Day 1 Winter Olympics: Today at the Games

Good evening and welcome back to Sochi, to the Winter Olympics of

2014. It's 11. 10pm. Soon we will be head up to the mountains for the

final gold medal on day one of the Games and that will be in the

women's moguls. Everyone still reacting to the Opening Ceremony.

The Russians seem happy with that display. Lots of reaction at home. I

asked my seven-year-old nephew what he thought, he said it looked very

expensive. Which it was indeed. A lot of money lavished on these

venues. The athletes are enjoying the facilities. It's time now for

the sport to live up to all that investment and very much take

centre-stage. This is the highlights programme that will be with you

every evening. This is what we have coming up:

In a moment we will be live with the women's moguls final.

We have highlights from a magnificent men's snowboard

slopestyle final. And we bring you all the news from

the cross-country and biathlon centre for a day of history.

Don't forget you can get in touch with us. This is how, if you are on

social media use the hashtag BBC Sochi and we will see exactly what

you are thinking. You will have seen the women's moguls, if you have been

watching. We will head back out to the park. I want to ask you a

question about what they're wearing, given it's a speed sport, how come

they're in clothing that I would say is pretty wind-resistant, that would

create - well, slow you down. Why aren't they in tight gear?

Well, for the most part the moguls are where they're generating speed.

It's not plus 50mph where lycra will make a huge difference in terms of

resistance and you have that freestyle element on those two

jumps. While lycra is stretchy, you don't want to be too constrained, so

baggier clothes are better. Thank you for the explanation. We

know the final six in the line-up. We have two of the Canadian sisters

in there and the defending champion, as well who looks to be improving.

Let's see the medals decided. Six of them left. It's now or never.

She bids to be the first Olympic medallist in moguls for Japan. She's

never been a medallist. She is having a real crack at this final

run, though. A final jump. A big floated back flip. It's fast through

the clock. The best we have seen from her tonight. Saving her best

until last. Setting up for the first kicker

here. Leading with the right arm. Rotation around. 360. Used to be

known as a helicopter. Now needs to be up in the 21s really

to have any sort of chance of a medal. The second jump was again a

little scruffy. Halfway between a straight back somersault. At this

level with six going for only three medals, little mistakes like that,

little details like that can be costly. She will lead the way in

gold medal position. It's OK, 20. 66. It's not spectacular. She will

need a bit of luck to add that medal to her positions in previous

Olympics. Eliza Outtrim now from the USA. A

study of concentration at the top. Skied beautifully tonight. Now she

goes for the final time in a bid for an Olympic medal. 360. Around it

goes. A bit on the top of the bumps. Now she's established a good rhythm.

Down the centre of the course. Not as tight and as easy as it was in

the previous round. Second kicker could be key.

Back-flip. Home in a time of 31. 49. Good stuff

from Eliza Outtrim. Still to come, Britteny Cox from Australia. Kearney

will be last to go here in Sochi 2014.

Her head getting bounced forward there.

Normally she's got such control over her upper body, her legs and

shoulders, but it wasn't as good as it could have been. I am not sure

it's enough to put her in first position. 20. 66 is the score to

beat. A nervous wait. Silver medal position for the moment with four to

come. You have to think she's not going to walk away with a medal.

The Australian, Britteny Cox is ready to go. She will get straight

into it. Staring down the hill. She's away. Here we go. Absorbed

well. Floats around the 360. Good landing. Right back into the moguls.

The Australian flag is on her knees to show the judges exactly what's

going on below the waist. Good skiing. Nice, still calm upper body.

Nothing wrong with this so far. Skis got parted from the snow. The

back-flip, not a perfect landing but the speed is fast. It's pretty good

from Cox. One li mis mistake which we might see again in replay.

Nervous times for the Australian coaches.

Aiko Uemura leads for Japan. Second is the USA. Britteny Cox landing the

first kicker. There was one little mistake, two-thirds of the way down

the mid-part of the course. It might just have cost her the chance to

lead. There it is. Skis got separated. It's a fine line between

pushing for a medal and being an also-ran here. That wasn't the best

landing of the second kicker. As she floated around the straight

back-flip, just got bounced sideways on touch down.

