Day 15, Part 3 Winter Olympics

This time tomorrow we will be giving up for the closing ceremony and the

Winter Olympics will nearly be over. Britain's medal haul of four medals

is the best in 90 years and in 1924, only three teams contested

curling so this is the best ever. There is a chance of one more in the

four-man bobsleigh. The challenge starts tonight. And we have it all,

glory, disappointment, tears of joy, tears of frustration and a fair bit

of controversy. It has been a Winter Games that has entertained,

enthralled and excited and beer here at the Medal Plaza because behind

me, we will see for the very first time, to British medals in

consecutive ceremonies. The Russians are so debating because of more

medals today but in Britain, silver for the curling, bronze for the

funeral curling. We will see those medals later on. The men coming up

just after 5pm. And not long after that, the women will receive their

bronze medal. Lots to tell you about and some headlines to catch up on.

This penultimate day had the Russians celebrating, gathered

around watching our screens as they took another gold medal. They are

moving up the table all the time. And it came in the men's biathlon.

The relay. . Bjoerndalen could only fission in -- finish in fourth. The

30 kilometre mass start, Marat Juergen, it was her sixth Olympic

gold. Both of those titles equal the record for any female athlete. Vic

Wild becomes the first snowboarder to win can set you live medals in

games. We will catch up on the last of the men's Alpine events, the

slalom, but I will shortly begin Steve Cram and Jackie Lockhart over,

who have sat through every Rajesh curling game. They have done so with

much joy because both of those teams, but we have a chance to look

back at it, what about their performance? They were great. We

came here hoping they would do well, particularly the women, there were

high hopes with medals, less for the men and Jackie would agree that at

times, the men were exceptional, particularly in the tie-break. OK,

the final was not the best and it was a coming-of-age for Eve

Muirhead, back in Vancouver, the pressure coming into this, still 23,

she dealt with that very well. That is a very young team full of talent.

In turns of the immediate future, the women's team are very young, the

men are different because David Murdoch is older, 35, not that old,

but is he heading towards retirement? Or does he have one

more? We spoke this morning at the office and he is delighted and I am

not sure what he is thinking. Another four years of training and

commitment? He is not long married, two years ago, and I am convinced

that he might hang up his boots but you never do know. He has a very

young team below him. If you want to continue, you can, you can be the

experience and the youngsters will make your life easier. There is a

big opportunity for him to continue that I am not sure. He was very

emotional in his interview, he was tearful? There was a lot going

through his mind and I all this feel bad when you see someone that

emotional. For him, he is thinking about next, the journey, and Jackie

would know more about this, the issues around that team. Tom

Brewster block those youngsters together and they played very well

for a couple of years. There have been people in curling for him that

they had not seem like the right move. There was a lot of

apprehensive emotion as well. They settled down. He will go home, all

of them, and they will definitely be back next year. Maybe with Tom? If

David does decide that he has had enough, there is that replacement,

the man who has captained them and knows them well? Lots of

opportunities. And there are a lot of curlers back home who are equally

as good. There will be a lot to play for when they get back home for the

championships next year. We are in a very good position to enjoy that

medal ceremony. We have a chance to catch up with the earlier action in

the men's slalom. The final Alpine event. We will join the second run

live but first of all, it's look at the first. -- let us look.

They have had a detailed course inspection. There is some guesswork

involved. As they come out at race pace for the first time. Lots of

rhythm changes. Lots of verticals. To get that number of gates into the

course. The first two ski here today. That looks like a very neat

start. From Mario Matt. His brother was knocked out in the quarterfinal

stage. He flies onto that final section, he gets some sideways,

recovers well. Has he done enough? Fabulous first run. The world

champion. Marcel Hirscher. If it stays like this, he will have to

come from behind and charge in the second run. He is in fourth place.

This is confident skiing from Ted Ligety. Not bad. If he can finish,

he will not be far away from Mario Matt. Fifth place. That is great.

Gross is making the most of this. This has been said by one of the

German coaches. No major mistakes and he is in third place. How about

that from number 17? Let us discuss the chances of Dave

Ryding, his big hope is to move up, may be close to 20th place.

He has to have a perfect course. That was his goal for the first run,

to do his best, get inside the top 30. We can look at his first run.

Difficult conditions. He did an excellent jump. He set his skis at

the beginning and powered through. He will be delighted at that. Mario

Matt is a leader. Austria having a very good Alpine Olympics. The

disappointment, Marcel Hirscher, he is way down? He will be very

disappointed but he is 1.26 back and with the women, second place was in

the same position. Do not ride him off, he was too hard on his edges.

The other guys, like Mario Matt, he really let it run. Considering the

USA don't have their big star, they are having a very good Olympics and

Ted Ligety is back. He was delighted. Absolutely delighted with

that and he said it was the best run he has done all season. Fantastic

for him. From 16th place, when it was chopped up, and sixth places

brilliant. Their big star. The 18-year-old from Colorado. In USA

Today, they said she was the face of the games in four years. She has

bigger marketing potential and Lindsay von. She does not show any

nerves. She is very relaxed. She sleeps three runs. -- between runs.

