It has been a long, tense day for British sports fans, but there are
twists and turns to, on day 12 of the Winter Olympics. Those are the
scenes at the moment, where the British men are 2-2 against Sweden
at the halfway stage of the semifinal, we will be back there
very soon. They are on a break, so we can tell you what else is coming
up, and to give you some highlights. The big draw is at the skating
palace, there is a 15-year-old who, by virtue of being old enough by one
month, has qualified, she is Russian, and she will like the place
up, they are all talking about her, they say it could be the biggest TV
audience of the whole of the Winter Olympics. We will be showing you
highlights of the short programme later, before joining the latest
gators live. These are the scenes at the moment, it is on the red button
at the moment. Highlights of the early starters, then we will join
the action live with Sue Barker and Robin Cousins. We also have the
bobsleigh to come. And, bringing you up to date with the curling, not
great for Eve Muirhead and heard Great Britain team, because they
lost against Canada. It was very close, but Jennifer Jones was
brilliant, she played a couple of stunning shots, she just needed a
relatively straightforward draw to win the match, 6-4. You can see them
sweeping furiously, but it ended up right in the middle of the house.
Canada advanced to the gold medal match, they celebrate, Britain will
play Switzerland in the bronze medal match tomorrow morning at 8:30am.
Canada will play Sweden. News of a major shock to the host here,
usually they put the ice hockey scores on top of the dome, but they
did not tonight, because Russia's men have been knocked out, so no
medal for them, they have lost to Finland in the quarterfinals, 3-1.
Vladimir Putin was watching, not a happy man. Let's go back to the
curling, normally, we say, sit back, relax, enjoy, but with curling, it
is, sit forward, shout, get behind them. Jackie Lockhart and Steve Cram
have been doing a sterling job, let's see what they make of it so
far and how they feel the second half of the match will go, because
the final five ends are where the action is.
I think Britain can feel as though they have played pretty well. They
might be a bit disappointed that they have not got a better score on
the board, because at 2-2, it is level pegging, and these even ends
are so important if you have the hammer. The previous end, for a
little while, it looked as though it had the potential for Britain to
score big. But a great shot for the Swedish skip, Niklas Edin with a
spectacular shot, which cleared three British stones out, and
changed the whole thing. They have got to be careful that they do not
think, we had our chance and it has slipped through. They have got to
keep playing. We were listening to the coach at half-time, talking to
the guys, he said, you know how it is playing, keep playing your shots,
take the risk when you need to, but you have the chance to go through to
the Olympic final. Half a match. We could hear him saying, believe in
the shops, take the risk. You have to give it everything in this game.
Do not come off with ifs and buts. Put it out there on the field, the
leave you can do it, and follow-through.
Without being too aggressive, keep taking the game to Sweden. If you
look at the way the guys have been playing, stats do not tell you
everything, but Britain should 90%, they have been playing well, they
have not really made any mistakes, they have just not quite been able
to capitalise. Sweden, 80%, Niklas Edin down at 78, but that one big
two. Occasionally, they have looked
second-best, I think they would be much happier that they are at 2-2,
with the hammer, because it could have been different.
To update you quickly, the winner of this will go into the gold medal
match, and the other semifinal, between Canada and China, it is
sitting 4-2 to Canada at the moment, they are having their half-time
break. China will have the hammer in the sixth end.
Going back to the previous end, Fredrik Lindberg played a couple of
great shots, his second one in particular. When they have needed
to, Sweden have come up with shots, Britain have tried to create
chances. It is strange, they are a nation of curlers, Niklas Edin is a
very flamboyant player, but they creep their way in, they are quietly
confident, and the women are the same, they have been for many years.
Always quiet, never show much emotion. But they are there when
they are needed. The men had a real character, the team before the
youngsters played and came on board. They play with a quiet confidence.
That is OK, they have left it long enough to prevent it jamming.
The boys will undoubtedly feel that the wind has been blown out of their
sails, accursed they were setting up the last end so well. The last shot
was too heavily played, may be trying to be too greedy, too early.
It is easy for me to say, in the commentary box, but that was the
shot that gave Niklas Edin the chance to lift the treble out of the
house. Slow and steady wins the race, boys. With every shot,
placement has to count. I thought it was going to come
across nicely, but it just ran over. He looks surprised. The closer it
got to the centre, the Big Apple it was taking.
It has run out onto the wings, it will give us a nice chance to hit
and roll in. Greg Drummond still playing very good curling.
If the stairs hold enough, it will do as he wants! I love his attitude,
we have seen lots of emotions, you can see when people get upset and
frustrated, mind you, he has not had too many bad chops to get annoyed
about, but even when he has done, he has dusted himself down and come
back to his best. Stefan -- Sebastian Kraupp missed one last
time. That is a little better. That is a nice shot.
You can see the intensity of sweeping. That is right in behind.
It looks much better than it does from here, I thought there was more
of it showing. He will want to play arrays on this yellow at the front
of the house onto the Swedish red. -- a raise. And the boys will have a
time for that. That was unfortunate. He would have liked to stay in the
house, there. But that was a nice try. So, an opportunity for Sweden
to come in with their second shot. Just letting his team know where
they wanted to go. They do not want to leave another easy promotion on
that front yellow. I do wish I knew how to speak Swedish! Then I could
tell you what they were saying! He is playing the eye turned raw, down
here. -- outturn draw. This is such not a big gap. And they left that.
And all of a sudden, it started to move. That is a bit of a mistake.
Quite a big mistake, to be honest. It had a lot of weight and the boys
did not look like they wanted to sweep it. But when that started to
pull, it came right across the line. We know that top yellow is not in.
The triple is, this thread is at the back of the house. -- the problem
is. -- this red. We know it curls. Yes, they do know it curls on that
line! This is about thinking what was said, and that is, take chances.
If you want to win this game, you must take chances. He could have
come down the back and hit that red stone. But we want to come around
behind the cover, first. Make it very difficult for Sweden. And this
is the chance he was talking about. And I like the strategy. Keep trying
to take the game to them. He will not win today without taking risks.
They know that if this curls... They just want it to keep coming. It did
not turn enough that time, didn't? -- did it. That was running too far.
As soon as the weight comes off, you have said so many times, it will
really turn. It just kept running. That would have been a much nicer
shot if it had sat higher. Niklas Edin has only had to play one
draw so far. Ten shots played and nine of them have been take-outs.
They might want to change that scenario. The one draw he made was
very successful. He wants to come down here and freeze the front of
that yellow that was just played. This might be a better way. As it
starts to turn. They will need to work that. That looks OK.
There is a chance to check that out. It shows just how difficult that is
to judge. Just it had heavy. And then Niklas Edin, just a little bit
light. -- a tad heavy. It is ready poling a lot. -- really pulling.
There was just enough weight to hold that line. And to move that red
stone enough. But not so much that it rules too far. -- rolls. If they
catch any of that at all! That was well left. I was holding my breath,
there. Can Niklas Edin see any of that? If you can, he has a chance of
three. He is having a look. We have spoken about this during the week.
It is worry dependent on the weight. Too much and you have no pull. But
not enough, and you get a huge amount of pull. It is critical to
play the weight that you have placed the brush for. They are coming to
have a look at this and have a bit of a discussion. It is an important
shot, could be pivotal. We are not right kind sheet, we cannot see what
it would be like from the hack. It seems to be right behind. Very
difficult shot. Do you take the chance and go for it? And if you do
not make that, you might lose one. These shots are finishing at the
end. They are. I was going to say, Sebastian Kraupp is saying nothing.
