0:00:38 > 0:00:44Hello, welcome to the programme. It is day 7 of the Winter Olympics and
0:00:44 > 0:00:51today for us it is all about the skeleton. Just you and a tray and
0:00:51 > 0:00:57the bends and being thrown off course. It is exciting to watch and
0:00:57 > 0:01:04we will reflect on a competition in which Dom Parsons was bidding to
0:01:04 > 0:01:08become Britain's first medallist at the Olympics and then we will see
0:01:08 > 0:01:15the first two runs of women's skeleton as Lizzie Yarnold begins
0:01:15 > 0:01:23the defence of her women's title. When I look back at Sochi, it was
0:01:23 > 0:01:31like a tunnel.
0:01:31 > 0:01:37like a tunnel. There was light somewhere at the end.
0:01:41 > 0:01:47somewhere at the end. There was one way out.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54way out.Here goes Lizzie Yarnold. This competition has got off to a
0:01:54 > 0:01:58blistering start. She is half a second up coming to the line. Oh,
0:01:58 > 0:02:04wow. This is a big margin to be leading the Olympics in.This was my
0:02:04 > 0:02:09opportunity. I was fighting for the gold medal.It is a magnificent
0:02:09 > 0:02:16start. It is her fastest start so far. It is a track record in this
0:02:16 > 0:02:21penultimate run.This was the day I had had in any calendar for my past
0:02:21 > 0:02:30four years. It was the moment of my life.Lizzie Yarnold goes for gold
0:02:30 > 0:02:35for Great Britain. She is still in the lead by a comfortable margin.
0:02:35 > 0:02:39She is going to win the gold medal surely. She can crash now and win
0:02:39 > 0:02:51it. She is going to do it!
0:02:52 > 0:03:02Lizzie Yarnold is the Olympic champion - oh, my goodness!
0:03:02 > 0:03:05champion - oh, my goodness!This is the Alpensia Sliding Centre where
0:03:05 > 0:03:10Yarnold aims to twist, turn, slide and glide into the record books.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15After Sochi, she completed the Grand Slam and added the World
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Championships to the Europeans and the Olympics and the World Cup. She
0:03:19 > 0:03:22was the first British athlete to do that and now she is trying to nail
0:03:22 > 0:03:30another first - the first to successfully defend a Winter Olympic
0:03:30 > 0:03:35title. And Laura Deas has been flying in training and has the
0:03:35 > 0:03:39podium in her sights at her first Olympics. The tradition of British
0:03:39 > 0:03:48women in skeleton is in safe hands. Here the timing for those runs.
0:03:53 > 0:03:59We will be there and we will be live, both are going well. The
0:03:59 > 0:04:04skeleton will be the main feature of our programme this morning. But we
0:04:04 > 0:04:08will also catch up with how Dom Parsons got on in the early hours of
0:04:08 > 0:04:15morning. That is what we are doing next. As well as some good action
0:04:15 > 0:04:18from alpine skiing from, women's snowboard cross and the figure
0:04:18 > 0:04:23skating.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28Britain are playing Sweden. That is starting on the red button. We will
0:04:28 > 0:04:34catch up with that. If you want to watch it live, it is on the red
0:04:34 > 0:04:41button.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47You're going to get a mix of Winter Olympic sport and we are going to
0:04:47 > 0:04:59benefit from the expertise of Chemmy Alcott and Alex Coomes. She said to
0:04:59 > 0:05:10me, it not a tray, it is a sled. I know that. Dom is a former 400
0:05:10 > 0:05:16metres athlete. She switched to skeleton when he was about 20 and
0:05:16 > 0:05:20went to his first Winter Olympics four years ago. His dream is to
0:05:20 > 0:05:25stand on the podium and he sits in fourth place after the first two
0:05:25 > 0:05:30runs.
0:05:30 > 0:05:36runs. For Jerry Rice, a top ten finish is the aim. The former rugby
0:05:36 > 0:05:48player only started sliding in 2012.
0:05:50 > 0:06:04But the favourite and clear leader is Yun Sungbin. He is coached by
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Britain's Richard Bromley.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Let's join our commentary team.
0:06:17 > 0:06:25Let's join our commentary team. Yun could be a superstar in the making.
0:06:25 > 0:06:31The speed skaters have had excellent games and they have been propelled
0:06:31 > 0:06:35into superstardom in this country. But what a big moment this is for
0:06:35 > 0:06:43Korea. No Asian skeleton athlete has ever won a medal. Now watch Yun go.
0:06:43 > 0:06:48Watch the times. He is usually electric off the blocks. He is
0:06:48 > 0:06:53slightly slower. But he is under way.He is on the the sled, a
0:06:53 > 0:06:57slightly slower start, but it is still the fastest start we have
0:06:57 > 0:07:03seen. I can't see anything wrong. It is important to get the first four
0:07:03 > 0:07:10corners, get the speed from the start. And look at him go. This is
0:07:10 > 0:07:15how to slide.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20how to slide.This the first mistake we have seen him make. Is it the
0:07:20 > 0:07:26difference in the ice temperatures. The sliders may have made
0:07:26 > 0:07:31adjustments.Can he go under 50 seconds? He comes to the line, not
0:07:31 > 0:07:36quite.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39quite. But 50.18 reinforces his position here as the gold medallist
0:07:39 > 0:07:44in waiting. That was another wonderful run from the Korean.
0:07:44 > 0:07:58Currently in second place from the Olympic athletes of Russia.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Olympic athletes of Russia. Tregubov sets off and he is one that Dom
0:08:02 > 0:08:09Parsons will have to tussle with. Tregubov in Sochi came sixth and
0:08:09 > 0:08:13there he held it together there from start to finish.That was with his
0:08:13 > 0:08:22home track. He is in the, the Koreans are in the same position as
0:08:22 > 0:08:26the Olympic athletes of Russia were in. He is a second behind that.
0:08:26 > 0:08:33Shows the dominance of the Korean sliders. He makes a mistake into
0:08:33 > 0:08:38bend 12.
0:08:40 > 0:08:45bend 12.They have improved since yesterday. Look how clean, look at
0:08:45 > 0:08:48his body position - feet together. Doing a little adjustment with his
0:08:48 > 0:08:58feet.50.05. He has done that each run. That enhances his position as
0:08:58 > 0:09:05well.
0:09:05 > 0:09:15well. One of the greats for Latvia. Martin Dukurs rubbing his hands
0:09:15 > 0:09:23together, a wonderful exponent of the art of skeleton. In Jun he will
0:09:23 > 0:09:27probably find an athlete too good for him. Dukurs is probably the last
0:09:27 > 0:09:32person you want to scrap out for with medals. His third run is under
0:09:32 > 0:09:37way.Watching his start from yesterday morning. Put down an
0:09:37 > 0:09:40incredible start time. He has just got to hold it together.Or not
0:09:40 > 0:09:46hopefully! We were speaking to the Latvian leader and he told them he
0:09:46 > 0:09:50made a lot of mistakes with his set up yesterday. He will have made
0:09:50 > 0:09:57changes. So has he gone the right way. Hopefully from the British
0:09:57 > 0:10:00point of view that is not what we want.Maybe when we talk about the
0:10:00 > 0:10:05set up, we have a bow in the runners, that depends how much
0:10:05 > 0:10:09contact the runner has on the ice, the more contact the more grip you
0:10:09 > 0:10:13have and that could mean you're slower.He could be going second.
0:10:13 > 0:10:24Into second place. A whole second off Yun, but ahead of Tregubov.
0:10:24 > 0:10:31Decurse Dukurs has done what he needed to do.
0:10:38 > 0:10:44Our guys in the crowd watching on hoping it will be their year.Even
0:10:44 > 0:10:51if he can't get past Dukurs or Tregubov, he can't allow that gap to
0:10:51 > 0:10:59grow between himself and the other two. He is 1.14 seconds off Yun at
0:10:59 > 0:11:06the moment.He has not got quite as fast a start. But he has incredible
0:11:06 > 0:11:10speed down the track. He needs to hold it together and find the speed.
0:11:10 > 0:11:18He looks like he is unsettled a bit. He looks like he is sometimes a bit
0:11:18 > 0:11:23side ways. Maybe that is working for him. He named that one. He needs to
0:11:23 > 0:11:29find speed at the bottom. That is what he was doing yesterday.I
0:11:29 > 0:11:35looked like a skiddy track today. Come on Dom.He is two tenths off.
0:11:35 > 0:11:42He need a very fast accurate finish. Look at that.Come on Dom!He goes
0:11:42 > 0:11:49ahead of Tregubov into third and he is breathing down Dukurs neck for
0:11:49 > 0:11:55silver. A wonderful run from Parsons again and he goes third with Dukurs
0:11:55 > 0:12:00to come.
