PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Day 13

Day 13

Champions were forged and dreams were crushed today on Day 13 of the winding down Winter Olympics.

Highlights


Women's Snowboarding Big Air

Snowboarding Big Air made its big debut at PyeongChang 2018. The big air event consists of a single trick. Snowboarders shoot down a 160-foot ramp, launching into the air and perform the biggest, wildest trick possible for points. Most cumulative points from the best two runs out of three wins.

(L-R) Silver medalist Jamie Anderson of the United States, gold medalist Anna Gasser of Austria and bronze medalist Zoi Sadowski Synnott of New Zealand celebrate during the victory ceremony after the Snowboard - Ladies' Big Air Final PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Al Bello/Getty Images AsiaPac

World Champion Anna Gasser of Austria won the first Olympic snowboarding big air gold medal on Thursday with a combined score of 185.00 from her two best runs.

Anna Gasser of Austria competes during the Snowboard - Ladies' Big Air PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Lars Baron/Getty Images AsiaPac

Jamie Anderson of the United States took the silver with 177.2 points. She adds that silver to her Snowboarding Slopestyle PyeongChang 2018 gold.

Zoi Sadowski Synnott earned bronze with 157.50 points. She gives New Zealand its first Winter Olympic medal in 26 years.

Zoi Sadowski Synnott of New Zealand competes during the Snowboard - Ladies' Big Air PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Lars Baron/Getty Images AsiaPac

Men's Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe

American freestyle skier David Wise has successfully defended his Sochi 2014 title, winning gold in Men's Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe. He washed out in his first two runs and scored the highest with 97.20 on his final run.

David Wise of the United States competes during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: David Ramos/Getty Images AsiaPac

Alex Ferreira of the US scored 96.40 on his final run to take silver.

Alex Ferreira of the United States trains during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

And 16 year old Nico Porteous delivered New Zealand another bronze of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. He opted not to do a final run, and his score was good enough to take bronze. His fellow New Zealander Zoi Sadowski Synnott, another 16 year old!, delivered a bronze earlier in Women's Snowboarding Big Air. He is the youngest Olympic medalist in New Zealand history.

Nico Porteous of New Zealand competes during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

Prior to the two bronze wins, New Zealand's first and only Winter Olympics medal before the PyeongChang Games was alpine skier Annelise Coberger's silver in the women's slalom in Albertville 1992.

David Wise of the United States, Alex Ferreira of the United States and Nico Porteous of New Zealand celebrate after winning gold, silver and bronze respectively during the Freestyle Skiing Men's Ski Halfpipe PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Men's Alpine Skiing Slalom

Shocking surprise in Men's Slalom!

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher, the reigning world champion and Sochi 2014 silver medalist, slipped and missed a gate, then skied out of the course in his opening slalom run at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The heavy gold medal favorite was out of the competition.

Marcel Hirscher of Austria fails to finish during the Men's Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Marcel Hirscher has all ready won the giant slalom and alpine combined.

With Marcel Hirscher out of the slalom, the door was wide open for Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway to take the gold. All season and during the PyeongChang Games, Henrik Kristoffersen has been second to Marcel Hirscher. When Marcel Hirscher won the giant slalom earlier, Henrik Kristoffersen took silver.

And after the downhill race, Kristoffersen set a fast time of 47.72 seconds. The Norwegian was 0.21 ahead of Andre Myhrer of Sweden, and 0.62 seconds ahead of Victor Muffat-Jeandet of France.

In the second run, Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern set the fastest time before the heavy favorites in the final group were set to ski.

Andre Myhrer of Sweden's total of time of his two runs was 1 minute, 38.99 seconds, enough to take the lead and bump Ramon Zenhaeusern to second. Ramon Zenhaeusern time was 0.34 seconds behind Andre Myhrer.

Then came Michael Matt of Austria who clocked in 0.67 behind Andre Myhrer.

The only skier left was first-run leader Henrik Kristoffersen. He started his run aggressively and was on track to be the fastest. But suddenly, Henrik Kristoffersen slips and skis out! Like Marcel Hirscher, Henrik Kristoffersen was out of the competition!

Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway reacts at the finish during the Men's Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images AsiaPac

Andre Myhrer of Sweden takes the unexpected slalom gold to add his Vancouver 2010 bronze in this same event! At 35, he is only a month younger than Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, the oldest man to win an Olympic Alpine medal; Aksel Lund Svindal won the downhill race earlier in the PyeongChang Games.

