Day 7 Winter Olympics: Today at the Games

I am the dreadful menace. The haunting chill upon your neck. I am

the conundrum. Going for gold! Amy Williams is the queen of speed! And

he is over! The Winter Olympics... Day numbers

seven. Many spectators will be wondering who this lady is. Lizzy

Yarnold. Nothing conservative about that. This powerful start is

tremendous, this is a very big margin to be leading in. Coming to

the line! Welcome back to Russia for further

coverage of the Winter Olympics. Today, coming not from the Olympic

Park but from the Sliding Center up in the mountains, where darkness is

everywhere but you can see that long behind us and it was on that ice

that Lizzy Yarnold was hoping to slide to the gold medal. She had a

massive advantage at the halfway stage, would she make that kind?

Here is what is coming up... -- count? We will save Lizzy Yarnold

would take gold in the skeleton. The women were flying in the aerials.

The fastest and technically skilled skiers were back for the super

combined. And the best of the British curling is back in the

house. Great Britain has an impeccable record when it comes to

sliding face down at speeds of 85 mph. In skeleton, we have won a

medal every time it has been staged at the Winter Olympics. In

Vancouver, Amy Williams became our first ever Olympic champion in the

sport. Good Lizzy Yarnold follow that? We find out this afternoon.

Commentary from the champion, Amy Williams, with Colin Bryce and Paul

Dickenson. Here goes Lizzy Yarnold. And away

she goes. She has got to be on form. We know that. 4.94, a very good

start. Her fastest so far. You could not ask for anything more. Some

other lives come out completely exhausted from yesterday. --

athletes. Up the hell, three big uphill sections. And back down

again, very steep. She is going well. Just looking at the time...

1:27.4. Magnificent speed. She took that tap. She did not go into the

big slide, good news. Back down the hill to the final two. This will set

the benchmark. It is good. 57.9. Tremendous. The track record! You

could not ask for anything more. On this penultimate run. Lizzy Yarnold

has done it. The ice is hard. Below freezing. Colder than yesterday. Buy

a couple of degrees. Just that little tap on the left-hand side,

that is the only part that was not perfection from Lizzy Yarnold, such

a powerful start. This woman is chasing her. Noelle Pikus-Pace. The

American, she is a very good start. And away we go. That is a superb

shot. That is almost two tenths slower than Lizzy Yarnold. She will

lose a lot of time, her velocity is not as quick. We have a good idea of

the next split. Three quarters of a second behind, that is a massive

margin! Her number one rival is going backwards! She stayed clear of

the right-hand wall. There was no degree of separation between her and

the wall, so going well at the moment. She is starting to pull this

back. How much work and she do in the final couple of corners? She

just has too hold on. She made that tiny mistake. Not as good as Lizzy

Yarnold. That is wonderful news for Great Britain. Elena Nikitina. So,

Elena Nikitina goes. With every slide that goes, they are giving up

slight time to Lizzy Yarnold. That is a really solid start from Elena

Nikitina, who has got the start record. Maybe a third of a second?

She has just skidded around. You can see that she is just slightly

waiving all over the track. They are not helping. She is a smaller girl

and her momentum is not as great as with Lizzy Yarnold. 58.33. That

means that Elena Nikitina is in third place. Olga Potylitsina. Here

we go. She is not a particularly quick starter, that is a problem. Is

there someone who is becoming comfortable with the big-time? She

went around that turn absolutely superbly. She was 1.1 behind Lizzy

Yarnold. She will not catch. She might just go ahead? The other

Russian is in third! Olga Potylitsina, just shy of third

place. The standings, Lizzy Yarnold leads for Great Britain. Noelle

Pikus-Pace is in second place and Elena Nikitina is in third place.

That is a joy to behold. Absolutely remarkable. Shelley Rudman goes

next. She is a very good competitor, especially with her last run.

Shelley Rudman, down in that position. Not a very fast start, by

any stretch of the imagination. This is a good run, obviously her time

was not quite there at the start and she has to be fighting to get this

top ten position. She has lost the lead, I am afraid. Can she get it

back? No, she cannot. How would you sum up your campaign?

I did everything I could and I just went out to try to connect with the

track and try my hardest. I am proud that I just tried. What are your

thoughts about Lizzy Yarnold setting the pace? Hopefully sliding to

glory? It is really great for our sport, putting it on the map again.