She made a mistake but did not bother her. She does that thing

which is keeping her body relaxed, even in in tense situations. You see

those big guns freezing up, they let that lactic acid build-up of their

body. They have to move their feet so fast, if your legs are tensing

up, it is impossible but she is so relaxed. With Lindsay von still

recovering and the next World Championships where she lives and

also Michaella, we could be at the dawn of a new start for American

skiing? Especially with Bode Miller coming away from the scene, problem

we will retire after this. And this young star coming through, that is

brilliant. America is excited and everybody has their eyes on this

woman. They could win a medal in this slalom. The second run

starting. Second overall... Matt Chilton is in position to take us

through this technical, talented bunch of skiers who can contest the

slalom. Good afternoon. The floodlights are

blazing for the final race of the Alpine programme. We are looking at

this course and the pattern has been set. There is a bear trap after nine

gates from the finish. It has been catching that some of those

forerunners. This could be interesting. There is a gate that

sends them to the right and then that hairpin, it could be

interesting. The top 30 in reverse order. Dave Ryding is in good shape,

he will be fought. He will have a very smooth course, they start at

1160 metres above sea level with that vertical drop and 67 gates. And

we are ready. The first man... Tackling the second run. And it is

Bradley Spens from Canada. -- Spence. His team-mate will start

next. One last look. And the time ticks over. Brad Spence is ready to

go. Mario Matt will be last. Brad Spence, opening the racing. The last

event of the 2014 Olympic Winter games in Sochi. He stayed on the

course. I am not sure. He still made it. He has set a real stinker of a

course. He said this all event of the combine. This was always good to

be tough tonight. Another two flushes are set back to that. Here

it comes, way over to the right. He handled that quite well, compare to

how he handled the start of the course.

Let's have a look on the replay of the mistake he made. He is through

the red gates. I think he has made it. But on a

strange way round. Let's see if Trevor Philp does

better. Exactly the same time as Brad Spence. The two runs or added

together. Let's see how he deals with the top section. He has lost

his way. He has lost his way as well. They cannot work out what is

going on here. You have got to go through the vertical gates. This is

an open gate. He has got that completely wrong. This is all

visible from the start. The races can all see this going on. It is

just below the start. They will be scratching their heads and talking

about it, all discussing how to deal with this start. Let's see if Akira

Sasaki can find the best way through.

He is on his way. No, he can't, either. It is impossible to ski!

This is extraordinary. He has gone again. He is down. Nasty. This isn't

the first time this has happened. Look down to the women's super G,

the first 15 came down, made him look like beginners. Luckily the

binding came off there. Dave Riding is next. Come on, Dave. -- Dave

Ryding. Problems for the Japanese in the

early stages. This was very nasty. Luckily the bindings are so good,

that MPs will generally release. -- the toe piece.

This is crazy that it is so flummoxed thing, the world's top

slalom races that see if Dave Ryding can work it out.

He is on his way. A chance to lead the Olympic slalom if he gets that

right. He is on the back-seat. He has made Brown. -- made it Brown.

He came to a grinding halt. He is not going to be the last to have

problems. Only two races have been down this track. Nice and clean. A

couple of tricky sections to come. He has dealt with that well. A

pretty good run. Look how much time he made up. If he hadn't have had

that mistake. He needed to be carving at this stage.

It is a huge subject discussion at the top of the course. Everybody is

passing on the word that this is a beast of a slalom course. Adam Zampa

is next to go. He has just about forced the skis through that ten.

That was the best of a bad job. He should be ahead at the next bit,

comfortably. He has made the best of it. That was such a shame from Dave

Ryding. Didn't get forward. Onto the steep now. Kostelic is responsible

for this course tonight. He is in gold medal position. Dave Ryding in

bronze medal position at the moment. It is the Olympic slalom. It is

supposed to be tough. I don't think anybody imagined it would be quite

this difficult. Adam Zampa leads, how long will that stand up? Next to

go, Sebastian-Foss Solevaag from Norway. He has had a chance to look

down the hill and studied the route taken by Adam Zampa. To get really

easy through that section, almost slowed up. Now he is going for it,

getting into his rhythm. The advantage with which he began

the second run has been wiped out. A little off-balance, didn't quite get

the power. In the flat section they are losing speed. Not anywhere near

as inviting as it was in the first one. Adam Zampa is leading the way

for Slovakia. First of the Swedish skiers, Axel Baeck, will be next to

go. He has been the best three there so

far. He eased up too much at the top. They are having to poll, that

is what the guys are saying. They are having to push with their ski

poles because they are losing the speed coming onto the flats. I am

not sure if Kostelic to will be asked to set any more than a bit

courses. It should be tough, but it should also be possible and

entertaining. Axel Baeck for Sweden. He is going for it. Out. He

struggled at red gate. Technically he didn't walk back through. You are

supposed to pass between the two poles and it is set at an angle.