They are involving him in the discussion. Well, this could be a
really important shot. For both teams.
What he is thinking is, if he does not lay the weight he wants to play
to just tap that back, and if he is tight, he might catch the yellow at
the front, and I do not know if he will. That looks like a heavy drawl.
-- draw. He will want to come down here. Well, there are two questions.
Can he do that? And just stay there? See. -- let us see. It is a very
difficult shot. But he is going to take the chance. Niklas Edin. Going
for what could be a game changing shop, here. -- shot.
That is looking pretty good enough? Well, but I'd be a shot to Great
Britain. I think it is from this angle. And the shot that could have
been so destructive for Great Britain, he could have taken three,
and it has turned out to be a steal for David Murdoch and his men. That
was a very tough shot to make. All of a sudden, smiles in the British
camp. They have got away with one, there.
Fredrik Lindberg. He knows and the British team know that was a game
changing moment. It slipped through the fingers of Sweden.
I wonder how that will affect both teams? The fifth end, there was a
great opportunity for great and on and you must save Niklas Edin saved
a couple of shots, there. -- say that. And in the very next end, he
had a very tough shot. Fractions away. Just a couple of inches. And
instead, Sweden find themselves one behind. And crucially, if Britain
had maybe even hold Sweden here, they will have the hammer. Depending
on what happens. Crucially, in the 10th.
People watching this all the time, comment from whatever you have been
doing today, this is the semifinal match, always going to be difficult.
Just get ready for this. Going all the way down to the final stone of
the final end. But Britain doing well at the moment. They have put
the pressure on Sweden all the way through. That was the first time
there was a real opportunity for Sweden to open the gap and they did
not take that. Any other match, it is 4-4 between Canada and China.
Canada have the hammer again. Again, good sleeping. That was sweeping. --
sweeping. You might be getting used to this. The corner guard is up.
Britain with two stones. Just about in line with the center line. Trying
to draw in behind that corner guard. This is looking pretty good. Almost
perfect. It has gone deep enough. Scott
Andrews can follow that exact same line. With more weight than that.
So, David Murdoch, after the previous end, must be feeling, this
might be our day? But you cannot even start getting ahead of yourself
in matches like this. Not bad. You must play every shot that is coming
down and stop thinking ahead. We could have the hammer in the last.
And create the situation they would have hoped for before this match
started, with their previous end. What could have happened and what
did happen. There you go! That was a nice shot. He has done well. He has
rescued the developing situation on more than one occasion. I'm not sure
that he has helped their cause too much, the Swedish lead has been off
his game today. Therefore, Fredrik Lindberg has had to clean things up
a little bit on a couple of locations. Yes, Fredrik Lindberg is
playing some really good curling, here. I think that little mistake
from Niklas Edin will just have changed the momentum. Knocked the
stuffing out of him. He had that great opportunity, it was not an
easy shot, but that opportunity for the three. And he had a lot of room.
Almost the same as the shot from David Murdoch, just a little bit
more weight. You just do not get the finish that you want. The key was,
he was trying to stay and he could not play with too much weight. He
had to get all three things right, the line, the weight and the angle.
It was asking a lot and he is more than capable and he would not have
gone from that if he did not think he could get it. He was only three
inches. That was well swept, very close. It
was running out of steam. They had to work so hard to hold the line. We
talked about his sweeping prowess, Viktor Kjaell, he did well there.
They are giving everything in the sweeping. You can hear it in their
breeding, you can see it in their faces. If Britain could limit Sweden
to one here, they could drive the momentum home.
That is a nice shot. It has been a good start to the end for Great
Britain, Greg Drummond playing the first stone nicely. A long way still
to go, though. With players of the calibre of the Swedish skip, who can
make the big shots, we saw what he can do, Britain need to keep the
intensity up, keep their accuracy level high.
It has been Sebastian Kraupp and Niklas Edin, they have had a few
mistakes here and there. Admittedly, Niklas Edin has played a couple of
big shots. If you're back end is not firing on all cylinders, it will be
a struggle. There is no reason why they cannot put that right.
He was not going to get that any further across. Things are not
working out for the Swedish boys. Not much in it. If you were trying
to play that shocked, you would think, no way! But that is how it
pans out for you. This is building well for Great Britain, another good
shot for Greg Drummond, it will put more pressure on.
He is looking for another spectacular shot from his third,
Niklas Edin. He is probably saying, you put us in this situation, you
get us out of it. It looks quite calm. He knows how easily one good
shot can change things around. If that had worked well, they could
have got all three. But Great Britain still have to, as we move to
the skips. The boys are going to take the red
one out. You heard David asking for a hit and
a flop, a little roll off a stone, but do not roll too far. The key
thing is, you are developing the pressure. Do not give Niklas Edin
the big shot. That is OK. It is just biting, and
look where it has gone. He has got a real headache now. A little smile
from David Murdoch, they are starting to roll in his favour.
He is making Niklas Edin think about what he is playing here. Niklas Edin
has the opportunity to hit the centre, roll across behind the guard
of the red and yellow on the right-hand side of the picture. Dave
Ford had to follow that up. There is a great chance here of Britain
limiting them to one. It is really hard for Niklas Edin to manufacture
a situation for two points, but he will do his best.
Niklas Edin with an out turn hit, roll across to the corner to sit in
behind some of the cover. Another poor shot from the Swedish
skip. That did not move at all. I am putting that down to the weight he
is throwing. That is two or three stones we have seen.
Here is my question for you. Three cheers for the British supporters!
You are Niklas Edin, you could give up one, keep the hammer for the
eighth and 10th ends, give Britain a steel here. That is a great thing to
think about. Having the hammer in the even ends to try and force the
hammer in the odd ends is great, you want to be close and having the
hammer running down the last. Unless he scores two points,
Niklas Edin has been fighting to keep his team involved. But since
then, he has not been at his best. Britain have forced the issue. He
will take the one point here. That looks OK. He had a choice of what to
do, but he decided to take it. That will tie it up at 3-3. Crucially,
though, the hammer goes to Great Britain in the eighth end, and
possibly in the 10th as well, and it is advantageous to Great Britain at
the moment. They are playing really well. The same cannot be said,
particularly for Sebastian Kraupp and Niklas Edin, but that is because
of the pressure they have put them under. They have made some rescue
shots, but Britain have been on top here. It is 3-3, but the British
boys are playing better. What we have to be very careful of, there
has been an odd mistake from Sebastian Kraupp or Niklas Edin, and
it just needs for them to flip the game and start playing some good
shots, and we could be in trouble. Both of the Russian skips.
Here we go. If you are just joining this match, it is level as far as
the score is concerned, but Britain have the hammer, crucially, in the
eighth end and have been forcing the issue all the way through this
match. David Murdoch is not going to draw
around this, he has asked for a corner. Quite often, the opposing
skip will ask his team to draw in behind it, but he won the two
points, That is better from Viktor Kjaell.
When your lead is not firing on all cylinders... Big cheers are going up
in the other match, Canada have just taken three, to lead 7-4. They had
the hammer in that end. Brad Jacobs and his team look in control.
Great Britain just need to play the shots, but the stones in the right
place, control this end. It is so important to get past. A
nice shot. Goodness me, the guys are working. They certainly are. That
was a bit high, just missed the centre red guard. I think Sweden
will see this easy enough. He saw how close it was to the guard coming
through. It was close to the red guard, it had plenty of space
against the yellow God. This one looks OK.
The point I was making, you wanted him to do it behind the two guards,
and the line is tight, the risk is you catch the guard coming through.
They will have to take the other hand.