Pretty much a gold medal in the bag. It will be electrifying. Katie

Uhlaender. That is best start so far. She is an exceptional weight

lifter. Actually, she still carrying an advantage over Maria Orlova. She

has improved. That was perfect! She is going to take the lead. Yes. How

much? She lost a lot of time. That was close. Olga Potylitsina. 58.13.

She could get onto the rostrum. She has improved enormously. She will be

pleased with that. She hangs onto her lead ahead of Katie Uhlaender. I

can just hear her skidding. She is pulling this back, a little bit like

Elena Nikitina. Can she get this in the final couple of corners? She is

close! That was too high. My goodness! She almost needed one more

corner and she would have come into the lead. Elena Nikitina. This is

for a medal. After three rounds, Katie Uhlaender has played a

blinder. Phenomenal start from the Russian. We will have to see after

the next checkpoint. Well... She has got it! This is so close. Four

hundredths of a second, my goodness! Katie Uhlaender cannot believe it!

That is ridiculous! Katie Uhlaender goes down to second place and that

guarantees Elena Nikitina and Olympic medal. Noelle Pikus-Pace.

Her fastest time at the start... She has done it twice. 5.16 as well. And

this time, 5.20. The difference was pretty big between them. She lost so

much at the start. Elena Nikitina is so quick, she will pull it back.

That is not good. She did have a slightly messy first run. Can she

perfect those mistakes? She has just got it back, she is hanging in

there. It helps to have that extra body weight. Very muscular. Can she

carry that speed? Goodness me! She has actually put the pressure on to

Lizzy Yarnold. That was an amazing run. That was an awesome slide. Just

look at! She knows that she has got a medal. Come on, Lizzy Yarnold!

Going for gold for Great Britain. 57.91 is retarded. That is her own

track record. Can she get a record again? If you can, it is over. She

comes into this with a very big margin. That was a beautiful load.

She is in control. Having the run of her life. I think she can hang onto

this. That was a horrible slide. This is not a very good slide at

all. She was ahead. She is making mistakes. But... She is still in the

lead by a comfortable margin. Keep it together! Over nine tenths over.

Go on! She had that left-hand side hard but it does not matter, she

will surely win the gold medal? She could crash and when! Come on, last

quarter! Lizzy Yarnold is the Olympic champion! That is ready and!

Look at everyone! Unbelievable! That was also marked by Lizzy Yarnold.

Well, Lizzy Yarnold as one and she has taken everything that the rest

of the world had and thrown at back in their face. That is fantastic!

She made as worried there for a second.

Nearly had a heart attack. I have passed over my Olympic crown. You

can about it over to anyone better. Unbelievable, I am so proud of her.

The whole of British skeleton, everyone that has got her there.

That is truly remarkable. Maybe she will keep on sliding and comeback in

four years. I think she will, she has got a lot more to prove.

Absolute delight, Shelley Rudman congratulating her. Just we live

this moment. She did make some big mistakes on that one, but luckily

for her she had a huge amount of time to play with. She kept it

going. Shelley Rudman ends up in 16th position. She has got her

Olympic silver so she can go to your medal party as well. I will leave

you boys and join Claire Balding. I want to give her a big hug.

Lizzy Yarnold takes the cold. She is the end of the champion. Noel

Pikus-Pace wins the silver. -- Nowell.

CLARE BALDING: That is a hug between British Winter Olympic champions.

Let's get a reaction. Congratulations. Thank you very

much. I don't think it is going to sink in for a long time. It must

feel like an out of body experience. Totally. Same as Amy when she won

her in a big old, I thought I am just going to enjoy it. It was a

messy one but I am so pleased I got myself here. Very hard work. You

give up so much, but on a day like today, it is so worth it. This is

it, you said all the way along, I have done the hard work, now I just

had to show the world. Show the world what I am capable of and

wanted to do myself justice. I cannot believe I won.

I guess this is something that will continue to sink in. You have got

the medal ceremony tomorrow so you have got 24 hours to relive it. It

is Valentine's Day as well, lots of romance in the air. My parents, my

sisters, friends, everybody is here. I couldn't do it without them, the

whole British skeleton team, so many people were part of my journey,

thanks to them all. I am so pleased I Olympic champion!

