
quickly as possible. And with the axel, it's a forward takeoff, so
it's a 2.5 rotations as opposed to two rotations for a double.
Right. Let's find out what it will B what will Evgenia Medvedeva have to
come out and beat if she wants to take the gold. It was just a point
between them after the short programme. ANNOUNCER: The scores,
please.
Alina Zagitova has earned in the free programme 156.65 points. So
it's not a new season's best. It's not a new world record. We were
expect sog much of this young 15-year-old. But she does have a
commanding lead then. 239.57 is the combined total. Beat that.
combined total. Beat that. And we'll -- they'll be in for a gold medal.
And the door is open.
So the door open then not just to Evgenia Medvedeva but also to this
lady out on the ice at the moment as well. Kaetlyn Osmond. ANNOUNCER:
Next, representing Canada. Kaetlyn Osmond. World championship silver
medallist last time around. Another Canadian took bronze, first time two
Canadian women had been on a world podium at the same time, and Kaetlyn
Osmond just 2.74 points behind Medvedeva in the silver medal
position.
MUSIC PLAYS Kaetlyn Osmond had a glorious
performance in the short programme. I think many thought undermarked in
terms of component scores, certainly technically she delivered. Can she
do it today? There's the triple flip and there's the triple toe loop.
Exquisite! APPLAUSE
Double axel, triple toe loop. Fast, light, ease -- easy. Keep this
momentum going, please.
Overcooked the takeoff on the triple lutz, stepped out.
MUSIC PLAYS
Good on the triple loop. Needed that.
that. And she also needs the second triple flip, only one triple lutz in
this programme planned, so every triple will need to be perfect from
now on.
And there you go.
Triple Alcoa, double toe loop, double loop. -- triple Salchow,
double toe loop, double loop. Last of her jumps, double axel.
MUSIC PLAYS
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Canada's black swan flying in for a
place on the podium! There was just that one tiny
mistake. Falling out of the landing of the triple lutz, but goodness me.
She had a lead, though, going into this free skate after the short
programme. About three points ahead of Satoko Miyahara. The Japanese
skater in fourth position. So, she has a very, very slight advantage to
play with. I'm looking at the scores. She is
not close to Zagitova technically. But she is ahead of her on one, two,
three, four, five component scores. Which is what people were hoping or
thought should have happened in the short programme. Is that enough to
move Kaetlyn Osmond up, though, from bronze into silver?
Well, she needs 1.43.51 to fend off the Japanese.
There's the wobble. Yes. Everything else absolutely pristine, landings.
You can see it. Calm and assured, which is what she needed to be
through that performance. She had steel in her eyes actually when she
stepped out on to the ice. Yes. Sometimes I wonder with Kaetlyn
Osmond whether that's a scared or an "I'm gonna do it" look.
So there are medallists as they stand for now. Alina Zagitova in the
gold medal position. Satoko Miyahara of Japan in silver, and Italy's
Carolina Kostner hanging on to the bronze spot, not for much longer, I
don't think. Third for Osmond, I am pretty sure.
No, it's up to second, 152.15. It's a season's best. A massive season's
best, 10 points better! Than her previous mark. And Osmond -- and
Kaetlyn Osmond holds on to that bronze medal position, fends off the
challenge from Satoko Miyahara of Japan. And she has guaranteed
herself a medal with that performance.
Those are the standings then. Those are the margins.
And here is our last skater at this Olympic Games, and what a way to
close the show. Evgenia Medvedeva, the two-time world champion, the
favourite for so long to win this Olympic title. Broke the world
record in the short programme just to watch Zagitova snatch it back.
So, Medvedeva skates to save the gold that, for two years, was
destined to be hers.
MUSIC PLAYS
Anna -- Nan Carina is the soundtrack.
soundtrack. -- Anna Carinnina is the soundtrack.
Triple flip, triple toe loop to open.
And there's the lutz.
MUSIC PLAYS
Strong second triple flip.
And a beautiful triple loop.
MUSIC PLAYS
That's it. Triple Salchow, triple toe loop, just one more double axel.
And the jumps are done.
This is your gold medal winning performance. She's absolutely on the
money.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE It's marvellous from Medvedeva
again!
again! Not ready to relinquish her crown, the double world champion
still the very, very best in the world.
I thought that was the best I have seen her skate in a long time. It's
a programme that's won her a world championship before. Now surely
enough for the Olympic title as well.
Made the decision to change programmes mid-season, came back do
one she says really made her feel something different on the ice. And
she needed to find something, didn't she? Yes, because... To see off the
challengers. Because she doesn't match
technically with the base score of Zagitova. She has been given high
GOEs, grades of execution, on all elements from the judges. But it is
in the component scores, 9.995 for interfretation out of 10. The lowest
is 9.38 for transitions. That's now going up. They're all on the up. It
is very close, the quality of these jumps, so secure today.
The jumps aren't big. They don't have a lot of flight and travel. But
they still are textbook in terms of what has to be done.
Well, if ever you were going to back a dead to come out here and lay down
a performance worthy of snatching back a gold medal,
back a gold medal, from the fingertips of the young upstart
there in the centre chair, Alina Zagitova, it would be Evgenia
Medvedeva.
Medvedeva. ANNOUNCER: The scores, please. So, what's it to be?
ANNOUNCER: Medvedeva has earned in the free programme 156.65. It is not
enough. 156.65 then. For Evgenia Medvedeva. And that is the gold
medal missing. Wow! And heartbreak then for
Medvedeva, who thought she'd done enough. She was so sure coming off
the ice that the gold medal was hers. And Alina Zagitova, like the
rest of us, can't really believe what she's hearing. The gold medal,
fantastic performance from Zagitova, we can take nothing away from the
15-year-old, but she has just pulled off an enormous upset here at this
Olympic Games. Less than a point in it.
it. And I have never seen emotion like it when she finished that
performance. Never seen her react that way to completing a programme.