Tall skier Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland takes a surprise silver for his fantastic efforts. And Michael Matt of Austria claims the bronze.

Gold medallist Andre Myhrer (C) of Sweden celebrates with silver medallist Ramon Zenhaeusern (L) of Switzerland and bronze medallist Michael Matt of Austria during the victory ceremony for the Men's Slalom PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images AsiaPac

Women's Skiing Alpine Combined

Michelle Gisin of Switzerland has won the gold in Women's Skiing Alpine Combined. Her downhill and slalom combined time was 2 minutes, 20.90 seconds. Her older sister Dominique is the Sochi 2014 Champion in this event.

American Mikaela Shiffrin, the pre race favorite, finished 0.97 seconds behind. She takes silver to add to a giant slalom gold.

Another Swiss, Wendy Holdener, clocked 1.44 seconds behind, and won the bronze.

(L-R) Silver medalist, Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States, gold medalist, Michelle Gisin of Switzerland and bronze medalist Wendy Holdener of Switzerland celebrate on the podium during the Ladies' Alpine Combined PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images AsiaPac

American Lindsey Vonn, who had led after the downhill section, was the last skier to compete but did not finish her slalom run. It is her weakest event.



Women's Ice Hockey Gold Match

The most exciting match of the day was the gold medal game in women's hockey between four time defending champion Canada taking on the US again.

Last time at Sochi 2014, the Canadians made an incredible comeback from a two to nothing American lead to tie the game 2-2, take it into overtime, then scored again to beat the Americans 3-2! Joy for Canada as they continued their Olympics reign. And heartbreak for the US, suffering a fourth straight Olympics loss! Again, another loss to Canada.

This time around, the Americans were determined to end the Canadian Olympics streak. While the US has won more world championships, the Canadians kept beating them to the Olympics title.

In the gold match, the Americans were the first to score at the end of the first period. Hilary Knight scored late in the first to give the Americans the lead.

But Canadian Haley Irwin deflected a shot past U.S. goalie Maddie Rooney two minutes into the second period. And then Marie-Philip Poulin gave Canada the lead on a pass from Meghan Agosta about five minutes later. Now the Canadians were up 2-1!

At Vancouver 2010, Marie-Philip Poulin scored the only two goals in the gold medal game against the U.S. In Sochi 2014, she tied the game in the last minute of regulation and then added the game-winner in overtime against the U.S. 3-2!

It looked as if Canada was on its way to a record fifth straight Olympics gold as the final third period was almost over. Then Monique Lamoreux-Morando scored and tied the game 2-2 for the Americans with just over six minutes left! The game goes into overtime for second straight Olympics!

Back and forth the women battled. There was even a power play for the Canadians, giving them an edge in the last few minutes of overtime to make a score. But overtime ends with neither team scoring! And for the first time in women's hockey history, the Olympics game goes into a shootout!

Each team would send five shooters, one at a time, taking turns, to face off with the goalie in the tie-breaker. Both teams scored and blocked enough times to end the shootout still tied 2-2.

Now it on to the shootout tiebreaker. First team to score while the other team misses wins. The US wins the coin toss and decide to go first. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored a goal for the Americans!

Jocelyne Lamoureux #17 of the United States scores a goal against Shannon Szabados #1 of Canada in a shootout to win the Women's Gold Medal Game PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images AsiaPac

Meghan Agosta of Canada goes next and attempts to tie; she had all ready scored just minutes before in the shootout. But goalie Maddie Rooney of the US blocks that shot! And with that, the US finally beat Canada, scoring 3 to Canada's 2!

The players and American crowd go wild with cheers as the Canadians agonize over the loss! For the first time in twenty years, since Nagano 1998, the US has won gold in women's hockey at the Olympics! Tears of joy for the new champions and such hurt for the silver medalists Canada.

The US finally gets its long sought after gold. Canada settles for silver. And Finland was present to receive their bronze medals after defeating OAR in the bronze match earlier. What a amazing ending to a frantic, thrilling, and gripping game!


WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW FOR Nordic Combined Team Gundersen Large Hill 4X5km, Men's Short Track Speedskating 500m, Women's Short Track Speedskating 1000m, Men's Short Track Speedskating 5000m Relay.