0:12:07 > 0:12:13Now, Tomass Dukurs. Fourth in Sochi and fourth in Vancouver tells you
0:12:13 > 0:12:19what you need to know.The Dukurs brothers have been the ones to watch
0:12:19 > 0:12:25for years. They just think and mould into their sled, the perfect body
0:12:25 > 0:12:30position. They're really good position to watch if you're a
0:12:30 > 0:12:34budding athlete or you're on the skeleton programme. He has good
0:12:34 > 0:12:39lines. Everything is going well. Is there too much for him to make up.I
0:12:39 > 0:12:44don't think he has the momentum he needs to pull himself back up
0:12:44 > 0:12:49towards the Olympic athletes of Russia and Dom Parsons. I think
0:12:49 > 0:12:58unless there is any mistake the top four are set.Tomass Dukurs could be
0:12:58 > 0:13:02half a second off Dom Parsons, that is great news for Parsons. We set
0:13:02 > 0:13:06out with potentially four going for the remaining two medals, it looks
0:13:06 > 0:13:13as though it is down now to Tregubov, Dukurs, Martins and
0:13:13 > 0:13:18Parsons for the two medals. What a great competition this is the
0:13:18 > 0:13:22turning into. There is perhaps another young man we shouldn't
0:13:22 > 0:13:33discount on the chase for medals. It is this youngster Jisoo Kim. He has
0:13:33 > 0:13:38overachieved, like so many of the Korean athletes have done. He is
0:13:38 > 0:13:42bidding to draw some inspiration from what Yun has achieved up until
0:13:42 > 0:13:51this point. Kim under way starting in sixth place for Korea.
0:13:52 > 0:13:59in sixth place for Korea.This what is the home crowd bring. He is doing
0:13:59 > 0:14:06well. But he knows the ice so well it is to his advantage. ?Nice and
0:14:06 > 0:14:13neat.These athletes get three days of training, they would all have a
0:14:13 > 0:14:18World Cup competition last year and three weeks of training. So every
0:14:18 > 0:14:22nation apart from the Koreans have had an equal amount of time and lots
0:14:22 > 0:14:27of people have said why is Dom so good. We are so good at learning
0:14:27 > 0:14:33tracks quickly.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39The good news for Parsons is that Kim seems to be slowly and surely
0:14:39 > 0:14:44getting further away. He is six tenths off.That was his quickest
0:14:44 > 0:14:48run so far of this competition, so the Korean himself is improving on
0:14:48 > 0:14:53the track.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00the track.Number two in the world, he will be disappointed to find
0:15:00 > 0:15:09himself in seventh place. Axel Jungk. He described his last run is
0:15:09 > 0:15:15the worst one of the entire week, even in training.These German boys
0:15:15 > 0:15:22are really wanting a medal. They have never brought home an Olympic
0:15:22 > 0:15:26medal, the girls have, but not the guys. So they are fighting, they
0:15:26 > 0:15:30want it so bad. The Germans have also equipment, they always find
0:15:30 > 0:15:33speed at the bottom part of the track, but these guys haven't quite
0:15:33 > 0:15:39made it in the top part, such a unique track with uphill sections,
0:15:39 > 0:15:44and it looks like he hasn't quite got it, he is making tiny mistakes
0:15:44 > 0:15:50on the exits and entrances of these corners.He was the untidy Esther
0:15:50 > 0:15:55through the Dragons
0:15:58 > 0:16:06through the Dragons tail there.And that was the little mistake, just at
0:16:06 > 0:16:12the end of the Dragon's Tail, as it is known, you have to work so hard
0:16:12 > 0:16:15to turn the sled, and that slows you down. You can see by his body
0:16:15 > 0:16:19language he is not happy at all. Jerry Rice now goes for Great
0:16:19 > 0:16:27Britain. He has had a fantastic Games. He's so once this top 12
0:16:27 > 0:16:32position to be secured, so let's just see. It would be lovely if he
0:16:32 > 0:16:42could now jump ahead of the likes of Alexander Gassner, that is what we
0:16:42 > 0:16:48want from the 27-year-old from high Wycombe.He only started sliding in
0:16:48 > 0:16:532002, they pushed him off in Lillehammer, and look at him now. He
0:16:53 > 0:16:58really wants to get into that top ten, and this is our talent, the
0:16:58 > 0:17:01performance and development programme we have in Great Britain
0:17:01 > 0:17:04is working, and we really know how to bring medals in and athletes like
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Jerry
0:17:07 > 0:17:11to bring medals in and athletes like Jerry.Top ten is possible. He just
0:17:11 > 0:17:19lost it late. 12th.I am going to give him the next run and say he
0:17:19 > 0:17:28will get into that top ten.Let's hope so. His third run time was
0:17:28 > 0:17:3251.04, the quickest of his three so far. The run for the medals is on.
0:17:32 > 0:17:40Dom Parsons, currently in the bronze medal position,
0:17:40 > 0:17:43medal position, Yun looks assured of gold. Excitement to come in the
0:17:43 > 0:17:50men's skeleton. Dom Parsons looking completely relaxed. So, for Britain,
0:17:50 > 0:17:55Jerry Rice is under way. Lovely if he can secure this top 12 position,
0:17:55 > 0:18:01or maybe do even better than that. And the fact that you are mentioning
0:18:01 > 0:18:07his name in the same breath as Matthew Antoine and the German shows
0:18:07 > 0:18:13how good he is, they are all season athletes and he is a young athlete
0:18:13 > 0:18:18developing into his game, so that is really good.Really good lines, he
0:18:18 > 0:18:24is holding it together, his body position is really good. We keep
0:18:24 > 0:18:27going on about that, almost perfect through that section, and he is
0:18:27 > 0:18:30controlling it really well, holding it together and just doing his best
0:18:30 > 0:18:41run.Can he get under 51 seconds? The final bends, 15, 16. What a
0:18:41 > 0:18:47Games he has had, and he is under 51 seconds. A marvellous run the Jerry
0:18:47 > 0:18:53Rice, and who knows? Maybe top ten might be just waiting for him.He
0:18:53 > 0:18:57has put down a personal best on his fourth run, improving with every
0:18:57 > 0:19:02single run and that is all you can ask for. He has a huge fan club out
0:19:02 > 0:19:05there, and look at the smile on his face. He has achieved what he came
0:19:05 > 0:19:16here to do.On we go to the top six, this is Kim Jisoo, he is in sixth
0:19:16 > 0:19:22place. To have any chance of getting in the medals, he needs to go close
0:19:22 > 0:19:32to the track record held by Axel Jungk, he has to get near 50
0:19:32 > 0:19:37seconds.He is a good slider and he knows this track well. We will see
0:19:37 > 0:19:42some incredibly good lines here. This is going to be a phenomenal
0:19:42 > 0:19:46result for the Korean team if they can get two sleds in the top five or
0:19:46 > 0:19:52six. This is their programme really moving forward, and that is what
0:19:52 > 0:19:57they think.This fellow was numb 25 in the world, talk about over
0:19:57 > 0:20:03before?That is what it is like when you you have had hundreds of runs on
0:20:03 > 0:20:06your home track, you know every inch of the track, you know where to get
0:20:06 > 0:20:10speed, you know the corners, and look at that. Look at that
0:20:10 > 0:20:23incredible time.50.8. It is not going to trouble Dom Parsons and
0:20:23 > 0:20:30Tregubov and Dukurs, but an incredible result for Korea. And
0:20:30 > 0:20:35Thomas took, world-class, fourth in Sochi, fourth in Vancouver. --
0:20:35 > 0:20:44Tomass Dukurs. He needs time of near 50 seconds, 50.8 will not do for
0:20:44 > 0:20:48him, he needs to be electric.The Latvians haven't got to grips like
0:20:48 > 0:20:53we thought they would on this track. They are still the world's best
0:20:53 > 0:20:57sliders, winning every week, really incredible to watch how they slide,
0:20:57 > 0:21:02how they are so smooth on the sled, you can't even see them steering.