20. 66 to beat. She's gone under 20. Silver medal position. Three down

and three to go. Justine Dufour-Laponte ready to go.

Has to be in control for the first kicker. Floats around the 360. Good

landing. Skiing again, absorbing again. The poles are working

overtime from left to right. Wonderful timing through these

turns. Away she goes. Pushing hard. Middle part of the course dealt

with. Final kicker, back-flip. Nice landing. 31. 56. Happy with her

performance. Is it good enough to beat that 20. 0.66?

Lots to enjoy here. A great landing there. Ready to absorb the next

bump. A back-flip off the second one, on the soft snow and let them

run for the line. Not in full control as she crossed the line.

It's got to be enough. It's got to be enough. The middle part of the

course, the turns count for 50%, remember. That's where medals are

won and lost. She leads the way! She's guaranteed a medal with just

two to come. She's in gold medal position at the moment. The

Canadians will have at least one medal from the 2014 Women's Olympic

Moguls final tonight. Gold medal position. Now her older sister will

ski and then the defending champion Hannah Kearney.

The penultimate skier in the final round, Chloe Dufour-Laponte. She's

away. Her sister leads the way. Here's Chloe. Good first turn.

Floats around the 360. The landing is good. Similar pattern so far to

what we just saw from Justine. Really attacking the middle part of

the course. Knees and skis locked together. This is beautiful bump

skiing. Nothing wrong with this. It might just come down to the finest

margin. Maybe the time will separate them. Can she land well enough? A

little twitch on landing. That might be the difference between the two

sisters. Surely it will be good enough for a medal? Chloe now waits

for the judges to deliberate on her performance. There is the first

kicker. Good landing. Very similar to what we saw from her sister.

Wasn't good so solid off the second kicker.

The money turns in the middle part of the course were skied to near

perfection. But this landing might just make the difference between

first and second. If she goes into second she will be guaranteed a

medal. It's as simple as that. The landing wasn't totally stable. That

might put her behind her sister. Let's see what the judges make of

it. 21. 66. She's second. Whether those three remain on the podium is

all now down to the defending champion, Hannah Kearney. Two medals

guaranteed for the Canadians. They had gold and silver at the moment.

Their fate and the fate of the sisters is in the hands of Hannah

Kearney. No skier has ever successfully defended an Olympic

moguls Crown. There have been golds and silvers, silvers and golds, but

no back-to-back gold. Can it happen tonight? She's away. The champion in

2010 in Vancouver, off to a good start in 2014. And then in trouble!

Not back in full control. She might have blown it there. It might be

gold for Justine. Kearney has lost composure. Twitching from

side-to-side. Back in command now. The damage might have been done. The

landing and the final kicker is good. She punches the air. But I am

not sure that is good enough for back-to-back golds. Will she get a

medal. Nervous moments. They can barely look at each other.

KearneyBrian Carney made Kearney made a mess of the take-off. She was

improvising through the first few turns after she touched down. The

flight was good. Beautiful to watch. But this might have just cost her

the gold. Second jump was pretty solid. She might just scrape by with

a bronze. That would be cruel to Aiko Uemura, who may finish out of

the medals again or will Kearney be heavily penalised and pushed out of

the medals completely? Who's going to get the gold here tonight? Will

it be Justine Dufour-Lapointe or Kearney? It's third for Kearney.

Justine Dufour-Lapointe takes gold for Canada, with her sister, Chloe,

in second. Hannah Kearney comes through with the bronze medal. The

record books remain unchanged, no skier has ever won back-to-back bump

titles. Gold to Justine Dufour-Lapointe, silver to Chloe

Dufour-Lapointe, two of the three sisters on the podium, a remarkable

story for the family from Montreal with the champion of four years ago

relegated to bronze medal and spare a thought for Aiko Uemura, of Japan.