DO NOT READ IF YOU PLAN TO WATCH RECORDED BROADCAST TONIGHT. ALSO, WOMEN'S FIGURE SKATING CONCLUDES TONIGHT.



Nordic Combined Team Gundersen Large Hill 4X5km

Germany continues to dominate the Nordic Combined events, claiming the gold in the Nordic combined team event. Germany won the previous two Nordic combined events at Pyeongchang 2018, and it joined Finland as the only country to win three gold medals in the sport in one Winter Games.

The Austrians were the surprise leaders after the jumping stage. They had a six second lead over the Germans as the 4X5km cross-country relay began. But the Germans were the better skiers.

Vinzenz Geiger of Germany competes during the Nordic Combined Team Gundersen LH/4x5km, Cross-Country on PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images AsiaPac

Germany's Vinzenz Geiger passed Austria's Wilhelm Denifl on the first leg, to give his team a 12 seconds advantage. In the second leg, Fabian Riessle widened the lead to 44 seconds before handing off to Eric Frenzel. And when Germany's last skier, Johannes Rydzek, crossed the finish line, he did so with a commanding 52.7-second lead!

Defending champion Norway was second, taking silver. And Austria finished third for the bronze.


Men's Short Track Speedskating 500m

Surprises are ever constant in the chaotic and unpredictable world of short track speedskating.

Wu Dajing of China has won the men's 500 meters, giving China its first ever gold in this event. And Wu Dajing wins by setting a new world and Olympics record of 39.584 seconds! He broke the previous record he set during the quarterfinals earlier in the day!

Dajing Wu of China skates on his way to winning gold in the Men's 500m Short Track Speed Skating Final A PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images AsiaPac

Hwang Dae-heon of South Korea took silver. Hwang's teammate, Lim Hyo-jun, earned bronze. Lim had won the 1500m earlier in the Pyeongchang Games.

Canada's Samuel Girard, the 1000m gold medalist, finished fourth.


Women's Short Track Speedskating 1000m

The shocks continue in short track speedskating as Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands blows away the competition and claims the gold in the women's 1000m race.

Heavily favored South Koreans Choi Min-jeong and Shim Suk-hee scrambled after Suzanne Schulting, but instead, knocked each other out with a desperate late charge!

Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands leads as Sukhee Shim and Minjeong Choi of Korea crash during the Short Track Speed Skating - Ladies' 1,000m Final A PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images AsiaPac

Taking advantage of the chaos, Kim Boutin of Canada takes silver, crossing ahead of 500m champion Arianna Fontana of Italy, who takes bronze! Arianna Fontana also has a relay team silver. And Kim Boutin has bronzes from the 1500m and 500m races. With this eighth career medal, Fontana’s bronze ties her with Viktor Ahn and Apolo Ohno as the most decorated short track skaters in Olympic history. Suzanne Schulting delivers The Netherlands first ever gold in short track speedskating.


Men's Short Track Speedskating 5000m Relay

The surprises continue in the final event of the short track speedskating.

With one lap to go, Liu Shaolin Sandor took the lead and finished in an Olympic-record time of 6 minutes, 31.971 seconds. It is Hungary's first Winter Olympics gold ever.

Shaolin Sandor Liu of Hungary reaches for the finish line ahead of Tianyu Han of China during the Men's 5,000m Relay Final A PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images AsiaPac

The team of Liu Shaolin Sandor, his younger brother, Liu Shaoang, along with Viktor Knoch, and Csaba Burjan deliver Hungary's first Olympic medal in short track and Hungary's first medal at Pyeongchang 2018! The Liu brothers have a Chinese father and Hungarian mother.

China's Wu Dajing, Han Tianyu, Xu Hongzhi, Chen Dequan, and Ren Ziwei earned silver. And Canadians Samuel Girard, Charles Hamelin, Charle Cournoyer, and Pascal Dion took bronze.

Heavily favored South Korea suffered a disappointing crash with 23 laps to go in the 45-lap race. They finished fourth.

The U.S. team of J.R. Celski, John-Henry Krueger, Thomas Hong, and Aaron Tran won the B final against Kazakhstan and Japan. The US placed 5th, Kazakhstan 6th, and Japan 7th overall.

Finally, it's nice to see Elise Christie smile. She's had another terrible Olympics experience. Hang in there.