Most setters either set open gates which are across the hill, or

vertical gates which are downhill. There was nothing to stop you

setting of angle vertical gates which is what we have here. There

are a couple of of angle flushes. You come through this under gate,

that is OK, but then there is the section straight after it. Dave

Ryding still holding bronze medal position. This is where his second

run came unstuck. He needs to be on the high side of that red, that is

the key. All we need is another 25 skiers to go out. They will work

this out. They will get course reports, they can even walk down and

have a look. They could do with ripping it up and starting again.

Going at that pace, he will never make it. He has made it, good job!

Best we have seen at the top. He certainly has two swing to each

side. His advantage has gone. The open gates are set very white, big

offset from side to side. The vertical ones, very tight. They seem

to be, slowly but surely, getting the hang of it. Word is spreading,

the coaches are chatting. It is a true test, that is for sure. Adam

Zampa is the one who has mastered it so far, he leads the way. Dave

Ryding in fourth. Mario Matt will be last to go. If he wins he will be

the oldest ever winner of the men's slalom. The youngest ever winner

yesterday. That was a fun one! Michael Janyk is next to go. He

stuttered and stumbled through the first six turns.

We thought the bottom part of the course would be the problem area. We

haven't quite figured on the top section. We will follow him as far

as we can on the cable camera. Another under gate with two gates

turning in the same direction. There are a couple of open gates here.

Then into an off rhythm vertical, a couple more under gates. Then this

offset flush. Goodness me. Michael Janyk is slower than Adam Zampa.

Sebastian-Foss Solevaag is second. This could bring some unusual,

unexpected results tonight. We haven't even talked about the course

conditions. The fact that with all the races down, razor sharp edges

carving the same line, there is the man responsible. Does he look happy?

I am not sure. He will be watching his son next. Ivica Kostelic.

Wouldn't it be ironic if he fell foul to one of his dad's traps? He

is off to a positive start. Here comes the first of the traps. He has

dealt with things well enough, so far. Is he still had? He is down

now. His skis are washing slightly over the snow. The edges are not

biting. No medals tonight for him. This will be his final Olympic

appearance, at the age of 34. His last games. He is in second position

at the moment. Adam Zampa office Slovakia leads. -- of Slovakia. The

advantage, there is a definite track to follow, there is a ruck to

forming, you can see which way will take you through the gates. He looks

worried, doesn't he? He doesn't look like he is happy with the way things

are working out here. like he is happy with the way things

That'll be another one. like he is happy with the way things

spectacle. This could be, if like he is happy with the way things

do not think this is what he had planned. Adam Zampa is leading. Then

do not think this is what he had particularly fast. Not as fast as

Adam Zampa. particularly fast. Not as fast as

section. 11 hundredths left. And the supporters

section. 11 hundredths left. And the their feet. His

The only Russian amongst the top 30. And he has failed to do any damage

to the stop -- to the top standings. The next man, for the USA, his lead

is quite significant. He just leans through there. Goodness me! By the

skin of his teeth, he gets away with that! He will not be leaving, year.

Three quarters of a second time. -- down. I would like to see a replay

of that mistake on the bear trap. The final steep section. The fastest

men after the first run, Mario Matt, Stefano Gross, Ted Ligety...

This is Casper. Yes, his boot did cross in front of that blue gate. He

needed to be inside. I think he might have pushed down, which would

have meant he was disqualified. He has got tonnes of experience. 34

years old. This is a real test. . Number 34. Lizeroux. He has missed

much of the last three seasons. Almost had to jump into that short

area. Lizeroux showing the way. Is he still ahead? He could be. That is

a good start. The top section is breaking up. He could make up some

time. That might have lost him some speed. He will have to let rip.

There is not much room to accelerate. Left and right across

the face of this hill. He has blown it! Lizeroux holding on but he

cannot do anything. Seventh place for the Frenchman.

Lizeroux was unlucky, here. Having dealt with that top section, it was

the bottom stage that was biting him in the backside. He just crossed his

cap 's, there. -- tips. So, Adam Zampa holding on. The four-man

bobsleigh first-run has started, and you can watch that on the Red

Button. And we will head their after the conclusion of this, the slalom.

That is available on the Red Button. The Olympic champion from 2010

getting on his way. And he hits the deck. That was the defence of his

title over. His hopes and dreams ending with some snow. He has been

out of form. He is happy with the way wings have gone. He has the gold

medal position. These are the standings. These did not finish. I

do not know where they are still standing here on the second run.