0:21:02 > 0:21:10They steer through the shoulders, putting pressure on to the sled. He
0:21:10 > 0:21:14will come back fighting because he wants a medal.I don't think he is
0:21:14 > 0:21:20going to get it. He is quicker than Kim, but his final time needs to be
0:21:20 > 0:21:29in the low 50s, Rey Lee-Lo 50s to put any pressure on
0:21:29 > 0:21:34put any pressure on at all, and that won't cut the mustard. That was a
0:21:34 > 0:21:43good run from him, he will be happy enough. Look at all those times
0:21:43 > 0:21:51added up. The medals will be sorted out by the next four. Four times
0:21:51 > 0:21:54world junior champion, Nikita Tregubov, in fourth place. Maybe the
0:21:54 > 0:21:58medals between him and Dom Parsons. This fellow has been so consistent,
0:21:58 > 0:22:04he has gone 50.5 every run so far. One mistake could be costly for him.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09Let's see how he gets an.That was a really good start time, and that is
0:22:09 > 0:22:13what you need on this track. Get a great start, get you through those
0:22:13 > 0:22:18first few corners and hold it together. So far looking good, he is
0:22:18 > 0:22:28looking clean.Just starting to lose a little bit of time on Dukurs.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31a little bit of time on Dukurs. He did lose a little on his first run,
0:22:31 > 0:22:36but that was good. We need him just to make a little twitch or mistake
0:22:36 > 0:22:43somewhere to help Dom Parsons out a little bit.Here is 15, lovely and
0:22:43 > 0:22:49clean, final curve, and he has done all he can. He has knocked in
0:22:49 > 0:22:53another 50.5, that is four on the bouncer him. We know Parsons can go
0:22:53 > 0:23:00quicker, though. Sit tight, everybody, he says he thrives on the
0:23:00 > 0:23:06pressure. His nickname is the Wizard. Let's now see if he can work
0:23:06 > 0:23:10some Winter Olympics magic and get himself a medal. The equation is
0:23:10 > 0:23:15simple. Directly against Tregubov, and you will follow their times
0:23:15 > 0:23:21together now. If his time goes green under Tregubov's name, he is in good
0:23:21 > 0:23:24shape.You have just got to hold it together, stay calm and not
0:23:24 > 0:23:29concentrate on the end result. He has just got to do his process just
0:23:29 > 0:23:35like he did on the last three runs. The lines are good at the moment,
0:23:35 > 0:23:40this is good sliding, Dom, just keep it together. Now we are starting to
0:23:40 > 0:23:43build into the fast part of the track. This corner is key. Is this
0:23:43 > 0:23:48the one where we build it into the medal? Has he got enough pace as we
0:23:48 > 0:23:53come into this? This will be key as we come down the track. Is this the
0:23:53 > 0:23:57run that is going to get Great Britain their first Olympic medal at
0:23:57 > 0:24:01the Winter Olympics?He is marginally in front of Tregubov, but
0:24:01 > 0:24:10it is uphill now. Off Ben 16, is best to beat? No! He misses out by
0:24:10 > 0:24:18two hundredths of a second. Tregubov has a guaranteed medal, and Dom
0:24:18 > 0:24:25Parsons may be about to agonisingly missed out.Oh, my word.He knows
0:24:25 > 0:24:30it. He knows he has missed it.These two sliders have put a lot of
0:24:30 > 0:24:38pressure on this man, but has he got the bottle to keep it?
0:24:40 > 0:24:46the bottle to keep it?Starts in second place. If he makes a mistake,
0:24:46 > 0:24:52Parsons might be back, and Dukurs has not produced many mistakes over
0:24:52 > 0:24:57a glittering career that has seen him win silver medals at two Olympic
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Games.And verities! That was a big mistake he has never made before. Is
0:25:01 > 0:25:07he now able to keep the time, or will he dropped vital split seconds
0:25:07 > 0:25:12down this track?He has made two mistakes at the top of the track, he
0:25:12 > 0:25:17is coming in late in starting to drop off. This is where Dukurs might
0:25:17 > 0:25:24lose the speed, because of the mistakes at the top. It is only two
0:25:24 > 0:25:35hundreds, that is all we need.Hay has dropped back behind Parsons! Dom
0:25:35 > 0:25:41Parsons, unbelievably, has his medal! Come on, Great Britain! Dom
0:25:41 > 0:25:51Parsons has a bronze medal because of Martins Dukurs, The Great Gatsby,
0:25:51 > 0:25:57couldn't hold it together. Delightful Parsons, and Dukurs now
0:25:57 > 0:26:09feels the pain. -- the great Latvian couldn't hold it together. We settle
0:26:09 > 0:26:14back now and enjoy what we think will be the gold-medal performance
0:26:14 > 0:26:23from Yun of Korea, who starts miles ahead of his competitors. This will
0:26:23 > 0:26:29put Asia on the map for the first time in Skeleton. No Asian athlete
0:26:29 > 0:26:34has ever won a medal. Yun is seconds away from gold.This is a victory
0:26:34 > 0:26:39lap for him, he is so far ahead. He has been the quality at the Sliding
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Center Sanki are, and for the crowd to see this, they are going to go
0:26:43 > 0:26:52wild at the bottom.He has a second and a half to play with, he just has
0:26:52 > 0:27:00to stay on his sled on the last two corners.An incredible athlete, Yun
0:27:00 > 0:27:07is a superstar in Korea, and he wins by the biggest margin in history, a
0:27:07 > 0:27:15track record to finish it off, 1.63 seconds, the winner in Sochi won by
0:27:15 > 0:27:22seven tenths. Incredible by Yun. What an athlete.Absolutely smashing
0:27:22 > 0:27:27it. But most importantly, we have a bronze medal for Great Britain by
0:27:27 > 0:27:32Dom Parsons. The camp is going to be ecstatic, and what are we to have
0:27:32 > 0:27:38these Games, and to have Dom here doing his best, his aim was to get a
0:27:38 > 0:27:42medal, no one thought that was possible, but he has loved this
0:27:42 > 0:27:48track from the moment he arrived at the start of this week. And look at
0:27:48 > 0:27:56it, third place for Great Britain. What a thrilling climax. Dom
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Parsons, the Wizard, delivered his magic, albeit with a little bit of
0:27:59 > 0:28:05help from one of the greats, Martins Dukurs, who drops out of the top
0:28:05 > 0:28:11three. Dom Parsons can now cherish, aged 30, a bronze medal at his
0:28:11 > 0:28:18second Olympic Games. Congratulations.Thanks.Bronze
0:28:18 > 0:28:21medal at the Olympic games, first medallist Team GB here in
0:28:21 > 0:28:27Pyeongchang. Give us your reaction. It hasn't really sunk in yet. I
0:28:27 > 0:28:35thought I had lost it after that second run, fourth run.Did your
0:28:35 > 0:28:42heart sink?Yes, I looked up at the time, I made a couple too many
0:28:42 > 0:28:47mistakes in that run, but Martins made more mistakes, and he is the
0:28:47 > 0:28:50last person I thought would make mistakes.You have been mixing it
0:28:50 > 0:28:54with the very best in the sport and going toe to toe with them, it is
0:28:54 > 0:28:59fantastic.Yes, all the work we put in has paid off, all the help from
0:28:59 > 0:29:03everyone in the Federation, friends and family, even people playing the
0:29:03 > 0:29:07national lottery where our funding comes from, so a big thank you to
0:29:07 > 0:29:14all of them.What a moment Dom Parsons. He becomes Great Britain's
0:29:14 > 0:29:21first medallist of the Pyeongchang Olympics 2018. And he is thrilled
0:29:21 > 0:29:26with that. Lovely for him to be sharing a podium with the champion
0:29:26 > 0:29:34yens Singh
0:29:34 > 0:29:41yens Singh -- Yun Sungbin. British women have won medals at the last
0:29:41 > 0:29:46four games, but Dom Parsons is the first male medallist for 70 years,
0:29:46 > 0:29:51the last one being John Crammond back in 1948, and he worked as a
0:29:51 > 0:29:55stockbroker in the city of the common he was also a qualified
0:29:55 > 0:29:58pilot, and amateur yachtsman, he served in the RAF during the Second
0:29:58 > 0:30:03World War, and he was 41 years old. And actually remains the oldest
0:30:03 > 0:30:10skeleton medallist in winter Olympic history. John Crammond was the last
0:30:10 > 0:30:16man to stand on the podium after the skeleton. Fantastic helmet! Good
0:30:16 > 0:30:21stuff. There were six runs in those days, and he was leading at the
0:30:21 > 0:30:26halfway stage and slipped back. We heard her in commentary, a
0:30:26 > 0:30:29tremendous job, by the way, Amy Williams is out there now at the
0:30:29 > 0:30:37slide centre. Didn't we see him go through that full range of despair
0:30:37 > 0:30:41and delight?
0:30:41 > 0:30:47Yes and we were doing the same in the commentary box. He put down such
0:30:47 > 0:30:52good runs and that final run, he just slipped down and we saw Martins
0:30:52 > 0:30:58Dukurs come down and we could not believe it. One minute he thinks he
0:30:58 > 0:31:03has lost the bronze and then there he is knowing he has his medal.That
0:31:03 > 0:31:08is going to have given the whole team confidence and it is quarter to
0:31:08 > 0:31:157 in the evening,, what are your feelings about what Lizzie Yarnold
0:31:15 > 0:31:21and Laura Deas need to do and what do you expect of them.Well, the
0:31:21 > 0:31:26excitement in the camp is as you can imagine just huge. Everyone is up on
0:31:26 > 0:31:32cloud nine and the girls, they have been concentrating on their race.