But she is going to have to live with the fact that a gold medal that
was nailed on hers for two whole years has been snatched away.
years has been snatched away. By her 15-year-old training mate.
And their total score in the pre--- pre-programme is identical. 1.56.65.
As I'm reading on the screen. But it was that world record score then.
In the short programme. In the short programme. For Alina Zagitova. That
means she is the Olympic champion. And smiles finally from Evgenia
Medvedeva. An Olympic silver medal is not what she wanted coming away
from these Games. And I thought that really was
enough, the quality of it today. I thought that was it. But it was not.
Confirmation then that Alina Zagitova, the 15-year-old upstart
from Russia, has caused another enormous shock, beating her country
woman, Evgenia Medvedeva, the two-time world champion, favourite
for this title. Kaetlyn Osmond, of Canada, takes the bronze. What a
shock here at the Gangneung Ice Arena in the final event of this
Olympic figure skating competition. Robyn and Catherine, thank you very
much indeed. When I was 15, I was playing with Adam and Daniel Brown.
Meanwhile Alina Zagitova has become the first gold medal winner of
Russia in the 2018 Games, absolutely incredible. And this is the point on
the show where I say goodbye but we also say hello to my colleague. How
are you? I -- I'm very good thanks. How are you?
It really is a gorgeous say and day. This morning we've been all about
one thing outside the sports. That's the trolley. It is a special part of
our crew. It is. Four years ago in Sochi 2014
Clare made a trolley go viral. There it is, it moves without any gravity
helping it at all. There definitely wasn't a man pull nag with a piece
of fishing wire because that would be ridiculous. The question is what
would we name that trolley? We got a number of entries via our hash tap.
I'll read the top 10 and then the top 3. This is quite a moment. BB
ski. Troll ski bot. Trolley, Ollie trolley, Bangui Change bang-Chang.
Clare, go pro. Sled wood skis in junior. But the top three. You have
to chose one. That was too much of a mouthful.
Sledly. OK. Edly. OK. Then we've got sleddy the
eagle. OK. I'm not going to lie to you, I gave
a bigger response than you're giving. I'm taking them on board.
I'm picking a winner here. Trolley par tonne. Right. They have
these singing rooms in South Korea, it's a big part of the night life,
so it's gotta be trolley par tonne. So Campbell good well has just named
the official BBC trolley, trolley par tonne. There you have it. What
Ancelotti hour. It does work nine to five as well doesn't it?
Oh, there she goes! I love this job. Yeah. There's a reason they haven't
put us on the balcony together until now.
Right. There's a reason I get the clip board and you get the tablet.
Thank you. You put your feet up for the rest of the day. Good stuff.
After watching the grace and control of the figure skating we will go to
the chaos of the ski cross. Today it is the turn of the women. This has
been a brilliant addition to the Winter Olympics. It was introduced
in 2010. The two winter Olympics it's been part of Canada has won
both gold but as we know in this crazy hope anything can happen.
Emily Sarsfield flies the flag for GB. She had time out for injury,
came back to the sport in 2016 and has batted -- battled her way to
Pyeongchang. Let's go up to the fee miss Park.
Up at the top we have the first of our quarters in the gate. Starting
procedure.
procedure. Says "skiers ready", then "attention" and one to four seconds
later the gate will open. So the Austrian Andrea Limbacher, 28 years
old, Sami Kennedy-Sim, the Australian with a brilliant start,
though. Sami Kennedy-Sim wearing the green
bib. Italian wearing Lisa Andersson in yellow.
Andersson looking very, very quick on the shoulder of Kennedy-Sim, the
Australian, and Limbacher tucking in just behind the Swede. Yeah,
Gantenbein is out of it. This is a race for second place right now.
Oh! Problem. Limbacher is down. Hooked up in the
gate off the step down. Wow, that's a big surprise.
Andersson and Kennedy-Sim out in front. The Australian leading the as
they tuck in beautifully to this tight left-hander, a real toilet
bowl. So, so, tight and Kennedy-Sim has a great technique, absorbing
those jumps. Gantenbein out of the running at the moment. But never
write-off third place. We know how much drama can unfold on this finish
straight. We have seen it so many times before as Andersson tucks in
behind Kennedy-Sim. Kennedy-Sim learned her skiing in Perisher, New
South Wales, Australia, and this is a big, big win for her.
Gantenbein down. So Limbacher, the Austrian, falls up at the top and
thankfully she's skiing away, snagged on a gate as she went off a
jump, she pin wheeled off that step down. But the Australians,
absolutely loving Kennedy-Sim. Kennedy-Sim and Limbacher, shoulder
to shoulder through this section. This is where we see the mistakes
begin. Limbacher going down hard there and she slides out. Hooks the
tails of the skis into the gate. Yeah, that's not gonna - that's
gonna hurt because she landed right down on the flat.
It is a testament to just how determined ski cross racers are to
stay on their feet at all costs. She battled that. I'd say well after
anyone else would have given up on it as a lost cause. Clinging to the
edges there, praying that she could get back up, and then in the
background you see the Swiss, Gantenbein, just getting in the back
seat of that final kicker, chasing down second place. Sami Kennedy-Sim
in first, -- Lisa Andersson in second. Limbacher and Gantenbein are
out.
out. I think Sandra Naeslund and Adrian Smith are the skiers with the
speed in this second of the quarterfinals. -- Fanny Smith where
the skiers with the speed in this second of the quarterfinals. Also
Torgeir Bergrem, from France in blue, she skied pretty fast in the
previous round. We are saw it with the men, the
French have -- are brilliant and she raced very tenaciously in the eighth
round. So, Naesland undoubtedly the favourite here, just 21 years old
but she is a veteran of the sport. Pressure on the skis on the gate.