Dave Ryding, for Great Britain, still holding ninth position. That

was a real shame for Dave Ryding because he came to that grinding

halt and stopped for about 1.5 seconds. Take that off, and he would

be right up there. Once he made that mistake, he performed gently until

the finish. He just fell file of that first virtually un-skiiable

section. Mario Matt, he will be last. Almost as wet as that water.

That is the problem, the warm temperatures. The second week on

this Alpine venue. On this mountain, it has been really challenging. This

should be interesting. Henrik Kristoffersen. At the age of 19 he

won the night racing. He is warning that protector underneath his suit.

We see a lot of crashes in slalom, people landing on their back and a

lot of racers are starting to wear protectors in slalom. Nervous

moments at the top. Everybody trying to maintain focus and concentration,

particularly this man. The next man. Henrik Kristoffersen. He will be

massively disappointed with his first performance. He will

absolutely let rip on this course. Henrik Kristoffersen. The bid that

lead over Adam Zampa. -- look at that lead. He has a lot of tricks

and trap here. Here is the first one. He did OK. Brilliantly. The

best we have seen, after Adam Zampa. How does this translate? Good. Six

tenths in front, that is a solid start for Henrik Kristoffersen from

Norway. He does like these offset gates, throwing his legs from side

to side. This is known as the Royal flush. Going nicely. He has a steep

section left to come. To his right, forcing through the turn, we might

have a change in the leadership. Look at that. Henrik Kristoffersen,

doing the best! And he leads the way. That is very good from Henrik

Kristoffersen. He moves into the gold position. Adam Zampa is second.

Dave Ryding is down in 10th place. There is a big time difference. But

you never know, it is possible that he could hang on for a podium

position but I do not think so. Good enough to be amongst the top five.

Just over halfway. He cannot afford any mistakes, Fritz Dopfer. He has

to get this right. He was cautious. He is through the toughest part of

the course. Not as bad as we first thought. Yes, deceptive, clean. That

is good, tight turns. He might not be far away at the next split. He

has done well in the midsection! Fritz Dopfer from Germany is putting

one dime. -- down. That is it gone. And Fritz Dopfer is in second place.

Relief for Henrik Kristoffersen, that was touch and go all the way.

Eventually, Fritz Dopfer is off the pace and into silver medal position.

Henrik Kristoffersen leading. Adam Zampa in third place. There is a

real contrast in styles. Fritz Dopfer is much, much cleaner. Making

slightly less mistakes. Henrik Kristoffersen was just lasting.

It'll pony mistakes slowing him down. That was the last mistake he

made. Second place, silver medal position - for the moment. It is

starting to warm up. He has to throw caution to the wind. This is

scruffy. It is over. Technically, he did not put his feet through the

gates. He will be disqualified. He missed the red gate, vertically, he

went through the blue. But he did not go through, . You would be

thinking, what is this about? Slalom is not normally like this! This is a

very tricky course. We talked about this before. It is a sting. --

stinker. And he stumbles at the start! He has lost time. This is

Daniel Yule, racing for Switzerland. He has got Scottish parents. Born in

the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Another slight mistake,

there. Getting later in that line. Daniel Yule had a very good first

run. From 29, he went into 12 position. That was a brilliant first

run. He struggled with the technical demands of this. He has never come

across anything like this in his career. And he was pretty solid, all

the way through. He finishes in 11th position. A couple of mistakes, he

fought back. Getting his balance. This is a mistake just as he

started. He stepped on the gate he had just knocked over. The gate

comes down, underneath his ski. And he stepped on the actual gate. It is

not a straddle, just very unlucky. Nose slide on those gates, they

offer an awful lot of friction, that slowed him right down. It is all

happening here. He only has 17 hundredths in hand

over Kristoffersen. He has plenty of experience. Just jumped around,

switches his skis in the air. He will be in touch at this into media.

1500 speed high. -- at this intermediate.

Just incredible, this course. He has lost touch now. If you want to watch

the four-man bobsleigh, press the red button now, you can see the

opening runs in the first day of four-man bobsleigh racing and we

will head there at the end of this second round of the men's slalom. We

have got the fastest ten after the first run, ready to ski the second

leg. The medals are about to do be decided. Kristoffersen of Norway is

is in gold. They tend to start them in about

minute intervals, so we will know in about ten, 15 minutes time. There is

the man who will go last, hoping to become the oldest Olympic men's

slalom champion, Mario Matt. Markus Larsson. The course starting to cut

up, there are ruts and lumps and bumps to deal with, as well as the

quirky course, courtesy of Kostelic. He is doing OK. Half a second in

front, he began. He has got to let it go, attack. Little room for

error. Lost a lot of speed. Look how far behind TS. This top three are

separated just by six tenths of a second. Those who are in the tap ten

-- top ten. The Swedish still have two more to come. It will halt up

from now on in. All of the guys starting from now one could

potentially get onto the podium. It is like a Who's Who in world slalom

racing. Nobody better known than Marcel Hirscher, the world champion.