0:31:32 > 0:31:37They're excited for Dom to have done that. But they have got to go out,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40run one, run two, do what they have been doing in training. Both have
0:31:40 > 0:31:45been putting down the fastest runs and they're in a good place. At the
0:31:45 > 0:31:52track, it is really cold. The ice will be very hard and cold and I'm
0:31:52 > 0:31:58guessing it is about minus 8. They have to have the right settings to
0:31:58 > 0:32:04give them enough grip, because the ice will be hard. I know that sounds
0:32:04 > 0:32:08silly, but it does get very hard. They know they're good enough, these
0:32:08 > 0:32:12two girls are good enough to bring home a medal. Day one, we are very
0:32:12 > 0:32:16excited.Lizzie in particular looked rattled about the question marks
0:32:16 > 0:32:21over the suit and other competitors trying to stir it up, do you sense
0:32:21 > 0:32:28that has passed and everybody is back to being calm and collected?I
0:32:28 > 0:32:32think it is still going on behind the scenes. Yes, it does seem quite
0:32:32 > 0:32:37sad and a shame that all other nations are trying to ruffle our
0:32:37 > 0:32:42feathers and get into the girls psychologically, but the team are
0:32:42 > 0:32:47confident and everything's been OK by the jury members. We are good at
0:32:47 > 0:32:51being innovative and thinking outside the box and seeing how we
0:32:51 > 0:32:56can find those hundredths of a second. The girls, a bit annoyed,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59but it won't affect them. They will put that to the back of their mind
0:32:59 > 0:33:04and go out and deliver some fast pushes that we know in particular
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Laura has and just nail this track like they know they have and can do.
0:33:09 > 0:33:15You have been in the same position, there were question marks about your
0:33:15 > 0:33:18helmet in Vancouver, which you knew had been passed, can you remember
0:33:18 > 0:33:24what you did at the time to almost turn that annoyance into something
0:33:24 > 0:33:32positive to put out there on the track?I just ignored it. It does
0:33:32 > 0:33:38hurt and I'm reading comments from old sliders, old friends that were
0:33:38 > 0:33:42part of that wider family and it is does hurt they're thinking that we
0:33:42 > 0:33:47are cheating and bringing us back why do Britain win medals, it is
0:33:47 > 0:33:52because we are good and we are good at preparing and peaking at the
0:33:52 > 0:33:57right time. We are innovative, but that is what makes us good and
0:33:57 > 0:34:02across all sports in the summer and winter. So yeah, it is hard to hear.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05It is upsetting, but we are confident and the team are confident
0:34:05 > 0:34:13and we would never use anything that hasn't
0:34:13 > 0:34:18hasn't been OK ed by the jury. The girls have to forget about it and
0:34:18 > 0:34:22concentrate on themselves and their performance and putting down all the
0:34:22 > 0:34:29processes they do day in day out and don't do anything differently.We
0:34:29 > 0:34:32will be sending you plenty of positive vibes. You're doing a
0:34:32 > 0:34:41terrific job as well and good luck to Laura and Lizzie. Amy who just
0:34:41 > 0:34:46had her one break of the day interrupted. She had to get to the
0:34:46 > 0:34:54top of the mountain and interrupt her dinner. Alex Coomber started off
0:34:54 > 0:35:02this 21st Century success when you won bronze, do you remember in Salt
0:35:02 > 0:35:09Lake City, was there that feeling, a bit of niggle that GB have got good
0:35:09 > 0:35:14at this?From my point of view I had won the World Cup for three years in
0:35:14 > 0:35:20a row. The technology at that stage was quite basic. I went to the
0:35:20 > 0:35:24Olympics with two sets of runners and a sled and a reasonably simple
0:35:24 > 0:35:30race suit. There were not many arguments. No one was doing anything
0:35:30 > 0:35:33particularly significant. It wasn't anything that came into play us
0:35:33 > 0:35:38with.When you look at the investment in the sports, there is a
0:35:38 > 0:35:41lot going into skeleton, if it wasn't going into the technical
0:35:41 > 0:35:46side, you would be thinking where it is going?We have the talent and the
0:35:46 > 0:35:52athletes, so you spend the money on the equipment and being ahead. The
0:35:52 > 0:35:55athletes know this will happen and they will go to Olympics in their
0:35:55 > 0:36:02prime and people will be going, what can we pick apart here?It is all
0:36:02 > 0:36:06mind games, trying to upset them. Was know we are strong and that
0:36:06 > 0:36:11hopefully we are not going to let that affect us.Let's reflect on
0:36:11 > 0:36:16what Dom Parsons has done this morning, in starting after in
0:36:16 > 0:36:20fourth, he needed to improve his final run wasn't the improvement he
0:36:20 > 0:36:26was looking for. He had to get a mistake from Martin Dukurs, Alex,
0:36:26 > 0:36:31from your point of view, what do you see from him?He is there at the
0:36:31 > 0:36:43start. We know his start great. He had consistent starts. He was
0:36:43 > 0:36:49between 16th and 21st at the start. But this is a driver's track. It is
0:36:49 > 0:36:55not a track where you can start fast and win. He proved this. Having a
0:36:55 > 0:37:02fast start doesn't help you. He is driving cleanly and he has beautiful
0:37:02 > 0:37:07body position. You can see the knees going. He is shifting his body
0:37:07 > 0:37:12weight. He is looking where he is going and steering and letting the
0:37:12 > 0:37:17sled run. That is important. If you start fighting and moving about and
0:37:17 > 0:37:29that is when people make mistakes. Dukurs panicked a bit. He tried to
0:37:29 > 0:37:34over steer and Dom managed to hold it together to the end. At the end
0:37:34 > 0:37:40of his last run, he will have gone to the depths of hell and back to
0:37:40 > 0:37:45ecstasy in the space of a minute, thinking he has lost the medal. But
0:37:45 > 0:37:53that is the thing that is great about this track. I think the team
0:37:53 > 0:37:56who designed the track should get a medal. It is such a competitive
0:37:56 > 0:38:03track. You don't know until the last person has been down who will win.
0:38:03 > 0:38:07The girls, the mix will be greater, they will chop and change all the
0:38:07 > 0:38:14way. So very exciting.Let's look at Dukurs and the mistake he made. The
0:38:14 > 0:38:20fact if this hadn't happened, obviously we would be looking at Dom
0:38:20 > 0:38:25Parsons having just missed out.By two hundredths of a second.As you
0:38:25 > 0:38:32say, it is a track you don't know until the end and for the Latvian,
0:38:32 > 0:38:43who has been so experienced and been in this position. We were not
0:38:43 > 0:38:48expecting him to make a mistake.He was second and third fastest starter
0:38:48 > 0:38:55on each run. The possibility is he went too fast. Bend 2 is tricky, if
0:38:55 > 0:39:01you go into it too fast, you lose control. There is a big mistake
0:39:01 > 0:39:07there. He comes out of the bend and he is having to fight to regain his
0:39:07 > 0:39:13composure, get his line straight and you're playing catch up at 80mph.
0:39:13 > 0:39:18But as I say, a tenth of a second was all that mattered at the end. I
0:39:18 > 0:39:25think it is sad for him. He is kind of, this was his Usain Bolt moment,
0:39:25 > 0:39:30he is retiring after the Olympics, it would have been nice to get on
0:39:30 > 0:39:38the podium again, but never mind! Someone's got to feel like that.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42There is still the celebrations from the Russian athlete and Dom a bit
0:39:42 > 0:39:48more subdued. Just saying, God, that means I'm in there.I think he
0:39:48 > 0:39:52hadn't, it hadn't dawned on him. You have to do the quick maths.I think
0:39:52 > 0:39:59he thought I'm off this podium now. I think he did.But the winner.Poor
0:39:59 > 0:40:10Dukurs.The winner, this was phenomenal.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13phenomenal. Questions coming from people about the benefit and the
0:40:13 > 0:40:18advantages of it being your home track.Clearly, it is obvious there
0:40:18 > 0:40:24are advantages. He will have trained on this track since it was built as
0:40:24 > 0:40:29often as he could. You see when you see Korean sliders, they use their
0:40:29 > 0:40:34toes to steer a lot and they have learned a slight steer with your
0:40:34 > 0:40:40toe, that normally might lose your time actually gains you time and you
0:40:40 > 0:40:45can set your line up cleaner. He was...There you I is a it there.