Well, we have got the 2013 world champion in Fanny Smith and the 2017
reigning world champion in Sandra Naeslund.
Fanny Smith was lightning out of the start gate there but she could not
hold off Naesland. Fanny Smith has gone past.
Got a great view of this as well. Yeah, she's a spectator, though, in
this competition, because Naesland and Smith, they've got the speed
they've got the ability and Kuchvalska is -- Kucerova is she can
stay in touch, stay close enough that either of these two make a
mistake she can move. But no, Kucerova God pushed wide there.
This is the really technical section. If she's going to make a
move it's here. She's on the inside. So she'll be outside next
Keep an eye out for Berger Sabbatel. She's fought her bay and way back
into the race. What a view from Kucerova at the back as they come
into the first of the four jumps. Well, brilliant, brilliant prick and
it's a shame for Kucerova because she's in last place but it's great
for us because we can watch the -- race unfold and Fanny Smith comes
through and Naesland in second. We thought those would be the two that
would progress through, and we were not wrong there.
You see how good that start was for Fanny Smith. This was Kucerova's
chance. That was her chance, yeah, but on the outside of the bend.
It is fantastic, seeing it from that angle and understanding just how
close they are, how much nerve you have to have race between 40kph and
80kph. And the taking air, flying 20m, 30m. In such close proximity,
it is breathtaking. Brilliant, brilliant racing here as the women's
ski cross. Sandra Naeslund giving them all a little cause for concern
but making it through with the Swiss. Fanny Smith.
Swiss. Fanny Smith. Now, Brittany Phelan of Canberra in the red bib,
Alizee Baron, the French woman in green, Debora Pixner, the Italian
who was gifted a spot in the quarterfinals after she fell on the
last jump and stretched for the line and Great Britain's Emily Sarsfield.
Well, Brittany Phelan wearing the red bib had a lightning fast start
in the previous round. Now, Emily Sarsfield in the far lane
in yellow needs to stand up in this compression.
compression. They're off, they're out. Go on Emily. That's better.
Much better but the other athletes are able to pull away through the
bird bath. So Baron leads Phelan, and Pixner. The green bib of the
French woman unable to hold off this charge from Phelan as she comes
through. Emily Sarsfield starting to make a little bit of ground up
there. As Phelan soaks up this jump. The long, low one. Pixner just
diving around trying to redirect there. So the lead for Brittany
Phelan chased down by Alizee Baron in second place. In third Debora
Pixner and Emily Sarsfield as they come across this lovely angled
right-hand jump, pump through there. Sarsfield. Great ski the Canadian.
Now, very, very close here, again as they come into this technical
section. Pixner, the Italian leading on Baron. Baron has the inside line,
though. You've got to make a different move. You can't come that
side along that straight. You've got to try and come around the other
side. Pixner was skating through the right hander, though, trying to get
in contact with Baron and she's diving Pixner very, very quick but
the draft is not working for her. And again she fits back -- sits back
so Brittany Phelan, the Canadian in first. Alizee Baron, the French
woman, joins her in the semifinals. In that race, there were two skiers
with really good form and I've got to say that Brittany Phelan what we
have seen in this competition so far, is looking like a favourite to
- if not take gold certainly place on the podium.
Brittany Phelan's motto is danger is real, fear is a choice. That should
be a T-shirt. So Phelan coasting over in first
followed by Alizee Baron, Pixner in the back seat in third. Back up to
the top. And it is one of their own Kelsey Serwa is the highest seed in
the fourth of these quarterfinals so she wears the red bib. Katrin Ofner,
the Austrian, doesn't have the ski speed but has very good technique on
the turns. Kelsey Serwa very fast in qualifying in the seeding rounds.
Sanna Luedi has lightning fast skis and the Russian, I am not sure if
she's going to be in in race. A brave man would try and predict
ski cross. I have just it. I say Luedi will overtake the Austrian.
Luedi is in third but she has overtaken the Russian. It's a
breathtaking chase down. Serwa leading very comfort chased down by
Luedi in the blue -- comfortably chased down by Luedi in the blue.
Luedi held on. The Russian is down. Sanna Luedi has great ski speed. Her
skis are absolutely flying but she's not controlling the jumps. And she's
got to be a little careful. I say it will take a brave plan to predict
it, it's exactly how I predicted it. I think Luedi will ask his ski tech
if she can slow them down. She's not actually able to control them at the
moment they're going so fast. Ofner has perfect technique through these
jumps F there's anywhere she'll be able to reel lewd in, it's here.
Green bib of the Austrian chasing down the black suit and blue bib of
Luedi. Luedi sits back a little bit. There was nothing she could do with
those skis. Swiss out of sight but Kelsey Serwa I think the fastest
person we have seen so far. Look at this. Look how well Kelsey Serwa
rides through the Wu-Tang, over the bird bath poling to generate speed.
She was in the lead all the way through. That was the crash from the
Russian. If you lose contact on that negative
traverse then you are gone aren't you?
Yeah. No way back.
Yeah. No way back. So Katrin Ofner and Anastasiia Chirtcova, it's the
end of the road for them. Sanna Luedi and Kelsey Serwa have made it
into the top eight.
into the top eight. Well, Sandra Naeslund was the fourth fastest in
the seeding round so she gets the red bib so she chooses first which
position she will start. Then Fanny Smith's choice in green and Sami
Kennedy-Sim in blue chooses third and then Lisa Andersson only 17th
fastest in the seeding round. There is the Swede, the young Swede.