They will have to take an out-turn. They are only looking for a little
role. Just turning up at the end. With
each shot, they are creeping closer to creeping in between those two
gods. It is the turn of Fredrik Lindberg.
He hasn't got as much weight with this one. It is not a bad shot at
all. Well swept. You can still follow that one in
though. Viktor Kjall has worked hard. Lots of hard sweeping in this
one. Let's see if Scots can follow that one in. Our GB boys are way
fitter. You don't hear them huffing and puffing as much. That is a good
shot. We are constantly keeping the pressure on Sweden hair. Some really
good shotmaking from Great Britain. He has two force the issue a little
bit. He now faces a British team playing well. He might have to start
taking some risks now. Now they are going to have to work
it really hard. Again, that is another nice shots. Slowly but
surely trying to set some Reds up in front that are hard to remove. If
you are David Murdoch, do you clear this up a little bit and don't let
them develop that? I think they are.
You can see that is where the difference has been. Greg Drummond
is consistent and Sebastien has been struggling. Lovely shot. It couldn't
have been any better than that. That gives them something to cheer about
again. He is still shooting 90% as we can
see in the stats machine. That is another shot counteracted
there. David is going to have to... He is
going to hit one of them. You are putting one to hear. If he roles, as
long as it is level with that yellow, that would be OK.
What do you think this gets us? Unless you are perfect. That is how
good these boys are. Here is what I would suggest. Make his shot as
difficult as you can. He is not performing as well. He doesn't like
the idea of them coming across and removing Matt Stone. -- -- that
stone. The thing that I like to see is they
talk about the shots and then you always have to think that your
opposition is going to play 100% the perfect shot. Like you say, you have
to make Nicolas Eden play a poor shot. He hasn't been playing so
well. -- Niklas Edin. He has done well again. That had to
sit in. He may be over swept back there. They don't want to lose the
line. They could have afforded to have left that longer and assure
themselves. They wanted to go far enough. It is a fine line judging
the stone. You want to make sure you roll far enough and that rolled too
much there. Once again the pendulum swings a little towards Sweden.
Still got some work to do here, Niklas Edin. You the far end of the
sheet. Still plenty of time for both teams to get 73 minutes to play all
of their shots. Both of them, Britain have got 17 minutes left and
the clock is ticking for Sweden on this shot. They have 18 minutes. It
takes seven and a half minutes for the team to play their shots each.
As long as we go into nine and ten with at least 40 minutes on the
clock, we should be OK. I think he was hoping to nose hit
that. He is not too happy with that. They are pretty overlapped. A double
is good, Dave. The short for David Murdoch here, the double takeout. --
the shot for David Murdoch here. He is looking to hit this one on the
nose and take both these rents out. -- reads out.
Could have moved across a little bit more. It is not a bad shot.
Just that one shot from Greg Drummond would have given them the
chance of the two here. Just rolled out. Let's Sweden off the hook a
little. Every shot being met with silence as
they deliver. Decisions, decisions. You take your
one and if you give them the hammer in the ninth... Like we spoke about
the Viacom if you give up this end and take the hammer into the ninth,
you don't want to score in the ninth. It is very difficult. The
other option is we go really hard the two. They desperately wanted to
get the two in this end. With the way they are playing, take your one.
I think the way things are going, take your one.
These guys are sticking with the plan we have mentioned. You want to
be scoring in the even ends. They are going to try and take this one,
force the one in the ninth and hopefully go to the 10th with the
hammer. Let us hope this doesn't come back to haunt us. They have
made the decision as a team. David Murdoch taking the decision and we
will all find out whether or not it is the right decision in about 15
minutes time. For now, they take the one. They do lead this semifinal now
4-3. Not what they wanted in the eighth. That shot from Greg Drummond
that they didn't manage to hold on to. It rolled out of the house.
Great Britain with the slim advantage -- slim advantage.
Just update you on the other match. That will determine who Britain play
and in which match they play. The results of this semifinal. Canada
are leading against China. Canada now with the hammer but in the
ninth. That is the Danish skip. Both of them. We kick off on the ninth
end. Let us hope that decision of taking the eighth there doesn't come
back to haunt us. I am not going to harp on about it but it was a team
decision. There was the chance to take the two in the ninth. You have
changed your children. I am giving you at every option possible. As a
player, I used to like scoring on the eighth end. With how this game
has just gone... I think I agree with you. OK, we didn't get it
there. It was Greg's shot. I still like the way the game is being
played. Air Force one here? Yeah. On the day, it is how you and your
team are feeling. Just keep playing the way they have
been playing. They have been forcing the issue more often than not. I
would say they are the stronger team at the minute. Sweden are chasing,
so they just have to keep that confidence up. And keep the energy
up, keep talking to each other, stay positive.
If you are joining us, I know people will be coming in from work,
whatever you have been doing through the afternoon. Maybe some people are
staying at work to watch! Don't want to get stuck in traffic and missed
this. Britain are in the semifinal here. If you get into the final, you
are of course assured of a medal. If you lose, tomorrow you are in the
match, for the loser of which is the dreaded fourth place.
After that shot from Scott Andrews, Fredrik Lindberg has little
opportunity here. That looks straight as well. I always get the
feeling, Jackie am talking of the difference between the men's game
and the women's game, the delicate draw at the end to win it or that
sort of raised double takeout, I am sure that is the way most people
would feel . You always want to play the big match winners.
Niklas Edin is going to ignore that shot.
He is asking Fredrik Lindberg for outturn. The guys are having to work
this hard if they are going to hold the line. I think we are going to
catch the top guard here. Well done. Sweeping it so hard kept the pace on
it. We did not miss that second guard I very much at all. A little
apology from Lindberg. Each time they don't place their
stones in the right place, you have to respond. Greg Drummond saw what
happened there. Keep ringing it in! This could be
good. Well done. Well swept. Great position. The British crowd were
liking that one. I would be very surprised if we don't see Niklas
Edin asking Sebastian Kraupp to move a couple of these yellow stones.
Or maybe not. Holding his nerve. He has been drawing quite poorly, 63%
on six trawlers. -- draws. Not too bad, just a little wide.
This game is definitely going to go down to the wire. Every end, every
shot crucial at this level. I am not sure how David's wife is doing. I
know they are in sterling with the Scottish junior men, training in
preparation for their world juniors. We wish them the best. I am sure
they will be nervous watching this, but at the same time proud of how
these boys have been performing. I hope everybody there has stopped
what they are doing to watch these crucial last two ends.
Done well again. He has done so well. Don't forget, Sweden have the
hammer here. What's more, Niklas Edin finds himself surrounded by
yellow bones. -- yellow stones. He does hold his nerve, though. He
doesn't mind it developing this way. And they have fallen right for him
on more than one occasion. He is asking Sebastian Kraupp again to try
and clear this out for him. He must be nervous, watching.
Sebastian Kraupp is being asked to play another big shot here.
He has got two of them away. But there is still one sitting there.
The fact that our yellow is sitting nicely on top of that helps protect
the site, but we have to be careful on the other side of the rings. You
don't want to give them anything. They know it's just takes one big
shot, and the whole end changes. You have to hold in your mind that your
decision was based on, the code still has a smile on his face. He is
such a poser! OK, you give up two, but not more than that. They have to
make sure the position they have earned for themselves in this end is
not lost. He just gets past! This is a great
shot from Murdoch. A very small margin of error there. Excellent
shots from the British skip. That could not have got why buy more than
a couple of millimetres. So Jackie, Niklas Edin now has to
try and force these two. If he could get any more, it would be a huge
bonus. But even that will require a couple of good shots. He is just
working out the best option. If he can follow that shot and sit on the
nose of it, that would be a good shot to set him up. David's shot was
very tight past that guard. There was not much room. You have to keep
it high on the right-hand side. It could catch either the top yellow
or his own red. Or he could catch the red on the way in. You have
bubbly heard the cheers -- you have bubbly heard the cheers. Canada have
just picked up three, so it looks as if they are heading to the final.