Fast start from him. He likes this course. He sets about attacking the

course. He is a little hard on his edges. He is meaning business

tonight. He could really raised the bar. That was really good, the under

gate into the vertical. Carried a lot of speed there. Half a second

front, living dangerously at times, cutting a tight line to the gate. He

has got the tricky under gate to come, deals with that nicely. Sets

his sights on the finishing line, gold medal position at the moment,

fabulous stop he was angry after the first run. He has used all of that

anger and aggression up to produce a fantastic second run. Here she --

Marcel Hirscher into gold. He has raised the bar. Ever so slightly

jumping into the turns, not really getting the pressure before the four

line and having to hammer on the edges.

Next up, Alexis Pinturault. He leads the way at the moment by over half a

second. Dave Riding will finish no worse

than 23rd. -- Dave Ryding. There is some incredible footage of

him on the Internet. Jean-Baptiste Grange coming up, all the big names.

Andrew Myhrer is second quickest. Number 17 is the Italian, Stefano

Gross. The next man in the start gate Alexis Pinturault. A little tap

of the ski poles. Sometimes he messes up his starts. He made a

Kleenex it there. -- clean exit. He is trailing. No, he is up. He is

down. Big high side, up and down. He has a medal from the giant slalom,

took the bronze there. No luck tonight in the slalom. On the tails

of his skis, bounced backwards and jetted out of the course.

This was fairly undignified end to his Olympic campaign. There is no

way anyone can hold that and stay forward.

Would have been good in the halfpipe, but not here. There are

seven to go. John Jackson and his crew are about

to race in the four-man bobsleigh, if you would like to watch that

press the red button. He has lost a good half a second, on

these first gates. He has only lost a couple of tenths

of a second. Got away with it. Now he is motoring. He looks quite

smooth across the flat. Better than just about anybody we have seen so

far. He has gone. He skis either side of the gates, and there it

ends. Marcel Hirscher ends in the medal position.

We get to the sixth quickest man after the first run. He stepped on

gate again. He crossed the tales of his skis.

He just tried to cut a little too high on the gate.

Ted Ligety is next to go. He has already taken gold in the giant

slalom. He skis for a medal in the slalom.

Mistakes are forgiveable honours course -- forgiveable on this

course. Just five to come. You have got to

think Marcel Hirscher will start to be considering he could get a medal.

He will start to believe in the chance of a medal. There five to

come. Grange of France, Matias Hargin of Sweden, Stefano Gross of

Italy, Myra from Sweden, and Mario Matt from Austria. Dave Ryding in

15th position. It just goes to show how many have not made the finish.

Dave did come to a grinding halt on that first trap. He is in 15th, so

his worst place is 20th. Ted Ligety in conversation. The way things are

going, I cannot see the next five all making the finish. John Baptist

Grange will be next. Lots of encouragement. -- Jean-Baptiste

Grange. He is ready to race. Former world

champion. He likes to ski a clean line, close on the gates. He has

messed it up completely. He had the advantage of watching everyone

else. He just couldn't get the pressure, didn't get high on that

red gate so he couldn't come back up through the other side. One of the

spring-loaded gates hit him on the top of his helmet. Marcel Hirscher

starting to serious believe in a medal tonight. I think it is likely.

We have just four to come. Before the race started we were talking

about Marcel Hirscher, and Kristoffersen, bad first runs but

storming second runs. Mitty is Hargin on his way, unorthodox

technique. -- he is Hargin. He will be just ahead that he will

have lost most of his time. It is so difficult to call, this race. Marcel

Hirscher's lead appears to be intact and is Hargin can put one down in

the latter stages of his second run. Is he in touch? He is not. With

three, four left to challenge, Marcel Hirscher is definitely

getting on the podium for stop --. Hargin has failed to convert. Three

to come, Marcel Hirscher leads. Straight out of the finish area, not

stopping for the camera, massively disappointed. Stefano Gross is next.

He came in from a star number of 17 so he did perform in difficult

conditions on the first run. Whereas Matt started three. They benefited

from the lottery of the start number draw. He is used to this course

being cut up. Will he cope with the pressure, he has never been in this

situation? He comes out of the gate. Stumbles

and studies his way through the first few turns. It is all right. It

will be in touch with Marcel Hirscher. He just clings on. Now he

has got to nail this under gate to vertical. He does it well. Not as

well as Kristoffersen or Marcel Hirscher. There is room in amongst

the medal places for Stefano Gross, the Italian comes into the final

stretch. He has a big heavy edge check sideways. The lead is safe. He

is third, into bonds medal position. -- bronze. Marcel Hirscher is

guaranteed a medal. He wouldn't have thought that after the first run.