Next to her, fellow country woman and the favourite here, Sandra
Naeslund. Six World Cup victories out of eight this season but watch
out for Fanny Smith. From an American dad and English
mum. Very good overtaker as well. And then Sami Kennedy-Sim, started
racing on the World Cup in 2008. Her husband actually competed in cross
country. At the Olympic Games.
Ben Sim. So here we go. First of the semis. Undoubtedly Kennedy-Sim' best
Olympics and sits down terribly. Oh, no, that was a shame for the
Australian cos she's out of the running. Naesland.
Now - yeah, Naesland is out in front like we thought she would be. Fanny
Smith is in second. What can the young Swede do? What can Andersson
do? She has to do something to stay in touch. At the moment Fanny Smith
looking blisteringly quick on those skis again as they come over this
really long and low, beautifully measured jump and into...
Oh, no. Andersson's gone. Andersson's gone and it's the two
favourites that we thought would be quick in this competition that are
out in front. Fanny Smith's not going to do anything stupid here.
She's a very intelligent competitor. I hope I haven't given her the
commentator's curse. Just soaking up this technical step down. You can
just see Kennedy-Sim, who had the terrible start and took herself out
of the running in third place, but it seems at the moment a very simple
one-two for Naesland and Smith. Naesland has certainly read and
remembered the form book. You can see how they jump up there.
Just, just making it up from the Wu-Tang into the bird bath. But
Fanny Smith was brilliant through there.
Yeah. That was incredible technique. This is where we've seen loads of
mistakes from Smith but it's Andersson who explodes out of the
bird and into the nets at the bottom of the picture there.
Yeah, you come off the negative. There's a slight roll and there's a
compression as you go in. So you don't just have the force of the
turn, you've also got this gravity effect of squashing you down, and
Lisa Andersson just having to wait -- having the weight ever so
slightly back and not able to control the skis. So Sandra Naeslund
of Sweden. Wearing the red bib takes first and looks very, very strong.
And then Fanny Smith of Switzerland will join her.
So the fans enjoying the racing here. We go back up for the second
of the semifinals. Two spots in the final -- final the prize but what is
the cost? That is the question in ski cross racing. Kelsey Serwa in
the red bib, she's the world champion from 2011. She's been there
or thereabouts. She is the silver medallist. There is Sanna Luedi,
Swiss racer, very quick skis, fast on the flats. Kelsey Serwa silver
last time. Brittany Phelan ex-alpine athlete competed in Sochi in the
slalom, placed 15th in the last Olympics in slalom but switched
across and Alizee Baron, the French skier.
25-year-old. She has looked very, very fast so far. Expect the
Canadians to go out of the start like absolute rockets.
Luedi closest to the camera in the yellow bib has those lightning fast
skis and she has been going very well only gliding sections. The
ultimate test comes now. Can she catch the Canadians? Or will the
Canadians be out in front. The Kelsey Serwa is looking good.
Serwa is breathtaking isn't she? Look at the distance and Luedi is
left in the dust as Baron. Baron is ahead of Phelan. What can Phelan do?
Phelan's making a move on the French skier. Kelsey Serwa.
Hold the front page, the Swiss has got back in with those
lightningingly fast skis and is reeling in the Canadian. Serwa
getting dragged back into the pack. The Canadians out in front as they
go into the negative. Incredible racing from the Swiss.
Cleanly through. How did Sanna Luedi do this? That is
absolutely ridiculous. Sorry, Luedi is in third. Luedi in third. Got the
skis bit too high on the chop but she's got the inside line on this
corner. Will she make a move on Phelan? Baron has missed a gate.
She's out. Another mistake from Sanna Luedi.
So the Canadians running things from the front at the moment. You've got
to say Kelsey Serwa looks really, really strong. She's looked strong
but... We saw her have the easy first --
first final and we weren't sure it was her speed or the mistakes of the
Russian and Italian she was up against. But Brittany Phelan from
Kelsey Serwa. Yeah. And then Sanna Luedi in third, the
Swiss desperately trying to keep up and she did ever so well there, but
it's a one-two for the Canadians. Have a look at this start here. And
it was the red bib of Kelsey Serwa who got the better start. Alizee
Baron got into second place but great skiing from Brittany Phelan,
over the roller-coaster section. And at this stage Luedi was out of it
but she fought her way back in. There was a mistake by the French
racer. ? As they come through this section, keep your eye on the blue
bib at the back. And - yeah, Brittany Phelan made a move to
overtake Kelsey Serwa. Look at that, look at Baron. She
came through but gets pushed through the inside. It's a little push from
Luedi there. Luedi lays the push. On to Alizee Baron. So Baron is outside
the gate and Luedi continues on it side but she wasn't able to
capitalise. Great skiing from Kelsey Serwa.
It was Luedi just - I think the judges and jury will be looking at
this just to see if there was any illegal contact there. But the bull
frog technique of Phelan and Serwa. And then Sanna Luedi, no-one to
blame but herself. She fought valiantly but it was the terrible
start that took her out.
So the Canadians again guaranteed a medal before the final even starts,
just like in the men's competition. Confirmation -- confirmation
Brittany Phelan crossed the line first ahead of Kelsey Serwa. And a
-- and disappointment for Alizee Baron.
Now back up tots top, and it's finals time, the four fastest racers
on the day who have managed to get cleanly down the course in the last
three races. The two Canadians who joined up in the semifinals are now
flanked by one Swiss and one Swede. Sandra Naeslund, six World Cup wins
this season, but this isn't a World Cup, this is the Olympic Games. And
this is how they line up. Kelsey Serwa in the red, one of the fastest
in qualifying. Brittany Phelan who's looked really impressive wearing the
green bib and Sandra Naeslund wearing blue and Fanny Smith in the
yellow bib there. Heals from Vila. Silver medallist
Kelsey Serwa last time around. Can she go one better here? Brittany
Phelan, ex-alpine skier. Raced in slalom in Sochi, placed 15th. She's
gonna do a whole lot better than that today. And Sandra Naeslund,
dominated the World Cup tour this season. Just 21 years old. My money
on Phelan. Phelan, Naesland, Serwa, Smith. There's my prediction. Let's
see how it runs. Serwa for me over Naesland. Phelan out. Right. Here we
go.
go. Who will have the quickest start? The whole pressure on the
skis, pressure on the gate. A little bit of a delay and there's the drop.