0:40:45 > 0:40:50Just stuck his toe out. He had the fastest time on every split on every
0:40:50 > 0:40:56run. But interestingly, Dom Parsons has the top speed of the entire
0:40:56 > 0:41:02field.Wow.The Koreans, yes, huge advantage, it is great for them to
0:41:02 > 0:41:08have a winner. He is the first Korean Olympic medallist in
0:41:08 > 0:41:13skeleton.Their first Olympic champion that isn't on the the ice
0:41:13 > 0:41:20rink. I doubt if there has ever been a bigger crowd for skeleton.The
0:41:20 > 0:41:24pressure, he is still young. The whole of his country was waiting for
0:41:24 > 0:41:29him to win. So you know, it is great that he managed to do it.Will the
0:41:29 > 0:41:33women have been watching this? And will they have been able to pick up
0:41:33 > 0:41:41on what he has done, because clearly he has had more time on that track
0:41:41 > 0:41:46than anyone?I am not sure. The difference between a male and female
0:41:46 > 0:41:49slider is different, you have different weights and starting
0:41:49 > 0:41:54speeds. So it is difficult to look at a male slider and go, well, I'm
0:41:54 > 0:42:00going to do is same. The sleds will be different. They have different
0:42:00 > 0:42:03runners and different weights. I think the best thing is to look at
0:42:03 > 0:42:08your own runs and reflects on your own runs and get your coaching staff
0:42:08 > 0:42:15to assess that.Although we have seen that foot tapping technique is
0:42:15 > 0:42:20the winning line, our athletes won't try and adopt that, because you need
0:42:20 > 0:42:23to practice that?They may do. They have found that was a good line.
0:42:23 > 0:42:27This is the thing with skeleton, particularly in a track that you're
0:42:27 > 0:42:30not familiar with, you get six minutes of training to learn the
0:42:30 > 0:42:38track. You get six runs about a minute each. They have have tried
0:42:38 > 0:42:43the first run, got the feel of the track and each run you're trying to
0:42:43 > 0:42:47tweak and tweak.What the British sliders have been good at is
0:42:47 > 0:42:52learning new tracks. Because we don't have our own track. We are not
0:42:52 > 0:42:58a one track pony if you like, we the go to a new country, six runs and if
0:42:58 > 0:43:02you look at Lizzie Yarnold's training, he was getting more
0:43:02 > 0:43:05comfortable with it and getting faster. What do you see that she
0:43:05 > 0:43:10will try and take into the competition?As she gets on the
0:43:10 > 0:43:14sledge she has got to be calm. We know this is a technical track. You
0:43:14 > 0:43:20have got to try and let the track guide you in a way. There are some
0:43:20 > 0:43:25very important bends in here, bend 2 and 9 have been the ones that have
0:43:25 > 0:43:30been causing problems. You can see her putting on a steer there. The
0:43:30 > 0:43:35principles of skeletons are you get into a bend early and get out of the
0:43:35 > 0:43:40bend early. You want a flat line. You don't want to move your head and
0:43:40 > 0:43:48shoulders. She is doing that. It is just a case of doing what you have
0:43:48 > 0:43:56always done and don't let anything faze you. Nice and relaxed.Is in is
0:43:56 > 0:44:03era of visual reality learning and the frabgt ing and the fact they
0:44:03 > 0:44:09have only had six runs, is that the future, making the goggles to have a
0:44:09 > 0:44:13learning ability to feel where the lines are and the gravity will pull
0:44:13 > 0:44:19you?To be honest almost day-by-day the track can change. The track is a
0:44:19 > 0:44:22giant fridge F you went in the summer it would be a lump of
0:44:22 > 0:44:28concrete. They ice it in the winter. The way the ice is cut can vary. Out
0:44:28 > 0:44:33of the competition, they will have a track workers who are shaving the
0:44:33 > 0:44:38ice and creating the curve. One day a curve could be quite flat and the
0:44:38 > 0:44:43next be bent and that will alter how you come in and out of the bend and
0:44:43 > 0:44:51how high you go.Once it is sets it will be the same?Yes.Good.If you
0:44:51 > 0:44:54went back next year, it may be a completely different cut and you
0:44:54 > 0:45:00have to start again from square one.
0:45:01 > 0:45:07If you have questions about Skeleton, we are building up on that
0:45:07 > 0:45:14very much this morning as we prepare to watch Lizzy and Laura. And people
0:45:14 > 0:45:18are saying, why are we so good at Skeleton, but we have got no luge
0:45:18 > 0:45:23athletes?
0:45:24 > 0:45:27athletes?Luge is where Skeleton was 20 years ago, because they haven't
0:45:27 > 0:45:31had a breakthrough athlete who has won something, so they haven't got
0:45:31 > 0:45:36the funding. When I went into Salt Lake, we didn't have funding, the
0:45:36 > 0:45:40funding came from the first medal which led to the next one, so it is
0:45:40 > 0:45:47a bit of a chicken and egg situation, you need the athlete to
0:45:47 > 0:45:54win to get the funding, but without the funding, you don't get the
0:45:54 > 0:46:00athlete.And a lot of the focus goes on the runners.Yes, a lot of it is
0:46:00 > 0:46:04very different. You could scientifically somehow share the
0:46:04 > 0:46:08information, but you can't protect Mac one on the skeleton or vice
0:46:08 > 0:46:13versa.Never before at a Winter Olympics has Great Britain won two
0:46:13 > 0:46:17medals in the same event, so we obviously had bronze and silver in
0:46:17 > 0:46:21men's and women's curling, but I'm talking about the same event, the
0:46:21 > 0:46:25same competition, the same day, two people on the podium. It could yet
0:46:25 > 0:46:29happen in skeleton, because Laura Dees has been going super fast in
0:46:29 > 0:46:33training. She came into these games under the radar because all the
0:46:33 > 0:46:36attention was on Lizzy, she carried the flag at the opening ceremony and
0:46:36 > 0:46:40is the defending champion, but Laura's results in the last year
0:46:40 > 0:46:46mean that she in theory is our number one chance here.On paper you
0:46:46 > 0:46:50have to say that. Her World Cups this year have been incredibly
0:46:50 > 0:46:54consistent. She has been up there in the top six or seven. She finished
0:46:54 > 0:46:59above Lizzy in the rankings, and a combination of doing that and coming
0:46:59 > 0:47:04here and doing some good training runs means you would actually say
0:47:04 > 0:47:09that she has probably got a more significant chance. However, she has
0:47:09 > 0:47:13not experienced, and Lizzy's experience with the pressure, she
0:47:13 > 0:47:16has been there before in an Olympic race, Sara Hope it doesn't faze her
0:47:16 > 0:47:26too much and she keeps a calm head on her and keeps a calm, it would be
0:47:26 > 0:47:29incredible if we could get both of them on the podium, it would be
0:47:29 > 0:47:35amazing.Lot a of it is research into the track, but there are indeed
0:47:35 > 0:47:41a shape and weight and mental approach as well of the skeleton
0:47:41 > 0:47:47slider that is going to put you into a position that could help. But the
0:47:47 > 0:47:52training times will give them huge confidence. So at the moment.
0:47:56 > 0:48:01You can see Laura has been the fastest on some runs and Lizzy on
0:48:01 > 0:48:07the others, they are there or thereabouts.As I said earlier, this
0:48:07 > 0:48:11track, anyone in the top ten, I honestly think, could end up on the
0:48:11 > 0:48:16podium. To produce four runs without any mistakes is almost impossible,
0:48:16 > 0:48:17so it
0:48:17 > 0:48:19any mistakes is almost impossible, so it is who can produce the fewest
0:48:19 > 0:48:23mistakes with the fastest times, keep calm and just be consistent,
0:48:23 > 0:48:28and I think it is going to be really exciting to see what happens.I was
0:48:28 > 0:48:32talking about building body shape. Let's have a look at Lizzy's
0:48:32 > 0:48:35statistics. You are tiny, and I would've thought that perhaps is the
0:48:35 > 0:48:40best shape for a skeleton?This is something that has really changed in
0:48:40 > 0:48:47our sport over the last 20 years. When I competed, I was small but I
0:48:47 > 0:48:52wasn't far off the average. Lizzy is a lot bigger than me, stronger than
0:48:52 > 0:48:55me, taller than me, and a track here where you have a uphill sections,
0:48:55 > 0:48:59that will be a huge advantage. The women's field as a whole have all
0:48:59 > 0:49:05got a lot bigger. So it is something, I think it is common
0:49:05 > 0:49:09across a lot of female sports now. Tennis players are getting bigger
0:49:09 > 0:49:13and stronger. We do well in rugby and women's football where you have
0:49:13 > 0:49:19that strength.
0:49:19 > 0:49:23In skeleton, you need a good power to weight, so you are small but
0:49:23 > 0:49:31strong, and you need aerodynamics as well.And Laura is a little shorter
0:49:31 > 0:49:35and lighter, the same age, and her experience in skeleton, even though
0:49:35 > 0:49:39this is her first Olympic Games, she has had a lot of race time.