Storming second one. We have a tie for third. We have two men left to

race. Minimum bronze for Marcel Hirscher. Fritz Dopfer is looking

concerned. His medal, he is tied for bronze, hangs in the balance. Can

Myhrer make it count for Sweden? He is on his way. Solid looking

start. He made the most of the top section. He is out. Kristoffersen is

also guaranteed a medal. And there they are, the two who are certain of

making the big podium embrace. It all comes down to Mario Matt, could

get Austria one and two. We see where Myra's slalom came crumbling

down. He needed to get above the red gate. There is one man left to race.

Mario Matt has never won an Olympic medal. His younger brother has won a

silver medal. In Vancouver. Marcel Hirscher wanders out into the finish

area, as Mario Matt steps forward. I think he will win. He is only 19. No

subtlety, whatsoever. Last man on the Hill. Double world champion. The

youngest ever slalom winner last night. Can Mario Matt become the

oldest? Look at the lead he has. He needs to draw on all his strength.

And his massive amount of experience. A steady start. He is

safely through. He has done better than anybody. Over a second in hand,

he can afford a little mistake. Got to do it for this 30 somethings. He

has only lost four tenths of a second stop this part of the course

is crucial. He wrote it through, nicely. He didn't lose any speed. He

is skiing beautifully. Superb, turns tight, this could be it, the gold

medal to Mario Matt. The final stages of the Limerick slalom, Mario

Matt, the 34-year-old, skis for gold, he has got it! He is the

Olympic slalom champion. The oldest ever winner of the men's Olympic

slalom. Marcel Hirscher takes the silver with Henrik Kristoffersen,

the 19-year-old Norwegian, taking the bronze medal. What a spread of

ages on the podium. Experience wins the day.

Mario Matt had plenty of time to watch at the top, he saw the

mistakes of his close rivals, he saw them fall and crash and watched them

straddle. And then Tom he held his nerve and skied for gold. -- and

then he held his nerve. So the thirtysomethings coming good at the

Olympics, the final Alpine race of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games came

right down to the wire. The Austrians had the medal table in the

Alpine programme. They conclude with gold in the men's slalom. Mario

Matt's final Olympics and he has struck gold. A big party in Saint

Anton Samad, crazy kangaroo will be going absolutely insane. This is how

he did it. Experience, composure and skill. Brilliant from Mario Matt. He

is the Olympic slalom champion. CLARE BALDING: If you want to watch

Final Score, it is available on the red button, we are staying with

Winter Olympics and because very soon we will see our British curlers

receive their medals but their chance to reflect on a slalom

Olympic race the like of which we have never seen. That was some

course. I think Kostelic who set the course perhaps had too many vodkas

when he created it! It was a shame for many of the races, so many

crashed. The right guys came out on top and it is great to see Mario

Matt on top but it is such a shame to see slalom racing at its best

like that. We get the confirmation of the standings.

It was amazing how many good skiers did not finish. Mario Matt coming

down last, and Marcel Hirscher who wins his first Olympic medal. Have

been so frustrated and when he finished at other levels in the

giant slalom, he said his best chance of a medal was gone and he

was so upset, he finished fourth and fifth in Vancouver so this is a big

metal moment for him and his compatriots who is the oldest ever

gold medallist in the slalom takes the gold ahead of him. I know he was

incredibly frustrated after his first run, coming in is the

strongest and the favourite but actually the second run really

suited his type of skiing because he senses beat so far out in the course

was so tricky with big offset gates so it suited the way he skis. Dave

Matt finished 15th so he did very well, a bad mistake -- they've

Ryding. He made a big mistake, the almost stood still after that but

then he was sensational and he can be proud about run. Big crowds in

the medals plaza and they are gathering now for the medal ceremony

for the men's curling. And Canada, for the first time, have done the

gold medal doubles with the women skipped by Jennifer Jones and they

won the men's as well but Great Britain will appear on the podium

for both of these medal ceremonies. Lots of Canadian funds into cheer

their boys, the buff boys as they are called. And Jennifer Jones and

her side. But it is a wonderful site, Jackie Lockhart is with me,

you have killed at three Olympic Games for Great Britain and this is

the first time that in both men's and women's, British teams will come

out to receive medals. , -- you have curled at three Olympic Games. Lots

of preparation and it is great to see the medals coming through at the

end. We have been successful at worlds and Europeans but to do it at

the Olympics is marvellous. They are led out onto the stage and the

presentation of the medals will be made by a man Steve Cram knows very

well, a formally big sprint champion, I should never say

former, and other big sprint champion in 1972 for the I have

never met him, I know lots about him, one of the all-time greats, won

the double in 1972 and you will not remember this, Clare Balding, but

American sprinters were so good at the time, two of them missed their

quarterfinals. I think they slept in and they could not do the 200

metres, I think they won the relay in the end and the soviet union

hero, he is actually Ukrainian. I think you have something to do with

the Ukrainian national Olympic committee as well. Here come the

presentation party and you saw the British team coming out and waving

and smiling and having been deflated and disappointed after losing their

final heavily, now they can really celebrate the glories of winning a

medal in this competition, David Murdoch in particular. And an

achievement that he has been trying and striving after for many years.