It's Serwa ahead. Phelan with work to do.
Exploding out, Phelan dragged back and Fanny Smith looking very fast
through the inside but Serwa holds her nerve and holds her line, neck
and neck, shoulder to shoulder. Here comes Phelan through. She's coming
up against Naesland. Naesland and Phelan and Smith. Oh!
Packed in there together. Literally touching each other in the air.
Oh, wow! Kelsey Serwa out in front, just a little bit of daylight
between the two of them. And it's Smith in second.
Naesland in the blue bib there airing deep into that left-hander as
they fly through this step up burn step down step up and Smith right on
the tail of Serwa but Serwa leading from the front and Smith explodes
and opens the door to Phelan and Naesland. Phelan is coming through
and needs to cut in now. Cut, Kowt. She goes into silver medal position.
Look at the battle for bronze going on in the back there. It's Naesland
and Smith. It's gonna be Smith. It's Serwa, Phelan, Smith right now.
The Canadians looking so in control. Last chance. One last chance. Oh,
tips up. And the bronze medal for Switzerland
just ahead of Naesland. Naesland unbelievably such a dominant force
on the World Cup unable to assert her presence in this final. Up
against two very powerful Canadians there, and Kelsey Serwa, she got
herself ahead there and what -- once she was no doubt front there was no
stopping her. Finally, finally, a medal for Fanny Smith at the Olympic
Games. But Brittany Phelan had a terrible start here. Really terrible
start and I thought that was her chance gone. But fought her way
through. It was incredible. Kelsey Serwa went out in front.
This was brilliant. This is where Fanny Smith starts to lean right on
Kelsey Serwa in the red bib. I think at this point Serwa is - that's
where she makes her move. This puts her out in front and no-one is close
to her after that point. But look at Phelan. In last place there and able
to move right the way through into the silver.
Smith leaning on Naesland on the under there. And that's it. The
battle between yellow and blue there, Smith and Naesland, opens the
door for Phelan and the silver medal. Serwa is gone by that stage.
Yeah. Absolutely rocketing out into gold medal position.
Kelsey Serwa, fifth in Vancouver, second in Sochi and she's finally
taken the first placed spot here. Very, very impressive. . I gotta say
that was real excitement. It started slowly but it built and built and
built. And what a final. What a way to end the women's ski cross
competition. There is your podium, Kelsey Serwa with the gold, Phelan
with silver, and Switzerland's Fanny Smith with bronze.
Well, Canada once again take gold in the women's ski cross. I'm joined by
Graham anded from the snow pipe. What can you say about ski cross? It
never fails to deliver. Fantastic racing today. Absolutely brilliant.
Particularly when we got towards the latter stages and I think that
final, where they were really neck and neck, all the way through, I
don't think we have seen that kind of racing at the Games so far. I
have certainly never seen that. That kind of proximity for that duration
of the race was breathtaking. It was a real signal of just how talented
those women are. To be able to race literally touching each other like
this for 1.2km down a course is immense.
Thankfully not quite so much carnage as we saw in the men's ski cross but
plenty of skills and thrills. You don't want to see injury but want
the drama. You want a good crash but hopefully they get up and walk away.
The new course that fell last night slowed the course down ever so
slightly so it wasn't as fast as it was for the men and that meant the
jumps weren't going quite as big which is probably a good thing.
Yeah, the Canadian who went down in Serwa's heat was all right. She
spoke to Emily after the racing and said she'd recovered, she was fine.
Very good day of racing for the women, no serious injuries. A quick
word on Emily. She wasn't expected to collage for a medal but given the
injuries she's had, coming back a couple of years ago. It must be
great for her to be part of this thing, have a shot out there and see
what happens. Yeah, and get to ski on the course. Chef got through
round one. It was down to a crash by India. That's what allowed Emily to
get through that first round. Then you're in it, you're racing. She was
in that second round, in the quarterfinals. She was in the
competition. She wasn't getting left behind. The heartbreaking thing for
Emily was she messed up the start? Both races. When I spoke to her
afterwards she said, "I had the start, I had it perfectly on all of
my training runs. You're so focused, so in the moment." She thought she
was trying too hard. In the quarterfinal when she caught up with
the pack and was in contention for the racing it's a case of what might
have been because had she got the start, the first obstacle nicely,
she would have been in the mix for sure. That start looks so tricky. It
was Canada yet again who took gold, one-two from the Canadians. How are
they so good at this? Well f you think about where the sport came
into the Olympic Games, it came in, in Vancouver, and it was - the
women's race was won by Ashley, a Canadian ex-ski racer switched to
ski cross. I think what got a lot of junior racers thinking, "You know
what, I could go out and I could race on the alpine tour and I could
maybe get in the top 10 or top 15 or I could switch to ski cross and get
on the podium." That's what Brittany Phelan did. Came straight from
alpine, raced alpine in Sochi, changed to ski cross and I think the
Canadians are investing in it and they're giving their athletes the
support and that's why they're able to produce such a strong programme.