She is the new Olympic champion, she becomes the 10th British athlete to

win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. I have got the Yarny Army

with me, her mother Judith, her father Clive, her sisters stop a

reaction from you. From what your daughter has done, not just today

but the last five years. I am lost for were to stop she has worked so

hard. She has been a dedicated professional, calm and collected,

really focused on results. And being the best. I am so proud of her. It

is lovely you are all here. You said it was a dad 's job to in Paris --

to embarrass your daughter. It is second nature to most dads. She was

lovely today. Did annex in an job. -- and excellent job. A podium

finish. For us all. And a gold medal. She is an Olympic champion.

That is mad. And whether things when you were young, did you do sport,

the three of you, watching the best or was one of you to better? Man was

a PE teacher so we didn't have much choice. Individual sports are really

her forte, we play netball now. She works hard, it she would beat is

hands down. Team sports, we would win. You are a very good team in

support. I note the flower ceremony must have been emotional. The medals

presentation still to come tomorrow. Look at this. This moment here. No

words. That is lovely for us to see it like this. There were so many

people in between us and her, we couldn't see as clearly. Look at her

face, that smile. That says it all, doesn't it? She has been so composed

throughout. Now she can just enjoy it. We are hoping we might get some

time to spend with her tomorrow before the ceremony. We have got

other friends here as well. We cannot wait for tomorrow. Will you

stay out and enjoy the rest of the games? We are all back at work on

Monday. A quick visit, well worth it. And you teach at the prep school

she went to. All three girls went through the prep school. They will

all be watching today. They all feel like she is one of them. So proud.

And so will the pupils of Maidstone Grammar school as well. Thank you

all so much. Just enjoy it. Your daughter and sister is an Olympic

champion. Thank you to all the family, thank you for all the

support. Thank you very much for talking to

us, just brilliant. Brilliant to share it with the whole family. We

hope to get her before the end of the programme. We will show you one

of the most exciting sports, the aerials which combines terminal

velocity with spinning and turning and jumping, there is nothing quite

like it. COMMENTATOR: The top eight going

through into final number two. Olympics of a medallist in

Vancouver, and also into Reno -- Torino. Brilliant. Two twists in

that first split. First place. Oh, my goodness! Look how much that

means to her. Next up, defending champion, Lydia Lassila.

She needs this. One of the biggest jumps of the night, the crowd loving

it here. This is the surprise one for me. Filip with a twist. That was

really nice. 3.75 is the degree of difficulty here. She has just seen

her coach on the big screen. Fourth place. Alla Tsuper in first. It is

really fast. Talk about saving the best till last. The volunteers on

the table are going wild. Here we go, skis little bit wild. 98.1. She

will be looking to go about 70 kilometres per hour. That is a real

shame. Big, big trick. Try and keep that nice and slow, opens up for the

landing. Didn't get the arms forward enough.

Mengtao Zu, sixth in Vancouver. It falls on the 23 rolled's shoulders.

-- 23-year-old. She has put it down. Out cleanly. Got a big cheer. I

don't think that will be enough. Second place. Absolute glory. One of

the oldest competitors in this event. She has only gone and got

gold. CLARE BALDING: Congratulations to

Belarus. We will stay in the mountains because the men were in

the super combined which combines the massive speed of downhill with a

technical turning ability of slalom. Team USA were hoping to get their

online skiing fortunes back contract and Jason Mohammad went along to

watch. It has been a disappointing Winter

Olympics for Team USA. Shaun White, twice an Olympic medal. He failed.

Speed skating superstar going for a third consecutive title. Fail. The

bad boy of downhill, expectations were high. No medals today. Fail.

But Miller has a chance to restore some pride in the super combined. He

faces tough competition. This is one of the most challenging courses in

history of the games, and the Norwegians set the pace with a time

putting him in the lead. Fellow Norwegian was close behind.

The rising ski star of France was three seconds behind the leader.

Kostelic show of Croatia who won silver in Vancouver finished seventh

in the downhill. Then it was time for the American, Bodi Miller, to

prove the doubters wrong. If he can stay within half a second he has got

a really good chance of defending his title. He is white, he has blown

it. Miller, 12th, he has it all to do.

Norway has the lead as we head into the slalom. He has done this

comfortably. 1.14 seconds. The Swiss having an excellent games. So, his

second run is lined to be full of fireworks. He will have to would

tack, the only chance he has of defending his title. He was in

triple earlier on, Bode Miller. You will have a new champion in 2014.