Gold medalist Shaolin Sandor Liu of Hungary celebrates with girlfriend Elise Christie of Great Britain following the Short Track Skating Men's 5000m Relay Final A PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images AsiaPac

Women's Biathlon Team 4X6km Relay

It's the return of the Queen!

Darya Domracheva and her team of Nadezhda Skardino, Iryna Kryoko, and Dzinara Alimbekava clocked in 1 hour, 12 minutes, 3.4 seconds to deliver Belarus the gold medal in the women's 4x6-kilometer relay at the Pyeongchang Games. It is Belarus' first medal in the event.

Darya Domracheva won three gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Games, but this was her first gold at Pyeongchang. With this gold, she becomes the first woman biathlete to have won four Olympic gold medals. Earlier, she won silver in the women’s 12.5km mass start.

Darya Domracheva's husband, Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, famously nicknamed the “King of Biathlon,” was there to cheer her on and advise her on the race. He has 13 Olympic medals, making him the most successful biathlete of all time. His record of most decorated Winter Olympian has been passed on to fellow Norwegian, Marit Bjorgen, who won four medals at PyeongChang 2018 for a total of 14 career medals. She has one more race to medal in cross-country skiing.

Sweden, with Linn Persson, Mona Brorsson, Anna Magnusson and Hanna Oeberg, battled back from a deficit and earned silver. The French team of Anais Chevalier, Marie Dorin-Habert, Justine Braisaz and Bescond took home bronze.

Heavy winds and snow buffeted the biathletes, making the race most challenging. It was so windy, in fact, that as Domracheva grabbed the Belarusian flag on the homestretch, it was blown off the pole she was carrying as she crossed the finish line!

Darya Domracheva of Belarus celebrates with a flag as she wins gold during the Women's 4x6km Relay PyeongChang 2018 February 22, 2018 South Korea. Feb. 21, 2018 - Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images AsiaPac

It was an amazing race as the unpredictable weather made things difficult and screwed up all expectations for pre race favorites.

P.S. Darya Domracheva left the KGB Belarusian spy agency in 2014. I told you biathlon was like a James Bond spy thriller! I'm betting all those top biathletes are spies! That's why they're so good at shooting targets and skiing fast!


Finally, in other Olympics news, the World Curling Federation says it supports a decision to strip Russian curler Alexander Krushelnitsky of his Olympic bronze in the mix event, after he admitted to a doping violation at the Pyeongchang Games. The Federation says that Alexander Krushelnitsky's cheating has "cast a shadow over our sport."

The Federation also says that fourth place Norway will get the bronze, but gave no timeline. The Norwegians want their bronze before the PyeongChang 2018 Games are over.

Alexander Krushelnitsky "won" the bronze medal in mixed doubles with his wife last week. The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Thursday that Krushelnitsky would be stripped of his medal after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.

Meanwhile, drama in long track speedskating!

Thousands of South Koreans have signed a petition to South Korea's presidential office, demanding that Kim Bo-Reum and Park Ji Woo be expelled from the Olympics after they abandoned their slower teammate, Noh Seon-yeong, behind in a race defined by teamwork; they ignored her and walked away as she quietly sobbed. It was one of the most bizarre and uncomfortable moments of this year's Winter Games.

The petition also calls for an investigation into "various corruption and irregularities" at the Korea Skating Union, the national skating body. The KSU has a reputation as a cutthroat, aggressive organization that thrives on pitting their skaters against each other. There are several factions vying for power within the KSU. The infighting and ultracompetitive atmosphere has driven some of South Korea's best talents overseas.

The latest scandal occurred in the pursuit qualifiers. During the women's team pursuit quarterfinals Monday, Kim and Park skated ahead as teammate Noh Seon-yeong fell behind the pack. Some South Koreans believe Kim and Park were trying to humiliate Noh, turning their backs on her and abandoning her as she cried after the race.

As a result of the public outcry, endorsement deals have been cancelled and withdrawn from the two cited. Both tried to salvage their reputation by offering excuses but the damage is done. No one likes a bully nor poor sportsmanship!

And so ends a dramatic and surprising Day 13 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. It was a day of glory for some and a day of grief for others. Tonight is the big finale of Women's Figure Skating. Check your local listings or stream online to see what promises to be the biggest ice skating war for gold in the history of the controversial sport. It's going to be entertaining!