0:49:42 > 0:49:46Definitely. And all of that is building muscle memory, so every
0:49:46 > 0:49:49time you go down the track, each time you do it, your brain gets a
0:49:49 > 0:49:55bit quicker, you learn more, your automatic systems of steering and
0:49:55 > 0:49:59how to control yourself and not react if something goes wrong, all
0:49:59 > 0:50:06of those systems improve over time. Lots of questions!Loads of
0:50:06 > 0:50:13questions. In terms of their leg and back legs, they will log -- long
0:50:13 > 0:50:16legs for the sprinting, then do they want a short back to get down onto
0:50:16 > 0:50:21the sled?I think the front is more important. You want to be not high
0:50:21 > 0:50:25and wide at the front, that makes you not aerodynamic, and also if you
0:50:25 > 0:50:29hit going down the track, some people's shoulders come outside the
0:50:29 > 0:50:32sled, so they are hitting themselves, one of the things I used
0:50:32 > 0:50:36to like about being quite small was that I never hit myself, if I ever
0:50:36 > 0:50:46hit the side, it was only the sled. Your legs, as long as you have got
0:50:46 > 0:50:50good control in your legs and it is one of those kind of...This is you,
0:50:50 > 0:50:55actually. You can see what you are saying here. You are very
0:50:55 > 0:50:59aerodynamic because there is not much of you, so I guess that becomes
0:50:59 > 0:51:04an advantage.And you will see when I get on my sled, my bumpers are
0:51:04 > 0:51:10outside the width of me. I used to watch some of the bigger guys coming
0:51:10 > 0:51:13out of training, and they would have ripped the side of their race suit
0:51:13 > 0:51:19and torn their skin to shreds whereas you see that, my shoulders
0:51:19 > 0:51:24are inside my sled.And is that sled built for you?No, it was a standard
0:51:24 > 0:51:29race lead. We can modify some things in the sled, but the dimensions are
0:51:29 > 0:51:40set by what was the FI BT.Chemmy has got one here.So much science
0:51:40 > 0:51:43goes into this, and the runners and everything, but we have noticed,
0:51:43 > 0:51:48first of all it is very heavy, I understand the need for that. But
0:51:48 > 0:51:55although science, and we have loads of household duct tape. Why is that?
0:51:55 > 0:51:58Basically, the internal workings of the sled, you need to access them
0:51:58 > 0:52:03quite regularly because you can change things, you could put weights
0:52:03 > 0:52:07in, so if you are light, like I was, I was allowed to put weights in my
0:52:07 > 0:52:11sled to make it heavier to equal it out of it.What is the maximum for
0:52:11 > 0:52:18slider and sled combined?29 kilograms if the slider is female is
0:52:18 > 0:52:25over 80 kilograms. If you're under that, I was allowed up to 35 kilos
0:52:25 > 0:52:30in my sled. But you can also change the flexibility of the metal in the
0:52:30 > 0:52:34internal workings of the sled, so sometimes you want it really stiff,
0:52:34 > 0:52:38and sometimes you really need to be able to move it, and the only way to
0:52:38 > 0:52:41do that easily and cheaply on a regular basis, which might be daily,
0:52:41 > 0:52:47is to have something that you can take on and off.You'd think there
0:52:47 > 0:52:54would be some kind of plastic thing that could flip open.Ironically,
0:52:54 > 0:52:58that is the one bit of technology that has not changed at all since I
0:52:58 > 0:53:03competed. That is exactly the same. And how much would this be worth?
0:53:03 > 0:53:13The actual sled? A top racing sled is about 15,000. Don't drop it!Put
0:53:13 > 0:53:18it down gently! We have borrowed it, we have to take it back, it is a
0:53:18 > 0:53:21real one. Fascinating insights from the woman
0:53:21 > 0:53:25who has done it and knows what this is all about. Alex Coomber, our
0:53:25 > 0:53:30special guest in the studio, as we build up to the first two runs in
0:53:30 > 0:53:35the women's skeleton, we have Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Dees, both going
0:53:35 > 0:53:40at 11:20am for their first run. We will be there live. But between now
0:53:40 > 0:53:46and then, we will be catching up on what happened in the women's slalom,
0:53:46 > 0:53:50the snowboard cross, the figure skating, and then we will go on BBC
0:53:50 > 0:53:53One for a quick dip into the men's curling, Great Britain against
0:53:53 > 0:53:56Sweden, but if you just want to sit back and settle into the curling,
0:53:56 > 0:54:01you can do that from 11 o'clock on the red button. Then the second run
0:54:01 > 0:54:05for the women's skeleton is at 20 past 12, before we catch up
0:54:05 > 0:54:10basically again on everything that is happening on day seven. It is a
0:54:10 > 0:54:13very exciting programme, and we have had an awful lot going on overnight,
0:54:13 > 0:54:17which means it every morning when people wake up, I tell you exactly
0:54:17 > 0:54:21what I do, I turn on my BBC app on my phone, it is brilliant, because
0:54:21 > 0:54:25you can get all the little bite-size video bits of everything that has
0:54:25 > 0:54:33gone on overnight. But if you don't have the, here are the headlines.
0:54:33 > 0:54:38119 men started the men's cross-country 15 K, but it was super
0:54:38 > 0:54:44Dario who came out on top, winning the title for the third consecutive
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Olympics. Huge disappointment for Britain's medal hope Andrew Musgrave
0:54:48 > 0:54:52who finished down in 20 Eighth Place after what he called a pretty
0:54:52 > 0:54:58shocking performance. In the women's curling, defending champions Canada
0:54:58 > 0:55:02are in big trouble after losing their third game in a row. They were
0:55:02 > 0:55:06beaten by Denmark in an extra end. They now sit bottom of the
0:55:06 > 0:55:13standings. And the men's ice hockey, the USA team bounced back from is
0:55:13 > 0:55:17are praising opening match defeat to beat Slovakia 2-1.
0:55:21 > 0:55:26All of that has been happening, but Chemmy is our Alpine skiing star,
0:55:26 > 0:55:30and the one person we have been talking about in the build-up to
0:55:30 > 0:55:37these games is Mikaela Shiffrin. She had won gold in the bag, and heading
0:55:37 > 0:55:40into the slalom, just explain how hot favourite everyone thought she
0:55:40 > 0:55:45was.She has dominated in this discipline for so long, over 30
0:55:45 > 0:55:49World Cup wins in slalom alone, and being that she is so young, is
0:55:49 > 0:55:57really impressive. She had a
0:55:57 > 0:55:59really impressive. She had a little whoopsie in the last Olympics, which
0:55:59 > 0:56:07is unlike her, she DNF-ed. Did not finish. We thought her confidence
0:56:07 > 0:56:12would build and build.Two British women, the fastest after the first
0:56:12 > 0:56:16run then go in reverse order. Alex Tilley had crashed out of the giant
0:56:16 > 0:56:21slalom. What happened here, there isn't a lot of coverage from our
0:56:21 > 0:56:26host broadcasters, so we will get that again in slow motion.This is
0:56:26 > 0:56:29tragic, you can see coming in, getting on the back-seat, so little
0:56:29 > 0:56:33time going into a Hairpin, a formation of gates with a shorter
0:56:33 > 0:56:37distance, so you have to move forward into it, so she gets pulled
0:56:37 > 0:56:41on the tails and is not able to finish it.And this is Charlie
0:56:41 > 0:56:46Guest.Yes, she battled her prerace nerves, she has never been to the
0:56:46 > 0:56:52Olympic start gate.And what age is she?She is 24, and she broke her
0:56:52 > 0:56:57back really badly three years ago. Her comeback is incredible, a couple
0:56:57 > 0:57:02of levels down from World Cup this year. You can see she is a bit
0:57:02 > 0:57:07frustrated with herself, but she vented her straight and is well on
0:57:07 > 0:57:10the second run.And here is Mikaela Shiffrin's first run.
0:57:14 > 0:57:17She had a problem on her first split. She did vomit before the
0:57:17 > 0:57:20start of the race, she said it didn't affect performance, but if
0:57:20 > 0:57:26you look at her speed of movement, there is so precision normally with
0:57:26 > 0:57:33her skiing, and for me, there is a little bit of, she is a little
0:57:33 > 0:57:38tentative, twisting her feet, and you can see snow coming off the
0:57:38 > 0:57:44skis, uncharacteristic for her to see herself 0.48 of the league at
0:57:44 > 0:57:49that time.And she could have come back from that?Definitely.And this
0:57:49 > 0:57:57is Frida Hansdotter.She is always the runner-up, she came sixth
0:57:57 > 0:58:00yesterday, but she has five consecutive podiums before the
0:58:00 > 0:58:05Olympics, all in second place. She has never had her moment to shine,
0:58:05 > 0:58:11but she took the advantage.She looks very relaxed.She was very
0:58:11 > 0:58:16settled and poised today.The Swiss hopes were pinned on Wendy Holdener.
0:58:16 > 0:58:20Very strong, good solid work with her inside me, deflect the gate and
0:58:20 > 0:58:26moves forward and down. She started the first run first, clean track and
0:58:26 > 0:58:31she used that to deliver the exact line that she wanted.So no rats for
0:58:31 > 0:58:36her at all.