His slalom time is added on. He is creating good angles. Really

attacking this. Christof Innerhofer, second in this Olympic downhill.

That was a very good slalom. It is now the turn of the former world

champion. Ivica Kostelic. This is one similar to the one he trains on,

day in and day out. It is very cautious and stiff from Ivica

Kostelic. Perhaps there is just too much pressure on him. The Croatian

supporters are dumbfounded with what they have seen. Ivica Kostelic has

gone second. That is a very important moment. The next man is

the big Norwegian. Aksel Lund Svindal. He has a massive lead. He

has been an accomplished slalom skier in his day but is less

practised than he was in 2008. He is already behind. We know he is good.

Ondrej Bank. He will have to be somewhere near his best. He has lost

a lot of time. He has gone! Ondrej Bank has blown it. Waiting very

nervously at the finish. Last to go. TEAM RADIO:. Has he got what it

takes? -- the Olympic combined champion is Sandro Viletta. Ivica

Kostelic takes silver, as he did in Vancouver. The American press

writing about the big names not performing. We are performing, just

not getting results and when you push too hard, the medals can slip

away but I think it is easier to sit in Ebbw or on the couch and

criticise the men out there giving it everything they have got. It

certainly does not help to have those armchair critics beating you

up all the time. Great stuff and just a reminder that Chemmy Alcott

will be back on the mountain tomorrow, having finished in 19th

place at the last games. You can see that on BBC Two from seven in the

morning. Let's catch up on the curling action. Men and women on the

ice. The mid-table team battle. Britain

took on Japan. A win and in the race for the top four finish. They end of

three, they were deadlocked. 16 macro did what she does best, to put

Great Britain ahead. Textbook curling. And there would be more

textbook curling as 16 macro gave a masterclass. -- Eve Muirhead. It is

a game of strategy. She has managed that damage limitation. Japan try to

take something out of the playbook, which did not pan out. An

opportunity missed by Japan. Japan fought back in this school of hard

rocks, placing guards and challenges. Japan giving Eve

Muirhead something to think about. She demonstrated with her last throw

another lesson in delivery. What a great shot from Eve Muirhead. It

stays in there. End seven. Extra credit for Britain, who created a

cluster of stones, leaving Japan to study this situation. Another great

shot from Eve Muirhead. Ayumi Ogasawara attempted to avoid

failure, aiming for the single point. That is the end of the game.

Eve Muirhead has done it again. 12 points in total in one game. Team GB

with their own Olympic record. So far, so good, we are relaxed and

enjoying it. You have to enjoy every Championship and that is one thing

that has really helped us. The men were still confident after their

record and sitting pretty, tied for second place. Denmark were hoping to

get rid of their stigma and the chances of getting into the

semifinals. But triple for Great Britain, they're back against the

wall and down against Denmark. The shot from David Murdoch, not but you

would expect from him. But is poor. Denmark running away with the lead.

Something needed to happen. Oh, dear! It was not going to get by.

That is a fall from Mikkel Poulsen. The door was open for the comeback.

There is the possibility of picking up three, here. If you said at the

halfway break, that they would only take two, they have ended up with

three. Denmark failed to capitalise on their double. Has that pushed

it? It was just the single. Fortune to get turn. Frustrations continued

for Denmark. That will just roll too far. That leaves a straightforward

draw. The penultimate end and the cracks showing in the Denmark camp.

Look at this! We have to wait for this one to stop. This will be a

steal. 7-6, great written lead going into the final end. -- Great

Britain. And Britain have somehow again pulled out a victory when

defeat looked like the only option. A Valentine's Day double for the

curlers. Tomorrow, the woman or an action twice, playing South Korea

and then Switzerland at three o'clock in the afternoon. Both of

those winnable and the men face the 2010 champions, Canada. The men are

going well, joint top of the standings. The women are joint third

and they are starting to hit good form. Here are the other headlines.

Kristan Bromley sitting in joint eighth in the men's skeleton. The

partner of Shelley Rudman, 2.27 seconds adrift of the leader and his

team-mate is lying in joint 10th. The Russian reigning world

champion, the Russian rocket, leaves at the halfway point with a track

record in his first run. Belarus Millard Gold medal number two in the

individual biathlon. Switzerland won the silver and Belarus also took

bronze. And Switzerland secured their second gold medal with victory

in the classic cross-country. Earlier in the S Bragg stating

Palace, Japan held on for the gold medal. It was a less than perfect

programme but he set the record with a score of over 100 yesterday and he

becomes the joint youngest ever winner of the Gold medal. He is only

19. And a first for Japan. Let us look at the medals table. In front,

thanks to all of those gold medals, Germany. Switzerland are second and

then a number of countries with four gold medals. Canada have got more

silver medals so they lie ahead of Norway, the United States, the

Netherlands. Belarus picked up one medal today. China also there but in

15th place, it is great written. -- grip it in. And here is our podium.