Craig Reedie up there as well, he has a new role with WADA which is

very important. I know this will be a very proud moment for him. And of

course, a Great Britain team and for Scotland in particular, Jackie, you

have been talking about how much you have been getting reports back home

and in Aberdeen, they are expecting 300 people to turn up and have a go.

I have had lots of communication back home and curling has exploded

back home, it is so good to see. What platform this has been an good

players out there have just highlighted and risen our sport much

more than we ever anticipated. It is wonderful to see. It is a rather

large medals presentation party than normally happens. But they will each

carry out different medals to present and I am reliably informed

that Valerie bought supple make the silver medal presentation.

Meanwhile, the athletes are waiting behind their spec two podiums for

their moment. You can see Tom Brewster and David

Murdoch grinning away, the ultimate... Claire, this has been a

great addition, the whole medals plaza idea. And the Olympics being

separated, everybody in the mountains in the snow of events and

then the ice events down here. It is a great thing to do to give them the

chance to get the medal in front of big crowds. To have a special

ceremony like this is fantastic for them. . Stepping forward to receive

their medals, the bronze medal winning team of Sweden. They beat

China in their bronze medal match, their skip Niklas Edin was so

distraught after losing the semifinal to Great Britain. They can

now enjoy a fine moment with his team. They have been in many ways

the form curlers over the past couple of years in World

Championships and World Cup competitions. Is, the announcer said

Sebastien Coe, but it was Sebastian Kraupp. The Swedes, the world

champions will have come here with high hopes and Canada were the

favourites. But Jackie Lockhart would agree, so please do see them

on the rostrum. It was a tough bronze medal match, probably one of

their best throughout the tournament against China winning it in the

extra end. A couple of mistakes from China but I think most people will

be pleased to see Sweeting getting the rostrum. Yes, these guys have

travelled all over the world and they have trained for a long time

and current world champions and they were desperate to get the medal and

they have to fight hard for it. And I think it is very well-deserved.

They are really appreciated by all their friends out there and the

other curling teams. Great rivalry but also great friendships out

there. Just to confirm that the ultimate, even if they have not

played in any matches, they do receive a medal, they are part of

the team and help in the preparation. -- to confirm the

alternate and that is what you see five men, not four.

Silver medallists, representing Great Britain,

And now, a male British curling team steps up to receive a medal at the

Winter Olympics for the first time since 1924. And they've Medoc, 35

years old, from Lockerbie, alongside the youngsters, Greg Drummond, ,

Michael Goodfellow from Stirling and the alternate Tom Brewster from

Aberdeen, this is their moment and Sir Craig Reedie handing the silver

medals to them and putting them around their necks. And look at

David Murdoch, he keeps looking at it, he cannot believe it's that

after all this time, it has happened. He has had to Olympics

before this. And there is Tom Brewster who helped get these three

guys to where they got to. And for David Murdoch, you said earlier, the

emotion he had in the interview afterwards, it is tough to come back

and Jackie knows what it is like to come forth in the Olympics and it is

four years, that is a long time to motivate yourself and make the

commitment and to say he will give it another go so well done to him

and all the guys. A lovely moment as Tom Brewster got his medal, David

Murdoch led the pros and the whole team applauded him for the party has

played. -- led the applause. And looking at Dave's face, particularly

for him, if this can be topped, you wonder. We will wait for the

decision that he will take. Whatever happens, this is just magnificent

for him and the team. This is really a special moment for the guys, a

special moment for everybody back home who has supported them and all

the fans and I spoke today this morning and he couldn't actually...

He wanted to see Lizzy Yarnold's medal. You will have one later on

today, I said to them. It is wonderful. And now the team that

beat Great Britain in that gold-medal match, they won 9-3 and

the match was conceded after eight ends, they have been so strong

throughout the tournament. Their skip Brad Jacobs, Ryan Harnden and

the ultimate scale and lazy -- and known as the buff boys because they

are in extreme physical shape and curling is massive on Canadian

television, only ice hockey rates higher in so these guys are also

liberty back in Canada and this for them, they will have felt they

deserved it and probably because they may have expected it. Yes, they

did. Their country did and it took them two or three matches to realise

they were going to have to treat this as everybody else did, with the

spec it deserves. The other pigs are different and they are undoubtedly

perhaps the best team in the world -- the Olympics are different. They

were good, they are not everybody's cup party in terms of their style,

they are in your face, they have a level of intensity which hopes their

game. It does not come across well to others necessarily but that is

the way they play and that is the way they win. Talking to our guys

last but, they said the Canadian team were much more subdued here

than they have been in other tournaments and certainly if they

were in front of a home crowd, they would have beat their chests a lot

more. I think what Steve said there, the whole mannerism, they are very

cocky but when they got here, they realised this competition is

different from everything else. It is the Olympic Games and the

pressure got to these guys and initially, I think it took them a

few days before they started holding their shoulders back and acted like

they normally do. They have won eight and won it impressively and we

will now hear the national anthem of Canada, Oh, Canada.