She's missed it again. Seventh, six, fifth, fourth and fourth again

tonight. The celebrations can start for Dufour-Lapointe sisters. In a

way you feel sorry for Maxim, who's there, the oldest sister, no medal

for her tonight. Tears of joy as she celebrates with her younger sisters.

Justine is the Olympic moguls champion for 2014. Chloe takes the

Sirte. -- silver. Fabulous competition. The Canadians have

their first couple of medals in the skiing programme at the Olympic

winter Games. Well, wonderful scenes there and a

fantastic story as well for Canada and for the Dufour-Lapointe sisters.

Let's get the reaction, as we see the winning run. Let's get the

reaction from Ed and from Graham. What did you make of it as a

competition? A fantastic competition. The difference

separating the two sisters was just down to speed on the last run.

Justine was about two tenths of a second quicker than Chloe. That was

what made the difference between those two. Hannah Kearney really

lost it after the first kicker. Landing and didn't get the pole

plant. That's so important in moguls, because it stabilises your

upper body and controls the speed. If you lose the rhythm, you won't

make the good turns. She never quite looked comfortable

in any of her runs. We see again the family celebrating and Canada

overjoyed at that, a gold and silver. Ed, is their family one with

a strong Olympic sporting tradition? Well, there is another family in the

free skiing fold, alongside the moguls, there is free skiing slope

style and half pipe, which debut at these Games. There are three

brothers from New Zealand, the Wells brothers. They have a younger

brother who is also a really good skier. They will all compete in the

ski half pipe. I'm sure they will chat to the Dufour-Lapointe sisters

after these medals to get the tips in the Athletes' Athletes' Village.

To both Ed and Graham and to Matt who gave us commentary there,

congratulations again to Canada. We have moved position. I hope you like

it, with the palm trees and boll soy in the background -- Bolshei in the

background. This is what is still to come tonight:

We'll be seeing how Britain's pair of Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls

got on in the first ever slope style snowboard final. We'll also find out

how history was made in the biathlon.

We report on an Iron Lady, aiming for her fourth winter gold. You've

just seen the extreme park under the flood lights and at night, but this

morning it was bathed in sunshine for a debut event. It was men's

slope style snowboard, we had two British competitors, Billy Morgan

and Jamie Nicholls. I was very, very excited to get the chance to go up

there and see what it was all about. There is definitely an air of love

and friendship here at the extreme park, where competitors from the

USA, Canada, from Norway, Finland and from Great Britain are into the

final of the men's slope style in snowboarding. For them, it's a

first-time experience. For everyone here, this is a debut event.

Excitement is building. This is the BBC commentary box. Ed Lee in here

doing his prep for the final. Hey there. I sense a real anticipation

here, something big is going to happen. This is the single most

exciting period of snowboarding I've ever witnessed. I've watched Jamie

and Billy grow up. There's a tiny part of me that's really worried I

might cry, if they medal. Jamie Nicholls went straight through to

the final from qualification. Billy Morgan had to go into the semifinals

this morning. Were you impressed with what he came up with? Yeah, he

came out and laid down his stock run, but he laid it down perfectly.

Good luck to them and to you as well. Don't cry. I won't, I promise

I won't cry. You go out there and enjoy this. I promise it will be one

of the spectacles of the Games. We have two runs, it will be the best

score from those two runs that counts. Sage Kotsenburg, one of the

most creative, stylish riders out there. Snowboarding can be accused

as being a bit sterile and similar with some of the jumps, but this is

the snowboarder's snowboarder. Oh, he's stepped this one up for the

finals. He has indeed. He's left some in the tank here. Lay back,

hand drag up the connone rail. Coming in switch here now. What did

I tell you, the speed, he's going so deep. There must be speed from

somewhere now. All the riders are going bigger. There's the double

tail grab. He seems to have so much time. Into the third and final jump.

Backside double 14, oh, 1260. A great run from Sage Kotsenburg,

very, very strong. Look at this grab here! Look at that! I think they're

calling that the Holy Grail. That's the highest score we've seen so far.

Massive score there for Sage Kotsenburg of the USA. He tries to

give America what would be their first Olympic Gold Medal on Russian

soil. But next up, at the top of that run, is Billy Morgan.