Who will be joining them? Niklas Edin has to get this right.
Well, it did clip his own red, but not with much weight behind it. It
has spun into a reasonable position. They want to just try and bump this
back. They don't want to leave the chance of a double.
I like that call. Come right into the pack. That British clock is just
ticking away now. They might need to keep an eye on that. I am sure that
if the boys feel like they are running out of time, they do still
have a time-out. They can utilise that to make some decisions without
losing it off the clock. This needs to be perfect.
This could be nice. That is a great shots, I think. Not a lot of room to
come through there. Just gave that other yellow a nudge.
They are worried about this red appear on the right-hand side. He is
not going to go for that. I think the angle is completely different
from this end. If he gets half, he will come across the face of the
yellow at the back and take them both out. He could get a two. This
is a big shot for Niklas Edin. He is about to play it.
He has done well. He has done very well indeed. Two shots to Sweden.
They take the lead again in this enthralling semifinal which has gone
one way and then the other. He looks to the sky as though he is not too
happy with that. They have the lead going into the 10th but Britain have
the hammer. You have got to hand it to tempt to
do -- you have got to hand it to Niklas Edin. Britain have kept on
with the pressure. He has managed somehow on three or four occasions
to find a route through. Find the perfect angle. Kept his team in the
hunt. Kept his team in with a chance of going to the Olympic final. Very
straightforward and very simple. One more end and Britain will have the
last stone. Two shots to win it. One shot and they will tie and we will
have an extra end in which Sweden will have the hammer. Anything else
and it is all over. Playing the final and in the other
semifinal, Canada 10-6. China have the hammer in the last end. Unless
something horrendous happens, Canada will be in the Olympic final.
We know so many people have come to enjoy watching the curling and maybe
hadn't watched too much of this sport before. We have had good
performances from the British men and women to get into the
semifinals. There is still two medals available. The woman going
the bronze tomorrow. Cameramen get into the final? -- can the men get
into the final and guarantee a medal?
Really just want this to come and not have a bump. That is OK.
Straightforward appeal. Look at how much he is sweating. Hard work out
there. If anyone thinks it is not physical, the amount of sweeping
these guys have done on both teams has shown that you need to be fit.
I think he is going to run that read back into the pack. No room for
error now. Fredrik Lindberg trying to run this red bag. Done well. --
read back. Can't believe that. He has been so
good yesterday and today but that mistake come all of a sudden changes
things dramatically. Niklas Edin wanting to take a time-out. They are
not going to ask the coach to come down. They are just taking time to
assess the situation all of a sudden. Britain with the hammer, of
course. I think Eva might come down. She was looking for some
confirmation from the national coach. Just confirming what they
think they should do together before she comes down. She has left the
coaches bench. I think they have discussed every
single option here. What would you do? I am not saying he is concerned
about that yellow but he knows he has a chance to make a scenario that
you think isn't going to develop. All of a sudden, a stone like that
can make the difference when it comes down to the last couple of
stones. He is lying two here. They are looking at utilising that front
red, are they? Going to take off that corner. I
think he wants them to hit it at an angle so they can head towards that
yellow if he can. He has missed and he has left it out
there. Not exactly what he wanted. That might prove useful for David
Murdoch. Greg Drummond trying to resurrect
this situation a little. Two bad shots. That is going to make
life incredibly difficult for David Murdoch now. One from Scott Andrews,
one from Greg Drummond, the whole team have played so well. Britain
with their last stone in this final end but they need at least one to
take it into an extra end. Let us not panic! It comes down to the
pressure in this sort of competition. A little bit of
nervousness comes into play. The momentum has swung in Sweden's
favour again. Britain have been in control in this match for so long.
Two bad shots and as you keep saying, you cannot get away with
that. Not in the 10th end as well. Look how red Fredrik Lindberg's face
is. They are putting everything into that.
He has left his stone out in the open air but it is good that he has
removed it. He will try and replace that. Just the two skips left to
play. Sweden with the advantage both in the score and in game situation
hair. Britain can still get there one. That will tie it up and we will
have an 11th end. Sweden will have the hammer in that end. Britain have
just allowed Sweden in this very last end to take control here.
Against Norway yesterday, it was a different situation for David
Murdoch. It was developing in such a way that there was always a
match-winning shot developing for him. Is there anything he can
conjure up here? Sounds like he is hoping for a
miracle for Niklas Edin to come up with a shot which I don't think you
can really expect. You have to accept that the other skip is going
to play a decent shot. You can only put the team in a difficult position
here. We know that if they play a bit too heavy... This game is always
interesting, write to the very end. David Murdoch, the British skip,
watching his penultimate stone here. He needs a minimum of one. If he can
put this one in a good spot this looks good. That is a good shot.
That asks the question of Niklas Edin.
So it all comes down to this. Two shots left, one for each skip.
Niklas Edin will try and remove that, and David Murdoch will have to
come in to try and tie the match up. If Niklas Edin gets this
horribly wrong, it could be a shock to win it. But he has been excellent
over the last two or three ends. And of course, he will be nervous,
Jackie, but he should make this. But it still is a very difficult shot.
There is a lot of difference between that red and that yellow in the
house. Here it comes. He has overthrown that! Now, all of a
sudden, David Murdoch has a chance to win this. Niklas Edin looks to
the skies. He has been so good. He has rescued this match on more than
one occasion. And by a quarter of an inch, it skips by the British
stone. He knows he has just opened the door to the Olympic final for
Great Britain. Every time, Jackie, last week and into these crucial
matches, we have said, have the last stone to win it. That is all you ask
for. It has got to be good. Greg Drummond knows he is giving his skip
the line. So David Murdoch, again with a chance for glory, the chance
to take his team into the Olympic final for a guaranteed medal.
Dave Murdoch has done it! The fists are in the air! The British crowd
are jumping up and down in the stands. David Murdoch and this
British team have played so well today. When it looked as though
their chance might have gone, they capitalised on a mistake by the
Swedish skip. Great Britain or in the Olympic final. They will now
contest the match for gold or silver, a guaranteed medal for
them. What a match! They left it late to come good in these Olympic
Games, but that is perfect timing. And when the questions are asked of
David Murdoch, he has had all of the right answers. Look how much that
means to them. Sweden, once more, will not be contesting for the gold
medal. Despite being the European champions, despite being top of the
rankings, they find themselves relegated to the bronze medal match.
And I think Great Britain deserve that. They were the better team. You
can look at the stats, they were better. The shotmaking was mostly
better. They kept the pressure on Sweden. Yes, we had a poor shot from
both Scott Andrews and Greg Drummond in the last end, but maybe they got
what they deserved in the end. How about that? Come back tomorrow,
folks. Two medals. One will be guaranteed. Will it be gold or
silver for the man? The women are fighting for a bronze as well. We
have commented on 22 matches now, Jackie. And of course, for us and
for all of you at home, I know the excitement has been building and
building. But who would have thought that we would have both of our teams
fighting for a medal, with a guaranteed one for the men? They
will be taking on the best team in the world by most people's
judgement, Canada. Niklas Edin cannot believe it. Maybe they can't
be too hard on him, Jackie, because he made some great shots when it
looked as though Britain might pick up twos and threes. It is sad for
him that he lost it in the end. Yeah, it was a great game. What a
tremendous end. These boys have worked so hard to get to this
Olympic final. You can see the delight on Dave Murdoch's face. They
for the chance of a gold or silver. for the chance of a gold or silver.