-- Great Britain. We will hear from Lizzy Yarnold very shortly but

tomorrow, tuning early with curling. Then super-G with Chemmy

Alcott. Following at eight o'clock on the Red Button, relive all of the

action from the skeleton after that host of goodies. Before we talk to

the new Olympic champion, let us look at today's Winter wonders. In

ice hockey, once you are injured, no one cares. Spirit of God for the

cleaner. -- spare a thought. And it was worth a try but we're sure that

missing lots of gates and crossing the line on your face does not

count! Here she is. Our number one. Lizzy

Yarnold. Congratulations. Less than glamorous post-show event. Doping

control? It is very important, there is lots to do after every race. But

it is out of the way. How much have you been able to get reaction from

home? I have not really looked at by phone. I know that I won and that is

pretty much all. My best mates are here and my family so that is all

that matters. Your family were wonderful and they are so proud of

you. And so is Amy Williams. You have taken her Championship title

but how much has she help you? She has been an amazing friend.

She was the type of character who would never drop any set. She showed

how Olympic champions are made years beforehand so that determination is

there. She is an inspiration to all of us. You seem to have it all

because you have the physical strength, the fitness and the

ability to work really hard in training but I know you also wrote a

dissertation in University on mental toughness! What did you put into

practice today? The key is knowing yourself, what type of athlete you

are and make coach understands that and respect that I don't like

talking to anyone before I compete. When I go out to the block, it is

total focus and I need to know that they are with me and mental

toughness is all about believing in yourself and what you can achieve

and never limiting that. Just go for it. Your mother said that from the

age of 12, you were talking about wanting to be the Olympic champion?

That is amazing. Here, 25 years old, and you are one! It was Denise

Lewis. She had that armband and her cat and one arm was naked and she

was totally beautiful and athletic. The best at what she was. I wanted

to relate that and be the best athlete I could be. And get the best

kit! This busy final run. You were in an unassailable position. Here

you are again. How much are you able to take in during these 58 seconds?

I am fine at the moment but I will start skidding sideways. I am

totally relaxed knowing that they had the lead so I just tried to

relax, Corner number three. If you mistakes but still really enjoying

it. When any mistake comes, just trying to keep your body relaxed?

Absolutely, it is about the connection between me and my sled.

It is about minimising mistakes. And also consistency overall runs. I was

talking earlier about Mervyn, the man, the person you named it after?

He gave you ?176. Yes. I was working and training full-time, to achieve

my dreams. And it was so tough, I could not make ends meet. Trying to

afford this bag. It was more his inspiration and belief. He handed

his money over. He believed in me. You can see the celebrations of your

team, but also your family who were at the finish area. They knew that

was enough. It is amazing, I can see the pride and tears in their eyes.

They have been through the tough times with you. This is your old

school. That is amazing, they are missing class! They are not, they

are watching history. That is amazing I can be an inspiration to

them all, and that all four Brown uniform. Even then I was committed

to being an athlete. And what now? I don't know. In March I am going into

schools in Kent and Bath, letting people know about my dreams, and to

tell them to go for it, never give up.

Let's bring in Amy Williams. Some are up what this woman has achieved.

I am really proud of her, I know she has worked so hard, she had the same

feeling, mean missing out in Torino, and that fire in my Bailey. You

watch me in Vancouver. The fact you have done it, I couldn't be happier

to see a friend bring home a medal. I know it will not hit you for some

time. The medal ceremony will be tomorrow.

I think you should ask for a discount in your rent. Lizzy lives

in a meet's flat. Free month, maybe. That is a deal. If you let me come

for a cup of tea. She has said it live on television. Many

congratulations, can't wait to see you get your gold medal. Everything

you have said on air will inspire an awful lot of people, who are the age

you were when you decided you would become an Olympic champion. We hope

Elise Christie could add to the medal. We congratulate the Olympic

champion. Happy Valentine's Day.