If you look further afield at all the disciplines here in Phoenix Park
you have impressive results for the Canadians. Max and Mark in the
men's, Cassie in the women's half pipe. They claimed a lot of medals
at this area of Winter Olympics and I think they'll get more investment
off the back of that. Expect to see a new rising superpower in the world
of freestyle I think. Give us a little idea about tactics
in this event. If you two are racing against each other in the ski cross
or board cross, whichever one you want to beat. How do you beat each
other? Idea be on skis and he'd be on a snowboard that's how I beat
him. Madge you're both on the same. If
we're both on the same it's about getting a great start. If you can
get out in front then all you really have to worry about is making sure
you close the door. When you're going along a straight section, make
sure you're not setting up too much for the turn or you're leaving a gap
on the inside. Although it's a slightly slower line, you want to be
coming into that corner on the inside. So there's no gap for them
to overtake. I have to say I don't have anywhere near the competitive
drive of Graham. You're British senior's border cross champion. I am
three-time world British masters border cross champion, and I do have
that in me but I have seen Graham's race face and it's a terrifying
thing. I think most of the race is won and lost in your mentality at
the start gate, and then on the start line. We have seen brilliant
techniques from the Austrian racer today, Katrin Ofner, fantastic
technique but she wasn't making the moves to overtake, hesitating in
places and she didn't have the best wax. The Swiss were absolutely
flying on their skis today. Good plenty, no fear, and a great tech,
tax and wax tech and you'll be going really nicely I think.
We have brilliant stuff at the snow park all games, one more tomorrow,
big air and a big day for Billy more Absolutely huge. There -- Morgan.
Absolutely huge. There have been long dedates about Billy's potential
for tomorrow. It's difficult not to get carried away when you see how
Billy rode but he has a couple of tricks. It's a three-jump format and
two jumps will count. So he has two great jumps which are easily top
eight material and he has one jump if she -- if he can land - I
wouldn't say it's the finished article but he's capable of it. If
he rides his luck the medal's there, within touching distance. But we
have never seen in both the men's and women's, this level of riding
and consistency. The big air for me has been the most spectacular of all
the snowboard disciplines so far. On the at the same time is the parallel
giant slalom snowboarding so I'll be commentating snowboarding. And I
have roped in Zoi to help me out. That's about Ledecka who won the
super G and would be the first woman in history to win gold medals in two
different sports at the same Games. Yeah, loads to look forward to.
Thank you very much. It was another brilliant ski cross, brilliantly
commentated you yourselves as well. We are going to go for some more
drama and something else Canada are very good at. Women's ice hockey.
Canada and the USA have won every gold medal to the Winter Olympics
between them in this event and they faced each other for the fifth time
in the final. If you didn't catch up with it yesterday, it's brilliant.
If you did see it yesterday, it's well worth watching again. Let's get
the best of it with Ken and Seth Bennetts.
Bennetts. Women's hockey two superpowers are once again in an
Olympic final, a rematch of four years ago. A rematch of eight years
ago. Canada walked away with victories on both of those occasions
and it's been four years of hurt for the Americans. Can they turn the
hide of history with victory here in Pyeongchang? Good skatekm to keep it
in the zone from the Canadians. The whistle with blow. Blair Turnbull
with good speed in the zone. This is Turnbull coming off the bench. The
PUK came around, she picked it up with speed and kept going around the
net. Tried to short side jam on the back hand. Nice job for Matty to
keep close to the padkm and jump on the rebound with Wakefield lurking.
Feeds this in. Goes after it. Canada spreading the PUK around well.
Tipped out in front and a chance for Augusta. Augusta denied by ruiny.
Maybe a little too tight there. It was the high tip. Good reck in
addition from the defender here. The slap pass right on to the stick.
Didn't quite make it through. Good job from Steckland. She was ready
for the shot. Canada just staying on side. The US
will try and clear away. That's a huge hit, penalty coming. Hannah
comes in and makes her own body check after the play. Will the
officials score both of these? This is Jennifer Wakefield. Number 9, two
minutes. There's no doubt it, this is a body check right here. All
these women know that you cannot body check in in game. Just gives -
let's -- lets you know that the intensity is so high. Quiet
tournament for Castle as the shot comes in and great full glove of
Shannon. Hangs on to it. 49 seconds on the one player advantage for the
USA. It's a big shot. But the Canadian
defenders do a good job of making sure there's a clear lain and lane
for the keeper. She can see that the whole way. I don't like the way
Canada is managing the PUK. There's been a couple of instances where
they've had the Americans running around in their own zone and made
bad pusses, put the puck into not great situations and the Americans
have been able to break the puck out from there. Canada has to be a bit
smarter. It's almost taking a deep breath. Looks like they'll get the
first chance on the power play. Hannah. No, it's Nurse should I say.
Two minute interference call here. Wry smile from the coach.
Well, it's fairly legitimate. Yeah. Tough to argue that one. That was
behind the play. This is the third undisciplined penalty Canada has
taken and you can only play with fire so much. Bellamy as the US
build into the zone here. What a time it would be to score. Under a
minute remains in the first period of the women's ice hockey Olympic
final. They wind up here. Going hard to the net. The Americans. They have
a chance. They're going to keep looking for more. Hillary is the
player right in front of the net. Scores! 25 seconds remain in the
first, and it is first blood to the USA in this Olympic final. So often
it's been silver. For the US but is that a golden touch from Hillary
knight? USA lead by one. You just got the sense this was going to lap.
Look at all the time and said Moran has. She recognised with Hillary
Knight is and just a beautiful play right on to the back land of Knight
who's right on top of that crease. Shannon Szabados was wondering if
Hillary Knight was in the blue paint. She was not. She was right on
top of it. Here is Kestle. Saved! That was a
good opportunity there. And very nearly snuck away.