CLARE BALDING: if you did not love curling before today, you do now.
Look at that embrace. What a brilliant victory for Team GB. A
gold medal at best, a silver at worst, guaranteed. That would mean a
minimum of three medals at this game is for Great Britain, equalling the
previous best in 1936. Poor Niklas Edin of Sweden. He knew he could do
more. Crammy, I remember talking to you about the effect of adrenaline
right at the beginning of this. Actually, Crammy has gone to
interview the guys. Jackie, when you are excited, how much more difficult
is it to control the stone, particularly in a sport like this
where it is all about tiny margins? Yeah, Niklas Edin knew that was the
shot he had to play. You could see he was wiping the sweat off his
palms and tried to calm himself down, but it is so easy to overthrow
these stones, and that was what he did. From his mistake, we got the
chance. We unfortunately had two mistakes earlier by the guys, but
when you get the opportunities from a mistake by the opposition, you
must capitalise on them. That was a wonderful end. We wondered whether
when Dave took his one in the eighth and, whether he had done the right
thing. It was looking like going down to an extra end, but you never
know what will happen in curling. That was a great result for Great
Britain, and we have the chance of a gold or silver medal. These boys are
just up for it now. They are ready to go. We will look now at the stone
that turned this around. Talk us through what happened here? Niklas
Edin assessed his options and let go. When did you realise this was
too heavy? That centreline has been difficult all week. If you play too
much weight, it pulls off the centre line. He did not miss by much. He
just overthrow it. As you said, the adrenaline. Just a bit too much. He
will be gutted. But he still has a medal to try for tomorrow. Our GB
boys now have the chance of glory. I am now watching David Murdoch's
final stone that won him the match. It is travelling so beautifully.
Perfectly weighted. The guys just had to make sure they
did not catch that read high guard, but he played it beautifully. It was
well judged and controlled. What a shot to finish on. You can see the
shots of the friends. We met them last night. I know Scott's fiancee
is there and friends of theirs. They have a friend who took five flights
from New Zealand to get here to support the women. But they will now
face Canada in the gold medal match. The only time Britain's men have won
curling gold was in 1924, the very first Winter Olympics. The women won
in 2002 with Rhona Martin. Jackie, I will put you on the spot while you
are still pump and in the moment of victory. What chance do Great
Britain have on Friday against Canada? We have got a great chance.
There is a huge rivalry between these two countries. Once again, we
will see a fantastic game . It will be a ten end game, I don't
expectancies anything less. We may even go to an extra. Canada won
their game quite easily today. They struggled during the week, as have
our boys. But both teams are peaking at the right time. I have my fingers
and everything crossed for a medal, especially on the men's side. Canada
won 10-6 against China which sounded convincing. They are in very good
form. I think they are trying to go for a third successive gold-medal,
aren't they? Yes, they are. I did not manage to watch their game
because I was concentrating on ours, but they scored a couple of big
ends, and that is what we will have to watch. We saw earlier in this
game, lots of intricate setup. But sometimes you have to be careful
because it just takes one big shot from these guys, and it clears the
whole house. At they were playing well. We will really have to bring
our A go into the final, but these guys are up for it. -- we will have
to bring our A game. You said you thought the British women might be
down after having lost a match they should have won, and the men would
be up, having won their play-off against Norway. At is hugely
important, isn't it? Really important. Dynamics of the team are
huge thing in curling. Everybody has to feel full of energy and
confidence. And these guys are owning their space. They are
controlling the game well. The communication is good. For the
girls, they will have to think about what to do as well tomorrow. Does do
have the chance of a medal. -- they still have the chance. That is the
critical thing. It will be a comfort at some point. Well, let us remind
you of events today. Great Britain's women unfortunately lost
their semifinal, but they have a bronze medal match tomorrow. Elise
Christie will be skating in the final of the 1000m, and Great
Britain's men will play Canada in the gold-medal match on Friday. The
victorious team are now with Steve Cram.
Yes, guys, how does it feel? It is incredible. Can't describe the
feeling. We have trained so hard for this and work hard every day as a
team and made a lot of sacrifices. It has all paid off. Greg, did you
think the chance had gone in the last end? There were a couple of
shots which did not go the way you wanted. I was pretty nervous in that
last end. We were really down on time and we are bubbly rushed a
couple of shots. But they were close to us on time and made a couple of
mistakes, so they were probably feeling the same. Scott, you played
well out there today. Everybody has played well and we have confidence,
so hopefully, we can take that to the game against Canada. You are all
sounding way to calm! Give us a bit of emotion. You are in the Olympic
final. Our dream has come true. Not sure if it has sunk in yet, but
amazing. Dave, talk about the guys and yourself. I know the five of you
worked hard to get to this moment. Did you ever really think it would
happen? You always believe and work hard. That is why you train every
day, to get the opportunity to be here. I just feel proud of the guys.
They have worked tirelessly for the last few years and been in lots of
finals throughout the world. I can't believe it! Obviously, you have to
get your heads together for the final. You are going to get a medal,
but you will face Canada. Yeah, we will enjoy the moment. We will have
that medal. We have all day to think about tomorrow and make a plan
against Canada. We just need to keep doing what we are doing. We are full
of confidence and we believe in ourselves. You are all staying super
cool. Well done. You can go away and celebrate tonight. We look forward
to seeing you in the final. They are the faces to remember. Here
is what is still to come. We had the mixed relay earlier. The
games are coming to you a little later at 7:30pm. We will pack as
much as we can into it. Now we will move to the most graceful of all
Winter Olympic sports. It is the women's figure skating. What
sensations we have enjoyed over the years.
A programme of beauty. So graceful. We have witnessed something very,
very special. There is the winner. Olympic champion.
Many have a chance but everyone is talking about a girl who only made
the Olympics by one month. She is only just old enough. She is Yulia
Lipnitskaya and sky are. We will wait and see. It is the short
programme tonight and the medals will be decided after the free
programme. Let's see who we should be looking out for.
Yulia Lipnitskaya is set to become the Russian darling of these games.
We all know that Yulia Lipnitskaya is the dream for the Russians. What
are your thoughts? I saw her for the first time and I was blown away as
well. She is 15 but she is already very mature on the ice and that
really caught my attention. Her technical skills are incredible. She
is so fresh and young. At the same time, you see her on the eyes and
you look at her face and you think, oh, my God, she is only 15. She has
an older woman in her body. She knows what she does. It is strange
but interesting. Let us not forget Haejin Kim. She has been the Olympic
champion from four years ago and heard jumps are solid. Her spins are
beautiful. She is a woman out there. You know sometimes the
Olympics bring those special moments.
She has only done one competition. I have watched her training and it is
the focus and the delivery. She is in supreme control right now. I
looked at her in practice and I couldn't see any mistake. She was
very solid. Skating is emotional and it is such a big part of skating and
it should be. You can't always look at the base points and the plus and
the minuses. You do your mathematics but still at the end... They say you
shouldn't be emotionally connected. It is the deal that you get into
when you choose to be a skater. This is what you should know. There are
human beings sitting by the eyes and King, oh, that is so incredible, I
am so touched. -- sitting by the ice thinking. Who else is going to be
fighting for a podium place? Caroline Coster and Mao Asada.
Discussing the merits of the very women who we will see skating
shortly. We are going to see Haejin Kim shortly. -- Yuna Kim.