Britain, the curling teams. At the MUSIC: Canadian

They will enjoy every single moment. It is something you can go back to.

Did you think this would happen for them? I had hoped it would happen.

That was the plan, give her the experience. She has grown so much,

this whole team have grown. They have put in all the commitment and

effort and look at this, they will be standing up on the podium,

collecting a medal. That is the President of the International

Paralympic committee. -- Committee. Again, they have a larger than usual

presentation committee. Eve Muirhead coming in as skipper when she was

only 19 at Vancouver, the experience of that, coming here as a

23-year-old, she has been through it and having the support she had from

Anna Sloan and Vicki Adams, they are a very tight and good group of

friends. Look how big the medals have got. For Valeri Borzov, back in

1972, I guess it was a surprise for many. He had a great year the year

before, but it is great to see old champions being part of the

ceremony. As they go through the translations, onto the Russian

version, Great Britain will be the first to receive their medals. They

are wearing those fine hearts and they were so delighted -- hats. They

were able to celebrate because they won their march -- match.

Representing Great Britain, what a proud moment for Eve Muirhead, Anna

Sloan, Vicki Adams, Claire Hamilton and Lauren Gray. You must be so

proud. This is fantastic, I am sure there will be tears back home. You

saw the smile on their faces, they are so delighted. Very difficult to

come here as world champions, people raise their game, they fought hard

to get that bronze medal. I am sure they will not be able to believe it.

The medals are getting bigger and heavier. I am so impressed. It is

lovely that he is making this presentation. He has been a very

influential figure in Great Britain and now all around the world. This

will not be the last time we see these girls on a podium. They have

many more medals to collect. They were beaten by Canada, who have won

the gold medal. The way the competition works, they ended up in

the bronze medal match because they drew Canada in the semifinal. If

Canada where the best team, I think we were second best. The girls would

I accept that Canada deserved the gold medal. We will see them in a

second. They can be so proud of their achievement. They will be

back. Four years may seem like a long time, but it is amazing how

quickly it will come around. Stepping forward, the side that has

taken the silver medal. Sweden. It was gold in the last two Olympic

Games for the Swedish curling team. They have a new skip. Margaretha

Sigfridsson led her team to an exceptional silver medal. They did

not always play at their best. They managed to dig out a victory when

they needed it most. Even in that final, they played well, even until

the last couple of Games. Maria Prytz played a shot which gave two

away. It was down to the ninth end when they lost the two. Other than

that, they were very quiet and confident and played well. Without

question, you would have had to have taken this away from Canada.

Jennifer Jones was not the skip in Vancouver. They did not win the gold

medal in Vancouver. There are so many good teams that could represent

Canada. For Jennifer Jones, it has been the culmination of a long

campaign. Sweden are no longer the Olympic champions. That title

belongs to Canada and for Jennifer Jones, she did get through the

trials in 2005, but not in 2009. She has had to wait a long time for

this. She is 39 years old and recently became a mother. Her

partner is here. This is their moment, they can jump for joy.

Canada has been unbeaten and take the gold medal. Jennifer Jones

there. They have worked together so well. They have played very well all

season to get here they played well in the Olympic trials. Jennifer

Jones has a tear in her eye. Jill Officer there. Those two, when they

were teenagers, Jennifer Jones asked Jill Officer to play in her team.

She said even then, Jennifer Jones was her hero, even when she was a

teenager. Dawn McEwen, she was a brilliant lead for them. You grow up

as caves, you dream of winning an Olympic gold medal and it comes to

fruition -- children. And Great Britain should be proud to be on the

podium and standing next to a side this good and, who knows, maybe one

day Eve Muirhead and her team will be good enough to be in the central

position. Jackie believes they could be back here with another big medal

in four-year 's' time. For the second time, we will hear the

Canadian national anthem. CHEERING. And you can hear the

cheering from here. Congratulations to Canada. Final score follows

immediately and we will be back at six o'clock with more live action

from the Winter Olympics. We will be catching up with the four-man bob.

Jackson and his crew have been going well in training. We will see if

they can put that into practice now that it matters. This is a

photograph that the British girls will treasure and a medal that they

genuinely, genuinely deserve. Jackie Lockhart is smiling like a proud

mother watching this. You look so delighted. I feel like the old

mother hen. I used to curl with some of these girls and it is nice to see

them doing so well, really wonderful. British fans have

travelled here and the men and women have family members and friends and

it is lovely they can share it. And when they go back to Stirling to

train they will get more attention and congratulations. We go off the

air with huge congratulations. Final score is coming up after this.