COMMENTATOR: We have Billy Morgan and Jamie Nicholls stood together.

They're going back-to-back. These boys are so calm and mature about

their performances. Billy Morgan proffered that today. The boy from

Southampton dropped in. 270 on, 270 off. Into the up rail. A nice board

slide. Look how composed he looks. Came off a bitterliy there. Into the

cannon rail. Backside rodeo off. Oh, no! No. He can't believe it. I think

the snow is a little bit soft here. I'm looking for excuses. A bit

slushy. The good news is Billy Morgan has another run to try to

make up the marks. Now on course, Jamie Nicholls.

COMMENTATOR: Jamie and a fantastic rail rider, outside 270, 270 off.

450 out there. No-one else doing that one. Little hand down, but

still he's far more technical than anyone else in that part of the

rail. He's one of the best on the rails. He's no slouch on the jump.

Are we going to see the cab 14? There's one, two, three, four, yes!

Into this second jump, switch back side, he wanted the 1260. Yes, he's

got it! Going for nine. Now the triple. Yes! Oh, Jamie puts it down!

I held my breath there. Oh, Jamie Nicholls for Great Britain! He puts

down an absolutely stonking run. Beautiful, very technical rails.

There are a couple of small mistakes, we know how fussy the

judges have been about execution. Here's the backside triple. He's

really corked that on the last hit there. Slightly overrotated. All I'm

doing here is picking hairs. Because that's what the judges are doing.

Absolutely. Jamie's got a score on the board. Looked so excite whenned

he finished his run and then disappointed with the score. Buff

he's into second place. -- But he's into second place.

COMMENTATOR: This is one of the most elegant boarders. He has a beautiful

style. Lovely 450. This is glorious. Riding backwards here. He's going

for the triple. Oh, no. Get ready, ladies and gentleman, for a master

class in liquid snowboarding. You have to say he's the form man coming

into this event. This should be the back triple. That leaves the

competition in a really interesting place. Jamie Nicholls has landed a

good, safe run. He's in the silver medal position, but three of the big

guns all had falls or mistakes. They have to put everything into their

second run. Other-wise they leave here with nothing.

COMMENTATOR: Mark McMorris. Talk about pressure, it was his gold to

lose. That's what everyone was saying. He's been the poster boy for

team Canada coming into the Games. Switch into the first jump. Switch

triple. Really deep, really clean. Backside triple. Oh, but he's down.

It's good enough for silver. Jamie Nicholls has been knocked into

bronze medal position. Members of Team GB are here to support Billy

and Jamie. Casy, what do you make TV so far? It's amazing, just to see

everyone throw down, especially on a perfect day. Everyone supporting,

it's really cool. Now Billy Morgan, second run. It's now now or never.

Into the business end of the course. One, two, three... He's put it down

very, very cleanly. Is this the front side double, yeah. Oh, no. Oh,

no. Well, he had to go for it. He had to. Such a shame because the top

half casy looked much smoother. That was the best one I've seen so far

until the fall. I'm so gutted for him. It's not over for Great

Britain. Jamie Nicholls. Currently in bronze medal position. Can he

best that? Oh, he's not going to improve. It all comes down to this.

It's a solid take off. Oh, my goodness! Third position, he bumps

Jamie Nicholls out of the medals. Staale Sandbech from Norway. He's a

goofy rider. Anything riding left-foot forward is backwards or

switch. We talk about that and it is the equivalent of trying to write

with your left hand. Whilst being attacked by a flock of seagulls.

Wearing a chip hat. The entire top section of the

course, he's done backwards. With a chip hat on being attacked by

seagulls. Yeah. That 1260 into frontside 14, oh, my goodness,

frontside 1440, this has got to be backside 1440. Backside triple. The

top section was so technical. Beautiful. The rails were

phenomenal. Second place! Sage Kotsenburg, the Gold Medal. Staale

Sandbech from Norway will take silver. Canadian, Mark McMorris,

riding with a broken rib, takes bronze.