Jenna McCorkell on the ice now. She said she was proud to put in a good
performance at the Olympic Games. Now she needs to do another.
Well done. You can smile now. Another brilliant performance from
the British champion. It was a nervous watch for all of her friends
and family back in Northern Ireland and where she trains in Dundee. You
can be proud of her. She pushed through it and that is what we have
wanted her to do for the last couple of seasons. We have seen her do it
now twice. There is the flip. And the double
toe loop. Very nice and strong. A little tight on the take-off in the
triple toe loop. She rotated slightly early on that but didn't
put her hand down. Not the variations within the positions for
some of the spins to get the full level four. Simon is happy.
She certainly delivered the elements. Where will the judges put
her? Season's best in the team event was 50.09. That is under that. That
is OK in the technical store but not so good for the component score.
Will she make it through to tomorrow and the top 24? She is in third
place at the moment and we will have to see what happens with those that
follow. What camp Alina Edmonds of the
United States deliver? She entered the US Championships with a title to
her name and many thought she was a future talent. -- Polina Edmunds.
She has gone to future store -- future star in one event. How
nervous Ishii and what can she do here at the Olympic Games? Polina
Edmunds of the United States. The combination that she has been
doing. That is it. The double axel is there
as well. What a performance! Will nerves
affect me at the Olympic Games? No way. Beautiful performance. You
could not ask for more from a youngster, 15 years old. Silver
medallist at the US Championships. A big senior international debut at
the Olympic Games. Well, the first of the big combinations. Huge triple
that is. -- triple lutz. She had a little wobble between two of the
steps. But all the elements were done with aplomb. They may have
downgraded that combination jump. But it is a new season's best buy
some way. There has been a lot of talk about
Yulia Lipnitskaya, but the favourite for gold medallist will this young
lady, Yuna Kim. She is bidding to become the first woman since
Katarina Witt to win back-to-back Olympic golds. Every practice has
looked perfect. And every press conference has been surrounded by
hundreds of reporters, photographers and film crews. She is such a
superstar in Korea, but also in this sport. And her music is send in the
clowns, a piece of music she has always wanted to skate two. The
favourite for the gold-medal, Yuna Kim of Korea.
Triple lutz, triple toe loop and beautifully done.
Again, as much speed on the running edge exit as she had going in.
How delightful was that? Queen Yuna looks set to rain once again, and
that will send shock waves through the rest of the competitors waiting
to skate. How can you fault that performance? She has the speed and
height on the jumps and the most graceful flow you will ever see on
an ice rink. She has a lovely run into the jumps. And there is a
lovely run and flow on the exit. Carries it through into the second
triple. No tension in the neck and shoulders when she is in the air.
Wow! That is a bigger score than Lipnitskaya scored in the team
event. So Yuna Kim is back. The favourite for the gold is the
leader, and likely to stay there. Next on the ice, Gracie Gold. She
made a stunning Olympic debut in the team event to become America's new
Olympic darling, only to be overshadowed by Yulia Lipnitskaya.
But she is a medal contender in this competition that is social wrong,
but she knows a mistake in the short programme could count her out. She
has said she wants to be in the top three at the end of today or within
touching distance. We are about to find out.
Slightly off axis on the rotation of the lutz, but contained it and made
the second triple happen with ease. Well done! We took notice of her
last year at the World Championships, when she finished in
sixth place, but she has blossomed as a skater over the past year. It
was not perfect. She held on well to that triple triple, but she has put
herself in contention. She has become a fighter. Her coach has
given her some refinement of detail, and it shows. There was the triple
lutz. She waited that extra second to make
sure she was going to get that rotation.
Triple loop. She is only 18, Gracie Gold. I think she is going to like
these scores. That puts her behind Yuna Kim, which is where she wanted
for tomorrow. for tomorrow.
CLARE BALDING: the defending champion, setting the pace.
We will be back like for the final group, which includes Yulia
Lipnitskaya of Russia. We change pace now and head up the mountains
for the two woman bob. They travel at speeds of up to 80 miles an
hour. The whole Bob and competitors weigh about 350 kilos in total.
Britain has a crew of Paula Walker and Bex Wilson. Let's catch up on
what happened in the third round before seeing the fourth round
live. That is phenomenal. It equals the
track record. A bit of a tap. She has got to keep her cool here, Alana
my. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse.
They had their best effort yesterday. A third of a second down
now. That is much better than USA one managed. This is a tremendous
slide by the Canadians. They are going sideways, my good
this. This is untidy. The Belgians are on the slow side at
the start, but once they get going, they are fantastic.
They have taken a big hit. That is very good. 58.33. In fourth place.
Germany, my macro and ten macro. -- Franziska Fritz and Sandra Kiriasis.
Not the best of starts. Olympic champions in 2006. 1.49. She is
sliding sideways, that will have cost her time. Very good slide. Just
ahead of Elfje Willemsen from Belgium. This is Great Britain.
Paula Walker and Sun-ok Kim. -- Rebeka Wilson. Can they go faster
than the Americans? Inside the top ten. And 58 .88. Dine in 12th place.
-- down. Leading the way, USA, Lauryn Williams, who won gold at
London 2012. She will become the first woman ever to win gold in both
the summer and Winter Olympics games. Canada have really caught
up. Only one tenth of a second behind Rebeka Wilson and Paula
Walker. I wonder how they are feeling at the
moment? Paula Walker. Of the four-man driver. -- the fiance of
the four-man driver. That is not a bad start. Magnificent. Wilson on
the back. And that long jump. This is a much better slide. It has gone
green. Into the lead, ahead of the Canadians. They are certainly going
well at the moment. My goodness! Keep it together, girls. They are
increasing their lead at the moment. 14 and up the hill. They must exit
cleanly. They should hang onto the lead. And they are in the lead! Well
done. That shows the class of the Great Britain team. 58.6. Not their
fastest time. But again, every team so far is sliding much slower. This
is Jamie Greubel. They must be aware of the Netherlands. That is a
blistering start. This is the aggregate, the total of all four of
those runs. Their time advantage over the Dutch is colossal. This is
a spectacular start. Jamie Greubel has to keep this together. They have
to slide. They tap on the left-hand side again. That will not really
cost them. They are going to go into the lead. The USA are guaranteed a
medal. Yes they are. 58.16. That is superb. The big American head coach
for the woman. 50 plus years, the drought, when he took over for
America. They are guaranteed a bronze. Who knows, if they overtake
Canada, it could be one, two for the USA. But believe that they held or
that Canada holds over the Americans is 0.65. It would be outstanding if
they get silver. I fully expect the Canadians to go for gold, here.
Canada, then USA going for gold. This is amazing. Kaillie Humphries
and 48 acrid, one of the most talented athletes of all time in
bobsleigh. -- 48 acrid. -- 40th macro. -- 40th Agro. That could have
been better. They have the best part of three quarters of a second over
USA. They have got to go into the lead. As they did in the third
round. In the lead at the moment. And that is good. She can relax. She
has got to give way to these walls of ice. Nearly one second. The
Olympic champions are putting in the run of their lives. 200 metres left
to go. This is good. And they are well in the lead. One second ahead.
It looks like a bronze medal will go to the USA. That is a fabulous lead
by Canada. 57.92. The first team to have gone below 58. That is very
good, well done. Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have equalled the
record. Will it be double Olympic champions? It was nearly perfect
from the Canadians. They could not have done much better. The only team
left on the track. Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams, can she become the
first ever athlete to win both summer and Olympic medals. -- summer
and Winter Olympics idols. -- medals.