USA in space, too much space from a Canadian point of view. Not held in
this time. And now maybe Canada can win this race. Two players crashed
together. Johnston getting all wrapped up there with lay and Kayla
Barns and the US will come back the other way. Pushed to the front of
the net and given away. Three on two, breaking. If the Canadians can
use it well, they've done terrifically well here. Turnbull
puts it to the net and it's there. A little tip right in front and Canada
are right back in this as they level things up. It was a nothing play
really as they went to the net. And just enough of a stick on it.
just enough of a stick on it. Irwin sniffing around the net but what a
play this was on the -- on it by Turnbull. What a play from Turnbull
and look at Irwin going to the net. She picks this one right out of the
air. It's about 2.5 feet, and she just reaches out before that puck
gets to Maddie. And deflects it past her on the short said. You said
something out of nothing. One thing the Americans do so well
is they do not give that puck away. When it's on a stick they know where
they want to put it and they're not content throwing it to nobody.
Canada, on the other hand, sometimes they're just happen to get it off
their sticks, case in point right there. All comes to a good thing.
2-1! Another Olympic final goal for Maree!
Maree! USA punished here and that combination of Agosta and Maree.
Send Canada back on back and track for gold. No, sooner we're praising
the Americans, there's a horrible turnover right on to the stick of
Agosta. Look at this pass from Agosta to Poulin, a one-time shot. A
terrific shot. Love that pass from Agosta, right through the legs of
Amanda. Hillary Night is in the -- Knight in the right-wing corner.
Quick shot to the net. Rebound didn't go to where she hopes --
hoped. Szabados, quick hand, quick kick. Safe.
kick. Safe. Nice push back from the Americans here. The Canadians --
Canadians were in between line changes, it wasn't their full unit
out there. The likes of Hillary Knight came through pretty big. This
was an own deflection. What a save. The keeper deflects the to -- it to
her own net. That has to be a penalty. Canada still have it. They
work this up to the top. Penalty coming. Off the outside of the net.
Looked like the USA chopped that one then.
They definitely did. I don't know why the whistle didn't go. Stepping
into the top now. Space for Larocque. Another chance off the
knees. Finally the Americans touch up, the whistle blows, eight minutes
to go, first power play of the game for Canada.
Great job here. Canadian moved to the fourth line. Terrific speed.
Chips it past Moran and Moran steps casually in front of her there and a
hard shot off the stick of Rebecca Johnston, turned aside by Maddie.
Canada goes to the power play for the first time this evening. Nice
pass.
pass. Stick goes flying up in the air. Only three of the four have
sticks for the Americans. It's punched away. The only thing she can
do as it goes down low and Irwin pleads her innocence but I think
she's over the line. You cannot go into blue paint if
you're a skater unless the puck is in there. It's an automatic whistle.
Can see Irwin having it explained to her by the referee. Rebecca tries to
throw it in. You can see the right skate in the blue paint. Canada was
a little scrambly to start the power play, did a good job eventually
separating and trying to move the puck around. They're going to have
to build this from distance, here. As now they do bring it down in the
zone. This is - what an opportunity that was! Wouldn't sit down for
Sarah Nurse. Now Wakefield.
Sarah Nurse. Now Wakefield. Couldn't find the player.
find the player. Rebound. Can they finish it off? Wide by Nurse.
Agosta.
Agosta. Canada get it back towards the blue line. Bounces out. The
Americans can clear and they will with sell -- sell.
What an -- Kessel for Canada. It started with the -- what an
opportunity. It started with a point shot and that got the Americans
running around. Rue ny, the American net minder had to stand tall. The
rebound came right in. Wakefield was there, Nurse was there. The
Americans come into these big games, as favourites, play well as they did
in the semifinal yet come that big moment the Canadians just seem to
find an extra gear. Agosta, can they finish it? No! What a chance and now
it goes the other way. Two on one. Here's Hillary Night, Night with a
backhand play. Can the US score? Great defensive play. Oh, my word,
there's a player down injured on the ice. Szabados has her stick gone.
Briana. Took the full force of that. It was wonderful play at one end.
There was a chance then it goes back the other way. Two on one, Night
made a lovely pass. How Decker wasn't able to finish it and the
head coach will have a word in the ear of the referees here.
What a remarkable sequence. Back and forth. Huge save from ruiny on look
at this, two on one -- rue ny. Look at this. Poulin went through Decker.
What a -- right through Decker. In the men's game that's a penalty.
It should be. Sounds like the crowd has seen the replay, Poulin going
full speed and that is elbow to head. Can Canada withstand the
pressure? Can they get an insurance mark right now can they just clear
the zone? They can, two on one. How are they going to use this? Save by
rue ny. Is that a gold medal saving save? Rooney. Is that a gold medal
saving save? At the other end, what a chance this is, 2-2! Molly levels!
Rooney makes the stop at one end, US break away. And who else do you want
it on the stick of? Molly! Thoughts of socially banished, thought of
1988 back in focus, US gunning for gold again.
Oh, what a save from Rooney. She gets about half of this puck and
look at this player! Head up, so confident and fires that puck over
the pad under the glove of Szabados. Amazing stuff, amazing game!
Amazing stuff, amazing game! An amazing finish from Monique! Is
there one more twist?
there one more twist? Can maybe have one last chance. They won't now.
They'll run out of time on this one. SIREN SOUNDS
And for the second successive Winter Olympics, we are going to overtime
in the women's ice hockey final. Next goal wins it. Good move for the
USA. Can they use this? Goes wide. It goes the other way. She has
Poulin with off. Off a stick. Up into the netting. Two minutes 27
seconds of sudden death overtime. It is golden goal. Literally golden
goal territory. Next goal wince. Look at this chance. She walks in,
just loses the handle on it at the last second and look at this shot
off the stick. And Canada don't really have the
dynamic defender who can leap in. It opens up and Canada nearly wins it!