Jamie Nicholls, from Great Britain, in sixth. So that was America's

first Olympic Gold Medal on Russian soil. The first time they've

competed in an Olympics here. Here are Jamie and Billy now. What has

the reaction been like since you competed in that final? It's been

crazy, like, I just can't believe I was part of it, you know, such a

crazy final. Just today was kind of a life changer really. You know,

unbelievable just to be at the Olympics and compete in the finals

and both getening to the finals is just -- getting to the finals is

amazing for British snowboarding. I'm just happy. It struck me being

there, it's a sport where everybody is happy for each other, to see each

other do well and land big tricks? Yeah, absolutely. Kind of going

around the circuit all the time and seeing the tricks that have been

done before, come into the Olympics and everybody is putting it down on

the big stage has been amazing. I've never seen all the big tricks I've

ever seen go down in the same context and in the same runs. It was

unbelievable. I'm massively proud to be part of it. Did you feel that you

really had to go for it? Yeah, absolutely. I think fourth or 12th,

it doesn't matter. I thought I'd just go all out and I just wanted to

put a really good run down. And to go as big as possible. I went a

little bit too big. I didn't manage to land it.

I put all eggs in one basket, which my mum wouldn't have told me to do.

I went for it. Jamie, you had an hour in a medal position. Yeah. I

was actually in second for a while, then I was bumped to third then I

was just standing there. I kind of knew, the last three guys, they were

all potential winners. I knew I would probably get bumped out. I'm

just happy to go there and put the run down I wanted to do today.

Obviously I tried to step it up second run and kind of messed up the

first rail. To be honest, what I did today I've never done in my entire

life of snowboarding, I'm super happy to have done that run. The big

moment Yeah, a switch 14. Then I did a switchback nine. Then I got my

backside triple 14 in the same run, pretty happy. Terms of a winner, how

good an example of your sport is Sage Kotsenburg? He's amazing. Like,

I've been watching that guy for so many years now. He's a good friend

of mine too. He's just, he brings creativity to snowboarding. The

grabs he does, the tricks he does is insane. Today is showed that

creativity won it. Fair play to him. It also shows, from your points of

view, that you can get to an Olympic final from a dry ski slope in

Halifax or dry slope in Southampton, how much do you hope that the kids

that were watching this morning will think - that's a sport I can do? I

needed something else to do and it filled everything. I had so much fun

when I was younger snowboarding with my friends at the dry slopes I went

to and going to snow Domes and small competitions and that and without

that in my childhood when I was younger my life wouldn't be the same

today. I hope kids can go out and get inspired and have fun and enjoy

the life that I have. Well, let's get a feel from Olly Williams of how

people were reacting on social media and the kind of language they were

using. Today was a day that everybody fell in love with

slopestyle. Thousands of people watching, thousands tweeting, not

least a Wimbledon champion in Andy Murray watching, getting as carried

away as the rest of us, tweeting, saying, hang on maybe we can have

two medallists. You get back to your phone and there was a tweet from

Andy Murray. I couldn't believe it, he tweeted both of us and said we

rode well and maybe we could get two medals. You know, we didn't, but we

tried our best. I think also you got a proposal of marriage, didn't you?

Yeah, there is a few of those messages! I think Billy's fan club

has grown, as well. Did you see your numbers rocket up? I think it

tripled today, my followers, got lots of new fans. Got to keep them

happy. It's not the end of slopestyle either, the women

tomorrow and James Wood later in the week. Of course you guys will be

looking forward to seeing how he tackles pretty much the same thing

you do? He has been working hard on tricks recently. I think he took a

hit to his hip. I am sure he has more to offer. The rest of the

freestyle team are going to go back in strong, they've good things to

show. Much more from these guys and everyone else at BBC Sport on

Twitter and Facebook. Thank you so much, thank you to Billy and Jamie.