They have blasted away. That was a horrible slide! The biggest hit we
have seen. That is terrible. They are not going to be in the lead. The
historic double does not look like it is going to happen. If she keeps
her head, she can still pull this back. Will it be gold or silver?
That is all we need to know. That is not looking good for the USA. And a
huge slide, there. It is pulling her back. And that macro they are
second! Bowl, my goodness. And the man with the grey hair, the former
great button palette, he is the head coach for Canada. Well done to him.
Another gold. Well, that was almost inevitable. -- Great Britain pilot.
The pressure must have been astronomical. So 1229 but another
achieved as Heather Moyse and Kaillie Humphries become the first
to win back-to-back medals. Back to the Bolshoy arena for the ice
hockey. Russia wanted gold. Above all other things. But they have been
struggling. They just about manage to qualify for the quarter finals.
This is what happened. Alex Ovechkin. He scores! And Russia are
in front. He is at the front lower and this place is alive. -- front
door. Back on level turns immediately. Good work. It did not
take long for the Finns to respond. He has just silenced the Bolshoy
with this. He makes it look easy. He has to squeeze the glove side. And
we are level. Down the ice. Aleksander Barkov lets this one go.
They have to get back any hurry. This could be an opportunity. He
scores! Still doing this in his 40s! Teemu Selanne. He beats them and
then lays it up, 40th macro continues his leading all-time
Olympic scoring account. -- Teemu Selanne. That went off his stick.
That was a complete mess had. -- mayor said. -- miss-hit. The
Russians must feel victimised. As they get stung and this is the
service of Teemu Selanne. Mikael Granlund finishes it off. And then
land are on their way to the semifinals of the 2014 Winter
Olympics. -- Finland. As Russia crash out. It is a bad day on the
Black Sea for the hosts and despite so much expectation, it is Finland
who will go on. And they look very good in doing so.
There were lots of grim faces around here, let me tell you. This is the
game at the moment. On the Red Button. Canada against Latvia. The
third period has just started and it is 1-1. That is on the Red Button.
Here, we are going to bring the up-to-date. If you are thinking,
what happened in the curling? This is it... He is watching it, here it
comes. Now, then. All of a sudden, David Murdoch has the chance to win
this. Greg Drummond knows. He is giving his skip the line. David
Murdoch, again with a chance for glory. The chance to take his team
into the Olympic finals or a guaranteed medal. They need to come
past that red Abbey top of the house. It has got to keep coming, it
has got a chance. He has done at! And the British cried jumping up and
down in the stands. David Murdoch and this British team have played so
well today and when it looked like a chance might have gone, they
capitalised on a mistake by the Swedish skip. Great Britain or in
the Olympic final, they will contest the match for a gold or silver. That
is a guaranteed medal. What a match! I just met that gang and the father
of David Murdoch was there. Friday at 1:30pm. That is the gold medal
match to watch. Great Britain against Canada. And the woman sadly
lost their semifinal and they will play Switzerland in the bronze medal
match tomorrow morning at 830 a.m.. Eve Muirhead will do her best to try
and win a medal. Right, back to the skating Palace. In just a moment,
all eyes will be on this 15-year-old girl.
Yulia Lipnitskaya is her name. She became the youngest skater gold
medallist in 78 years when she produced a remarkable performance to
help Russia win the team event. They are warming up in front of Sue
Barker and Robin Cousins right now. I imagine the noise inside that
palace must be sensational? It is amazing. It gives you goose
bumps. If this is the short programme, I don't know what it will
be like tomorrow when they are actually skating other medals. It is
a two day showdown that has us all gripped and these are the most
eagerly anticipated events, Robin. Yes. Crowds have been cheering her
name, but there are five other ladies who also want to have their
moment. They maybe it is good that she is going first to get it done.
She has become the biggest star of these games, certainly here at this
rink, and making the same sort of impact as in the Olympic Games in
1972. No one expected her to be so good, so young. But she has the
belief. Does she have it again now? She produced it in the team event,
but this is a new competition. Last week, she moved from rising
star to possible Olympic champion. She steps onto the ice with no sign
of nerves. There is a likeness to her skating. She landed her jump and
the final spin, showing her flexibility. The crowd were on their
feet way before she had finished. And she impressed the judges as
well. She has captivated everyone watching these games in Sochi. But
the big question is, can she do it again?
There was the triple lutz, and the triple toe loop.
So, not to be. They say in the short programme, the medals are not
decided, but you can certainly lose the gold medal, and that fall will
prove costly. The crowd still love her. The teddy bears and flowers are
flying onto the ice, but this is not what she wanted in this
championship. I could see from the spiral leading in, the direction and
the angle with which she was preparing for that triple flip were
not as it should normally be. What a disappointment for her and the
Russian fan. She has been the big star of these games. But when it
mattered, that mistake came in the short programme. Not only with the
fall, but also downgraded the triple flip to a double because she did not
make the rotation. You can't imagine what she has been through in the
last week, when she was elevated to superstars haters not just around
Russia -- superstar status around the world. She can't help but be
affected. She's only 15. She got 11.24 that big combination.
The double axel is not great. That leg goes nowhere to help her get any
elevation or forward momentum. And that triple coming around the
corner, she wants to be going in a straight line across the ice. And
with another five skaters to come, she will not be in second place and
she may not be in contention for a medal at the end of the day,
depending what happens after this. Huge disappointment for her. But so
much to be proud of and so much still to fight for. She will not
give up till Friday. It will be all over tomorrow night. Then she will
give up. She is behind Gracie Gold and Yuna
Kim. Kim is still leading by a long way. And we'll Lipnitskaya stay in
third? This looks like being a tough test
for Carolina Kostner, following Lipnitskaya. But the performance and
the mark did not get the crowd as involved as they did in the team
event. But Carolyn was outstanding in the short programme last week,
finishing second to the Russian on her 27th birthday. This short
programme is her at her very best. It is of a Marie, the music she used
to win in cheering in 2006. -- she used it in Turin in 2006.
Triple flip, triple toe loop. Lovely, light and easy across the
ice. Wasn't that beautiful? We know the
presentation mark will be good for Carolina, because it always is. But
technically, that was spot on as well. Yes, component scores are
always her best friend. Glorious choreography allows her to look for
a best this season. In this group of teenagers we have been admiring, she
is a real woman on the wood. She delivers a magical programme. She
had a couple of tough seasons. She was fighting her technique for so
long, and has now we gained that composure. -- she has regained her
composure. She had a disappointing Olympic Games as well. She came
ninth in 2006, 16th four years ago. She looked immaculate out on the
ice. It was light, good speed, good ice
coverage. She is one of those skaters you
cannot take your eyes off when she is performing. When she is
comfortable in the technique and everything is working, she can relax
and it's just draws you in. Beautiful performance.
Even better than she did last week, and that was a wonderful birthday
present for her. This will surely be second place. That is her season's
best. And not far behind Ki. What a performance! Technically under what
Ki produced but the component score was better than the Korean. What an
Olympics she is enjoying. Three components goers over nine. That is
special. -- component scorers. --scores. Very confident. Ashley
Wagner coming out. She silenced critics, who questioned why she was
chosen. But she put in a solid, defiant performance and she was
delighted with that, but the judges were not. Ashley Wagner.
The triple flip and the triple toe loop. I think her free foot touched
down. Easy triple toe loop. Without strong
edge coming in. -- with that. Yes! She is a fighter and an
experienced competitor and she had it point to prove for those who
doubted why she is here at the Olympic Games. It was not perfect.