0:58:39 > 0:58:42her at all. -- no ruts for her.In another generation, it would all be
0:58:42 > 0:58:46about Wendy, but it has not been so far.Lets see how the second run
0:58:46 > 0:58:49will play out. We will head out to the mountains and joined Matt
0:58:49 > 0:58:55Chilton. COMMENTATOR: Wendy Holdener leads
0:58:55 > 0:59:03the way, and Frida Hansdotter the second, with Anna Swenn Larsson
0:59:03 > 0:59:09holding third position. Katharina Gallhuber holding advantage over her
0:59:09 > 0:59:21team-mate after the first leg. And she is away. .
0:59:21 > 0:59:23she is away. . 1:03.48 at the spit, and Gallhuber has just about
0:59:23 > 0:59:28troubled her lead at the intermediate time. She has a huge
0:59:28 > 0:59:38amount of power. She can drive through the ruts underfoot, that is
0:59:38 > 0:59:42terrific slalom skiing from Gallhuber here. She could give the
0:59:42 > 0:59:45Austrians first and second, she is building all the time, it just gets
0:59:45 > 0:59:50better and better through every turn. This could be a second and a
0:59:50 > 0:59:54half, her lead at this rate. Gallhuber is flying through the
0:59:54 > 1:00:01final terms, and her advantage is 1.62 seconds. That is massive for
1:00:01 > 1:00:06Katharina Gallhuber, ninth quickest after the first run. I wonder if
1:00:06 > 1:00:10this second run, which was full of fire, might move her up into the
1:00:10 > 1:00:15medals.
1:00:23 > 1:00:31Haver-Loeseth won the team event in Stockholm. The lead has been halved.
1:00:31 > 1:00:36She heads off into the wind, which is blowing right up the hill. It can
1:00:36 > 1:00:43only slow them down. Now she is behind by two hundredths of a
1:00:43 > 1:00:54second. Gallhuber still leading. I wonder if she might go on to take a
1:00:54 > 1:00:59medal. Haver-Loeseth is finding some speed. But the damage is already
1:00:59 > 1:01:07done. She is 0.6 down. She may get among the provisional positions. I
1:01:07 > 1:01:12don't think she will trouble gold medal. Look at what she was dealing
1:01:12 > 1:01:20with - the brutal gusts at the top of the course.
1:01:22 > 1:01:27of the course. Thaksin Mikaela Shiffrin her advantage over
1:01:27 > 1:01:33Gallhuber is significant. It looks like the wind has eased off. Now she
1:01:33 > 1:01:45finds the worse of it.
1:01:51 > 1:02:04First mistake for Mikaela Shiffrin. The most recent double gold medal
1:02:04 > 1:02:09winner was in Salt Lake City. She is hoping the defend the slalom gold
1:02:09 > 1:02:13she won four years ago in Sochi. She is finishing with incredible speed.
1:02:13 > 1:02:23She has gone second and Shiffrin will not make it two gold medals.
1:02:23 > 1:02:27Shiffrin made that mistake. That is the error that cost her the chance
1:02:27 > 1:02:39to lead this race. Three to come. Swenn Larsson and then Hansdotter
1:02:39 > 1:02:51and Holder in. -- Holdener. Into the breeze, she won't mind that much.
1:02:51 > 1:02:57She has got incredible strength. She is maintaining most of her lead,
1:02:57 > 1:03:04even as she battles the wind. I heard her scream there in an effort
1:03:04 > 1:03:12to encourage herself back on to the racing line. Still in front. If she
1:03:12 > 1:03:23goes into first position here she will be guaranteed an Olympic medal.
1:03:23 > 1:03:32Swenn Larsson pushing for the line. Has she done enough? Oh, she is
1:03:32 > 1:03:40third. Gallhuber is guaranteed a medal. That is extraordinary.
1:03:40 > 1:03:44Gallhuber was only ninth after the first run will finish with bronze at
1:03:44 > 1:03:54worst. Hansdotter poised to race for the final time today. Her advantage
1:03:54 > 1:04:02over Gallhuber is significant. On her way. Aggressive skiing at the
1:04:02 > 1:04:08top. She had a solid first run and a good giant slalom day yesterday.
1:04:08 > 1:04:13Likes this hill. The majority of her advantage is intact. The worst of
1:04:13 > 1:04:18the wind is at this part of the course. Hansdotter drops in and
1:04:18 > 1:04:26starts to go to work and still in front.
1:04:26 > 1:04:29front. Hansdotter has never won an Olympic medal. Can she put that
1:04:29 > 1:04:36right today? Sixth in yesterday's giant slalom. She is the former
1:04:36 > 1:04:44World Cup slalom champion. Half a second the lead. Gallhuber's lead is
1:04:44 > 1:04:541. 38n't 95. Can she beat it? Yes, she can. She moves into gold. She is
1:04:54 > 1:05:01guaranteed silver at worst. Sensible skiing. She knew she had that hefty
1:05:01 > 1:05:04advantage over Gallhuber after the first run. She used it to good
1:05:04 > 1:05:15effect. Now they have to wait and watch. The last skier. Wendy
1:05:15 > 1:05:21Holdener from Switzerland, who has had so many tight battles with
1:05:21 > 1:05:25Hansdotter in the World Cup last season and this season. But now it
1:05:25 > 1:05:32is down to second run of the Olympic slalomment Holdener has an advantage
1:05:32 > 1:05:37of two tenths. Hansdotter's split. Holdener trails by one hundredth of
1:05:37 > 1:05:48a second. She has the worst of the wind, it absolutely whipping in and
1:05:48 > 1:05:52into the goggles of the skier. She hasn't done too much more damage.
1:05:52 > 1:05:57From here she can start to relax a little more. She is out of the
1:05:57 > 1:06:03breeze. She has got to push through every one of these turns. Only four
1:06:03 > 1:06:12hundredths down. She can still take the Olympic title. Wendy Holdener
1:06:12 > 1:06:21takes the silver. Hansdotter is the Olympic champion.
1:06:21 > 1:06:28Olympic champion. The gold to Frida Hansdotter. Holdener takes silver
1:06:28 > 1:06:33and Gallhuber has the bronze with Mikaela Shiffrin pushed out of the
1:06:33 > 1:06:39medals down to fourth. Frida Hansdotter is the Olympic slalom
1:06:39 > 1:06:49champion. After two sensational runs here. Hansdotter, who so often has
1:06:49 > 1:06:53been the runner up to Mikaela Shiffrin in the last couple of
1:06:53 > 1:06:57seasons in the World Cup races, finally gets her moment in the spot
1:06:57 > 1:07:00light. I don't think she quite believes it.
1:07:00 > 1:07:02light. I don't think she quite believes it.
1:07:02 > 1:07:10STUDIO: That is a fourth gold medal for Sweden. Christopher Dean has
1:07:10 > 1:07:19joined us to analyse... I'm joking. Frida Hansdotter that is a massive
1:07:19 > 1:07:25moment.She has won that, Shiffrin didn't lose it. She was challenged
1:07:25 > 1:07:31all the way to the line by Holdener. There was amazing skiing and she
1:07:31 > 1:07:37pulled out her best skiing at the right time. She has so often been
1:07:37 > 1:07:44the bridesmaid and not the bride. She has quite a loose upper body,
1:07:44 > 1:07:48you see the upper body charging in the gate and the legs swinging from
1:07:48 > 1:07:53side to side. Such short, sharp pressure.We can see the leg and
1:07:53 > 1:07:57hand guards so they can push and almost kick the poles out of way.
1:07:57 > 1:08:00They want to track as little distance down the mountain as
1:08:00 > 1:08:05possible. There is a set of gates, that is why they deflect this so,
1:08:05 > 1:08:10they're skiing less neat at each gate. That is she is doing well, her
1:08:10 > 1:08:15upper body is driving are and there is so much activity. That is where
1:08:15 > 1:08:20she won it. Gallhuber had the most amazing run. It is the fact that
1:08:20 > 1:08:25Frida came in with that lead. I think she thought she would be
1:08:25 > 1:08:33coming second. She still celebrated. It was a great win. We think of what
1:08:33 > 1:08:38Pearson did with Swedish sport and to see Frida find her own and to be
1:08:38 > 1:08:43on the podium is so well deserved. She is ten years older than Mikaela
1:08:43 > 1:08:51Shiffrin who, four years ago became the youngest champion. The big
1:08:51 > 1:08:55surprise, not so much, Shiffrin would have been challenged, but for
1:08:55 > 1:08:59her not to finish on the podium? That was the biggest surprise. I
1:08:59 > 1:09:02think that she thought going into this, even on a bad day, she would
1:09:02 > 1:09:06get on the podium. She has quoted saying that I didn't feel like
1:09:06 > 1:09:12myself at all. I have to say that is reflected with the naked eye in her
1:09:12 > 1:09:17skiing. That speed of movement is not there. She made a mistake on
1:09:17 > 1:09:23this second run. And she was only eight hundredths off the bronze. But
1:09:23 > 1:09:31I don't know. She know she loves her rest and last night with the
1:09:31 > 1:09:36ceremony, perhaps that ate into her pre-race preparation. But it wasn't
1:09:36 > 1:09:42good enou today and the other women completely delivered. This is
1:09:42 > 1:09:45normally where see her excelling, even if she is behind, you think she
1:09:45 > 1:09:51would make up time. But it looks a little bit calculated and clinical.