Quite a save from Szabados. What a play from Marvin to spring the
defender killer. She tries to go high blocker and what a save from
Shannon Szabados.
Shannon Szabados. Penalty. Killer. Looks up to the skies. 1.35 to go,
and Canada are gonna have a four on three power play. It's a penalty. It
is.
is. ANNOUNCER: Two minutes, illegal hit. On the blue line. Kicks towards
the middle. Rebound, pops out, off the post, I think! Canada nearly win
it! They go again. They have to control with the skate. USA on three
skaters on the ice, now it opens up and the shot goes wide from Rebecca
Johnston.
Johnston. Surely the Canadians will find a way to get Poulin back out
there. Down to 15 seconds. Time ticking
now. Penalty shot maybe will what this one takes.
this one takes. It will be cleared away. Eight seconds. No icing here.
Well, the drama will continue.
Well, the drama will continue. 80 minutes can't split these two teams.
In an Olympic gold medal match, and now it is over to a shoot-out.
Natalie Spooner, first shooter for Canada. Looking to set the tone
early. Get a goal. And put the opposition on the back
burner. With British links. Off the tape and an easy one for Rooney
first up. She came in with a tonne of speed
interview lost control, not too sure what she was trying to accomplish
here. You see her lose control under her stick and very easy for the
American net minder. These two teams have practised this an awful lot. In
the build up to this cos they know just how important it could be. Here
is the experienced Gigi Marvin. She steps in with a move and scores! The
US take the lead! Marvellous from Marvin!
She lost the handle of it briefly but was able to hammer it through. I
think that might have fooled Szabados just enough. The accidental
move. Meghan Agosta. For the Canadian. Canadian. -- Canadians. So
many goals she's scored in Olympic play, Agosta steps in. Oh, rifles it
home. Canada level! So much confidence on this shooter
from Agosta here. Goes left, goes right and comes in from the angle.
Upstairs past the blocker. Rooney gets outside the post here. Just got
taken too wide by the experienced veteran. Now, Hannah Brandt. Ler
sister played for the Korean team. And now here she is in the final.
Can she finish this one-off? Saved by Szabados. We're tied at two after
two. You see Szabados look behind her.
She knows she got a piece of it. She wasn't sure how much and it stays
out. Web between the lengths and Szabados shut the door.
Szabados shut the door. Poulin, two -- Olympic Games winning goals to
her name. Can she add a third? Poulin with a move. Good save
Rooney. Stayed big, stayed tall. And it raises a smile.
She tried to do the same thing Agosta did and Rooney was there the
whole way. Great stop.
whole way. Great stop. The first defence man to go. Here she is
walking in on Szabados. On the backhand side, nothing complicated
about that save. We're still level. Straight down main street, tries to
go to the back side, read beautifully by Szabados. 1-1 after
three shots. Daoust, maybe been Canada's best player in this
tournament, so composed. Put wobbles on her. Daoust steps in and with the
move. Oh my word! That was incredible! Shades from '94! Melanie
Daoust with a shoot-out goal to save her!
Are you kidding me right now? You've got to be. Look at this. An amazing
goal from Daoust!
goal from Daoust! One-handed, goes one way, sells it and then with one
loan hand gets it past the net minder. US trailing 2-1. Kessel for
the Americans, scores top corner, levelling things up. Well, if Daoust
was a thing of beauty, that was a thing of power.
Just as -- waits until Szabados makes the first move and then up and
over the glove. What a shot from Amanda Kessel. Jenner, for the
Canadians. Can she put pressure on the Americans?
Saved.
Saved. Rooney smiles. She knows she's given the Americans the chance
to win gold with the next shot. Jenner with the move. What a stop
right there.
Szabados knows. The coach knows. Hillary Knight, the face of women's
hockey in the USA. This is the gold medal shot for the US. Saved! And we
go to sudden death in the shoot-out. And who do the coaches pick now? I
don't even know what to do -- to say. Hira -- Hilary Knight robbed by
Shannon Szabados, put na in your gold medal championship. Agosta came
out. They might be taking a little bit of a break here. Agosta came
out. The US goes first. They flipped after the first.
It is Joslin who will go slowly, slowly slowly, all the way in. Big
move. Great goal. Shake and bake! USA go up and now they anxiously
wait to see whether this is good enough for gold. What a move. What a
move from Lamoureux-Morando! That is just perfection right there, and it
will be Meghan Agosta. Agosta has already scored once. She
has to score to keep Canada in with a chance. Lamoureux-Morando, saved!
The USA win gold for the first time since 1998. Canada's run of 24
straight wins in Olympic hockey matches is over! They're devastated!
As the Americans are crowned the Olympic champions for the second
time!
time! The Queens of ice hockey! USA win it on a shoot-out. In the most
dramatic of circumstances. 20-year wait for gold. -- gold ends back in
Asia where it all started. And they will celebrate. The tears of joy.
And on the other side, the tears of disappointment. The golden girls of
American hockey. I just took each player one at a time and it when it
came down to one, shooter to win it, I just - I just said, like, "It's
one more. " And then gold medal. The women mean so much to me, and I
can't believe we did it and just thanks everyone for the support and
- yeah. Shoot-out overtime, we knew we were
gonna get it done. There was no doubt in that locker room, and we
believed and we have played this game a thousand times in our minds
over and over in the last four years and we didn't care how we got it
done as long as we got these. If Absolute breathtaking stuff at the
Gangneung Hockey Centre, and it's the USA who take their second
Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey. What a match it was. We are
going to jump over to BBC Two. Do join us over there because we'll
have coverage of the first team curling medal up for grabs,
Switzerland take on Canada in the bronze medal match and we'll also
look back on a sensational women's free programme in figure skating.
That is all to come over on BBC Two so please join us on the other
channel. I'll see you in just a minute.