But she will be high up the leaderboard. That is a shame, just
the touchline with her tool on the landing of that combination. I'm
sure we shall that in the replay. I cannot imagine the pressure she has
been under since the US championships. And they selected her
to come to the games. She did well in the team event. It lacked some of
the quality of the others. We will see... This busy triple flip. And
that is the toe loop. Such a light touch down. We can see her toe pick
mark in the ice. And it has been downgraded. So, the triple flip, the
triple toe loop is now the double toe loop. So she will probably not
like the points that she sees for that, either. She did not like the
points she received in her team event and that picture of her
response went around the world, making headlines. She did not buy
the scorers, she said, I know when I skate well. But the judges watched
that in slow motion and they can pick up on everything. Where will
she be in the battle of the United States? Nelli Zhiganshina is in
third place. And Polina Edmunds. They both performed really well. She
came here as the poster girl of the United States, until Nelli
Zhiganshina took over. I do not think she will be smiling. I think
behind one American. 65.21. Yes, absolutely spot on. In fifth place,
just ahead of the 15-year-old, Polina Edmunds. But Gracie Gold
lying in third place. So that is fifth place for Ashley Wagner.
Tomorrow is going to be fun! It sure is! This is a huge moment for Mae
Berenice Meite from France. Just composing herself before she skates.
Some final words of advice, can she steadied her nerves? She did compete
in the team event. She was in 11th place in the World Championships.
Fifth place in the European Championships. But this is the
Olympic Games. Normally so reliable on the jumps.
Will she be again today? Mae Berenice Meite.
Triple toe loop, triple toe loop. That is a great start.
She just needed to use her hands to settle the landing.
The power and the speed through the double axel, as well.
Mae Berenice Meite, she relies so much on the technical art. That is
where she gets a big points, but that will not be the case today. Not
after that mistake. Her hand down. That will prove very costly. Very
strong opening and she is so powerful. I think this music is
terrific for her. We have said it before, she just needs to work on
her performance, just to lose yourself more in it, somehow. I was
talking to her and her coach. The rawness of her performance must not
be changed, she cannot get rid of that. You must have that. But
goodness me, she is a powerhouse on the ice.
Really strong take-off and landing on that first triple toe loop. The
second was as good, if not better. Both jumps should actually be the
same size, the sign of a good combination. She did not quite get
the height of the take-off on that look. Her hands down, she will lose
in the execution. Level four. That is all the spins.
Three for that step sequence. She needs to get those component scorers
higher. -- scores. Her coach is trying to bring out that flamboyant
side. But at the moment, she is just not able to do that. She is working
with the right person. But jumping let her down. That will be reflected
in the scorers and she will be quite away down this leaderboard. -- a
way. The crowd is cheering. Waiting for those marks. 58.63. Just below
her season's best. That puts her in eighth place.
Well, with all the talk of the new superstar of figure skating, Julia
Lipnitskaia, this girl has been forgotten about. And she is a
four-time Russian champion. And just 17 years of. She finished behind
Julia Lipnitskaia in the Championships last month, she was
the leader in Budapest. She has had ups and downs this season but when
she is on, she is fabulous. And this is her first appearance on the ice
here in Sochi. Will it be one to remember? This is Adelina
Sotnikova. She would want to triple toe loops.
She has got them. Her triple of choice is also the
flip. It let her team-mate down. That is the double axel. Flying
through this routine. Take that! You have kept me out of
this Olympic Games, you have put Julia in the team event, she had to
watch at home, wait for her moment to shine, and she has taken it. We
have a contest at the top of the leaderboard, that was special. I
have always been a fan, but that was special. Julia Lipnitskaia was
taking the headlines and plaudits last week. She could do nothing
about it. She did something about it now, and the Russian crowd rise. She
will be right up at the top. But how close to Yuna Kim and Carolina
Kostner will she be? She has been given a level for four every spin
and step sequence. While! Component scores, three in the eighth, two in
the nines. Her coaches trilled. Huge speed and
jobs. Wonderful quality of technique on the landings.
Just imagine the pressure she was under, she came here to prove a
point. Do not forget me! We certainly will not. That was a
special short programme. The Russian crowd, who all through the warm up
were chanting for Julia, now they are calling Adelina Sotnikova's
name. This will be close! Forget season's best, it will be way above
that. So close! But not quite good enough. Yuna Kim leads. Adelina
Sotnikova in second place. Carolina Kostner is in third place, but less
than a point separates those three. What a battle we have for the
medals, and one great skater still to come. What a competition!
She will be on all the front pages tomorrow, Adelina Sotnikova. But all
of what is happening around this arena will not affect Mao passata,
she is so experienced, 23 years old from Japan. She is a two-time world
champion, the silver medallist in Vancouver. She came third in the
team eventually programme after falling on her famous triple axel.
Nobody else is trying get. She said she was nervous and overboard last
week, but she is much more confident now. The talk always revolves around
the triple axel, and she has it planned tonight, huge marks if she
can pull it off, but it is a big if. Outside of that, she is a beautiful
skater to watch. The music is the same as she chose in 2006, one of
the most memorable short programmes then. How will it be remembered here
in Sochi? The triple axel is the opening
jump. As before, she just about makes the
rotation, but it is due to the flow of the rotation, it knocks her off.
That is a one point deduction. Just a double loop. That should have
been a triple loop. She has nowhere else to try it.
What a shame, it is not to be. No medal this time for Mao Asada, that
will put her a long way down the leaderboard. Having said that, by
trying it, she gets the points just for attempting it. The regular
double axel is 3.3 as a base mark, the triple axel is 8.5. It was
downgraded, but she still picks up 5.5 .4 it. She has been downgraded
again, so she gets three. It was downgraded to a double. She did not
make the rotation on the triple. But it is the double loop that will
prove costly. With others making flawless performances tonight. She
is going to be a long way from where she expects to be. It looks like the
flip has also been downgraded, from triple two double. He is the axel.
It was well under a quarter of a rotation. Downgraded from triple to
double. As was the flip. Under rotated by just over a quarter.
Watched the right leg come down. After the team event, you felt she
would deliver a programme, she was disappointed about the team event,
but I have never seen Mao Asada skate like that. She will be a long
way away from the medals. Probably the last place she wants to
be now is there, because she knows this will be very disappointing for
her. A two-time world champion. She came here as one of the big
favourites to be on the podium. Or be close to the podium. But she will
be way down the list. Oh, dear. I cannot even remember
when she scored that low for a short programme. That has heard down in
16th place. What a sad end, she is planning to retire at the end of
this season, that is not the way she wanted to go out, but she will be
back for the free programme, and hopefully she can put it right and
finish on a great routine. It is Yuna Kim who is the leader, but only
just ahead of Adelina Sotnikova. She is lying in second place. Carolina
Kostner, the former European champion, is in third place. Gracie
Gold is not far off either, and if she can produce a free programme
like the team event, she will be close as well. We know that Julia
Lipnitskaia will get big points, but surely she is too far away from the
medals. This appointment as we look further down the list, because Jenna
McCorkell, who put in a clean short programme earlier, is not going to
make it through to the free programme tomorrow. She is going to
miss out by about 0.2 points. Huge disappointment, she would have loved
to have ended her career with a free programme, but it is not to be. We
have a fantastic event to look forward to tomorrow, with Yuna Kim,
Adelina Sotnikova and Carolina Kostner bidding for the gold medal.
That is going to be something special. I hope you enjoyed it
tonight. We did, many thanks to Sue Barker
and Robin Cousins, the live action has finished, the crowds are
streaming out, but we will round up all of the day's events very
shortly.