Let's head back out to the mountains to Ed and Graham. You heard Ed and

how excited he was. Guys, what's your reaction to what Jamie and

Billy have done today and what the sport has done in terms of putting

down a marker? Well, it was a phenomenal day. It

was shown in its best light. There are a couple of falls in the final

but the drama added to it. The fact that both the lads had the maturity,

I am so proud of them both, I want to say that now. They had brilliant

performances. I think as they said, they've inspired a lot of people

today. We had a combined snowboarder and ski programme, we need to get

that programme properly funded by UK Sport so we can work on a four-year

cycle towards the next Olympics and really start to treat it like we

treat skeleton and short track speed skating.

That's a good point to put to both of you. Do you feel that having

performed as you have done and both making the final, that you deserve

more funding, that the sport deserves to be taken more seriously

maybe at home? Yeah, I mean, it would be great, you know. Obviously,

to get more facilities in the UK too, and maybe even have like a

place like they have in the US, a place where people and kids can

actually learn new tricks in a safe environment. It will be awesome.

Yeah, I think having facilities like that in the States to use, it

reduced risk, environments as we call them, foam pits, trampolines

and progression for all sports really, centres would help progress

sports in general in the UK. Congratulations for what you have

achieved at this Olympics and thank you for coming down here. It's late

at night, it's nearly midnight and they've had a busy day. Thank you so

much. Really appreciate it. Let's look now at who's been making

headlines on the first day of real competition here at the Winter

Olympics. Sven Kramer took gold in a new

record. He led the way for a Netherlands clean sweep of the

medals. In the men's luge at the halfway

mark Felix Loch leads the way, Russia's figure skaters will sleep

sound soundly tonight victory in the pairs routine has put them in the

box seat for gold in this inaugural Olympic team event.

It's time now to head out to the cross-country ski centre. We are

particularly going to focus on Marret Bjorkan.

Day one of the winter Olympics and we have come to the cross-country

venue. We are in a hidden valley away from the alpine events. This is

the centre and that's absolutely beautiful.

Amazing speed. The top seeds are in the front.

We have Bjoergen, the defending champion. Two fallers there. They

haven't lost too much time there but it will be interesting to see

whether they lose a couple of seconds. There were definite

stumbles there. So, halfway through the event. Skiing changed from

classic into skating. Bjoergen first in, first out - just.

You can see the leading five have got away from seven seconds. It may

not have grown more than half a second.

Kalla is stuck in third place the whole way around. If she wants the

gold she's got to be biding her time. I suspect they'll make the

break when they come around the back of the stadium and that's where

they'll get the opportunity to overtake.

Look at Kalla coming through on the inside, the Swedish athlete. This is

a concerted bid to break up the Norwegian dominance. Again it could

be too early for Charlotte Kalla. It's a bold move. With a

minute-and-a-half still on the clock to race the climbing now starts.

That little burst from Kalla could be expensive. But look at the gap

that's opening between second and third.

The first gold medal of the cross-country programme is about to

be won. Charlotte Kalla of Sweden but Marit Bjoergen has come through

on the inside. Brilliant tactically. Can she defend this title? She's the

World Champion. She's the woman in form. She knows Kalla is still

there. She's closing in on another superb piece of Winter Olympic

history. It could be a truly golden fortnight for Bjoergen. Kalla is

surely going to have to settle for second place now. Kalla is still

driving for the line but Bjoergen has started here, it's gold again.

Kalla has to settle for silver. It's a brilliant bronze for Heidi Weng.

Bjoergen was too strong. It's a Norway one and three. You have to

feel a bit for Johaug. How much more can we expect during Sochi? I have

it now, now I can relax and the rest of it. Six races so everything is

possible. We will see. Good luck. Thank you.

A fantastic gold medal for her and Norway was very hopeful that total

could be added to. They look to a man upon whom they've relied so

often and more often than not he has come up trumps. Let's rejoin Rob

Walker to tell us the full story of one of the greatest athletes in

Winter Olympic history. This is the stunning

state-of-the-art cross-country and biathlon centre.

Already a legend in this sport. Is this the day he goes one better?

Landertinger could definitely feature. What drama lies in store

here? This is crucial for Bjoerndalen. His shooting has let

him down at times. Yes, that's clear. Massive moments at the range

now. There is the miss! The action keeps on coming here. The whole of

Norway will be holding their breath. He has missed with the first shot!

He is a great skier. He is going to have to be. His dreams of a 12th

medal just took a step backwards. Landertinger. Grinding across the

line. He leads by 13 seconds. Bjoerndalen has only missed one. He

has been around for so long, he has won it twice. Keeps on ticking. The

margin he has to close keeps on growing. Here's Bjoerndalen across

the line. What about Soukup? Could he break Norwegian hearts here?

Under the floodlights creates the most amazing atmosphere. Soukup

could well take the lead here. He was on course to beat him. Fourcade

gone. It's going to be a 7th gold for Bjoerndalen. A hat trick in this

event alone. He on this moment and on this day joins his compatriot.

12 medals in total then for Ole Einar. He is an extraordinary

athlete and becomes the oldest to win an individual gold medal at the

age of 40. We are going to shift our attention to tomorrow's blue ribbon

event, which is the men's downhill. It's a course that has already

thrown up a lot of debate with the veteran and much decorated skier

Body Miller saying it's treacherous. That it really is dangerous. Now

Graham Bell when he hears about a challenge wants to take it on. I

still think this is one of the most impressive things in British

television, what he does with a camera on his helmet. Let's see

Graham's run down the downhill course in Sochi. Just looking out at

the start gates is intimidating. Let's have a look at it.

Pushing out hard, it's already quite rough and bumpy. You're onto the

first tight turn. This is the toboggan. You come out high in this

turn because we're setting up for the steepest, fastest part of the

course. We're going down the valley now. Good speed down here. 46%, just

ran a little bit wide, coming out into this turn. Wow. That is an

insane start to the men's downhill. Now you have the toughest part of

the course coming up. Over the Russian trampoline, massive flight

and onto this really icy, bumpy part of the track. High on the ski here.

Onto this section called big pan, eight sweeping turns with lots of

rollers. They use water injection to make it really rough and bumpy. My

legs are burning up. Still the two biggest jumps on the course to come.

The first of these is the lake jump, good flight over there. See how

rough and bumpy the snow is here. It doesn't give you a chance to relax.

Even out on the flat section. In sight of the finish, as we go over

this jump. Smoother down here, tuck in towards the line. Wow, wow, that

is one of the most testing Olympic downhill courses I have ever skied.

I raced five and skied four with a camera, that's tough.

You could hear the effort, but also I don't think Graham, I've ever

heard you say that strongly this course is really difficult. What is

going to happen, do you think in tomorrow's downhill? I think it will

be a great race. The fact that Bode Miller says it's treacherous, he

actually likes it that way. He's one of those racers that likes it tough,

likes it dangerous, I think it puts him as one of the favourites to win

tomorrow. It's like the course has been designed for him. And he's been

going very well in training. Could you see Svindal being one to

challenge him? I definitely, Svindal has been skiing superbly well in

downhill this year. He's podiumed in the big races. He's leading the

World Cup of standings. Miller wants it a little bit more, and he will

throw everything at it. He's a bit of a changed character to what he

was. His wife's there in the finish area. He's had a lot, his brother

died last year. There's a lot going on in his mind. He really, really

wants to win this. He's arguably the biggest name in

Alpine skiing. A lot of people will be supporting him around the world,

as well as team USA. Thanks to Graham. He will be back on course

early tomorrow morning and you can join us. Watch the men's downhill

from 6am tomorrow morning. All the highlights in the evening at

7pm. We will have coverage throughout the day on BBC Two. Let's

look at the medals table then: Switzerland at ice hockey, their

very own version of take me out. No liky, no lighty. There was extreme

knitting at the snowboard slope style. Awesome.

And further proof, if required, that women's ice hockey is a cut-throat

business. There are ways of tackling the moguls. And ways of tackling the

moguls. It's been a day of ups and downs, of

bumps and jumps at the Winter Olympics. I hope you've enjoyed the

full flavour of it and please be with us again from very first thing

tomorrow morning. We will see you then. My new word in Russian is

paka, bye-bye.