1:09:51 > 1:09:54Obviously, the Americans are going to be disappointed, she was going to
1:09:54 > 1:09:59be their big story. But actually for the sport it is not a bad thing is
1:09:59 > 1:10:03it? That she is not there on the podium.No I think for young people
1:10:03 > 1:10:06getting into the sport, you don't want somebody dominating, you want
1:10:06 > 1:10:11to see there is a field out there of athletes on any given day who would
1:10:11 > 1:10:15win and that showed today. As soon as she was out of question it opened
1:10:15 > 1:10:19up the excitement. After that first run, should Shiffrin come in, she
1:10:19 > 1:10:25was only 0. 48 behind. As soon as you saw her skiing that second run,
1:10:25 > 1:10:32you thought this is exciting.Has she reconsidered her programme?I
1:10:32 > 1:10:39don't know. Maybe that shows her fatigue. So many of her races were
1:10:39 > 1:10:46delayed. It might be that her body has just said, I need a day off. You
1:10:46 > 1:10:53can't expect this from me.She wasn't able to up to first. But the
1:10:53 > 1:10:56pairs skating, Christopher Dean's pairs, you're their manager, the
1:10:56 > 1:11:03Germans did come up from fourth to gold. Have you spoke on the them?
1:11:03 > 1:11:08Through her husband a bit. I think they're inundated with with demands.
1:11:08 > 1:11:15It was a big day for them and for Germany winning that gold medal. But
1:11:15 > 1:11:19they're elated obviously. It was a fantastic performance. She
1:11:19 > 1:11:23deserveped it so much. -- deserved it so much. She has been a five
1:11:23 > 1:11:28times Olympian and won everything except an Olympic gold and to win it
1:11:28 > 1:11:32in the style they won it, coming from behind, what a day to be on
1:11:32 > 1:11:37your game.We have more skating to enjoy with you and hear your
1:11:37 > 1:11:44thoughts on the men's singles skating. Now Japan and the Japanese
1:11:44 > 1:11:56media were all over Hanyu, everybody is greeting him at the airport, he
1:11:56 > 1:12:01is t reigning Olympic champion. But he has been injured. Here he is on
1:12:01 > 1:12:08the ice, take us through this men's short programme, Robin.
1:12:08 > 1:12:12the ice, take us through this men's short programme, Robin. COMMENTATOR:
1:12:12 > 1:12:16Whatever happens, Hanyu will be carried through his programme on a
1:12:16 > 1:12:21wave of adoration. There are Japanese flags 360 degrees, where
1:12:21 > 1:12:27ever he looks in this Ice Arena. The defending Olympic and world
1:12:27 > 1:12:32champion.
1:13:05 > 1:13:09Made more difficult from the entry from the spread-eagle before and
1:13:09 > 1:13:19after the jump.
1:14:09 > 1:14:20Glorious trim axel. -- triple.
1:14:31 > 1:14:37Quadruple toe loop. There it is. There is the roar.
1:15:23 > 1:15:32CHEERING And the roof comes off the rink!
1:15:32 > 1:15:39Absolutely sublime from the defending Olympic champion Yuzuru
1:15:39 > 1:15:45Hanyu of Japan.That was absolutely glorious and faultless, my hands are
1:15:45 > 1:15:53shaking.And look at this mass Winnie the Pooh sacrifice! And look
1:15:53 > 1:16:00at those fans. He loves Winnie the Pooh.Goodness me, he delivered, and
1:16:00 > 1:16:04it wasn't the programme he planned, either. He was going to think about
1:16:04 > 1:16:12the quadruple roup, but that Salchow, glorious, glorious. He is
1:16:12 > 1:16:17and serial being when he is on the ice.It's like he's from another
1:16:17 > 1:16:23planet.Regularly over 100, where is he today?Hundred
1:16:31 > 1:16:35-- 111.68, if you needed any confirmation, not far off the world
1:16:35 > 1:16:47record today. And here comes his countrymen,
1:16:47 > 1:16:50countrymen, Shoma Uno, world silver medallist, skating in his first
1:16:50 > 1:17:02Olympics years old.Love this short programme.
1:17:04 > 1:17:17Two quadruple jumps planned for Shoma in this programme. There is
1:17:17 > 1:17:20the first, quadruple flip.
1:18:43 > 1:19:02Quadruple time -- toe loop, fantastic stuff. Just the triple
1:19:02 > 1:19:11axel. Did very well to hold on to that.
1:19:40 > 1:19:49Schomer Uno, the dark horse of this competition, lays
1:19:49 > 1:19:52competition, lays down his mark for a place on that podium.A little
1:19:52 > 1:20:00tight in the shoulders, but down in the knee.He is such a compact
1:20:00 > 1:20:06skater as well, short but strong looking.
1:20:12 > 1:20:16104.17, just short of his season's best, but he does become the second
1:20:16 > 1:20:23skater today to break the 100 barrier, still a few points behind
1:20:23 > 1:20:30Yuzuru Hanyu, who leads the way. So, here is Yuzuru Hanyu's long-time
1:20:30 > 1:20:37rival and training mate,
1:20:37 > 1:20:39rival and training mate, Javier Fernandez, two-time world champion,
1:20:39 > 1:20:44who recently won his sixth consecutive European title. And this
1:20:44 > 1:20:49is his last time at an Olympics. He has already said this is his last
1:20:49 > 1:20:58season, he has had enough at the age of 26. Retirement beckons.
1:21:11 > 1:21:19He will open with the quad toe loop, triple toe loop, lovely stuff right
1:21:19 > 1:21:23in front of the judges.
1:21:29 > 1:21:41Second jump, the quadruple Salchow. Gorgeous.
1:22:14 > 1:22:25And a beautiful triple a, -- triple axel, the jump elements are all
1:22:25 > 1:22:26done.
1:23:31 > 1:23:41CHEERING Here we go!An Olympic medal is the
1:23:41 > 1:23:46only thing missing from his collection, and it looks like Javier
1:23:46 > 1:23:50Fernandez is out to put that right at the last time of asking.Goodness
1:23:50 > 1:23:55me, where do we start? Look at that perfect landing position from the
1:23:55 > 1:24:01quad to take on the triple, down on the knee on the take-off for the
1:24:01 > 1:24:08quad Salchow, doesn't quite have the overall finesse of Yuzuru Hanyu
1:24:08 > 1:24:16technically for me.
1:24:16 > 1:24:18technically for me.107.58, just a fraction of a mark of his season's
1:24:18 > 1:24:25best. And he slots in between Yuzuru Hanyu and Shoma Uno of Japan in
1:24:25 > 1:24:35second place.
1:24:35 > 1:24:39second place. So, Jin Boyang, bronze medals at the last two European
1:24:39 > 1:24:43Championships, he completes this short programme. He has been one to
1:24:43 > 1:24:45watch in the last two years.
1:24:57 > 1:25:03Our final skater will plan to deliver two quadruple jumps in this
1:25:03 > 1:25:13short programme as well. Here is the first.
1:25:13 > 1:25:23first. A quadruple lutz, triple toe loop, and he's got it.
1:25:36 > 1:25:40And there is the quadruple toe loop, very nice indeed.
1:26:24 > 1:26:25Triple axel! APPLAUSE
1:26:25 > 1:26:31.
1:27:29 > 1:27:34CHEERING Don't forget me, says Jin Boyang!
1:27:34 > 1:27:43Don't count me out just yet. Thrilling.Is it enough to catch
1:27:43 > 1:27:55Shoma Uno on 104.7?It will be very tight, definitely behind Javier
1:27:55 > 1:28:01Fernandez.It is a new season's best, he breaks through that 100
1:28:01 > 1:28:10point barrier. So let's have a look at the results from today: Javier
1:28:10 > 1:28:14Fernandez chasing his first Olympic medal in second, but Yuzuru Hanyu
1:28:14 > 1:28:19back to his untouchables best, and favourite now surely to retain his
1:28:19 > 1:28:22title. The short programme is the building block, and Yuzuru Hanyu has
1:28:22 > 1:28:26laid down the surest foundation here today.
1:28:26 > 1:28:30It is unbelievable to watch. The free programme still to come, but
1:28:30 > 1:28:39down in 17th place was Nathan Chen, what happened to him?He was won
1:28:39 > 1:28:43every event he has been in this year. The US have put so much on
1:28:43 > 1:28:50him, their hopes, after Lindsey Vonn I think it would have been Nathan
1:28:50 > 1:28:57Chen whoever Boddy said would bring home a medal. I read he said that it
1:28:57 > 1:29:02just didn't fit tonight. Some days you can step onto the ice and it is
1:29:02 > 1:29:06just not there. Everything doesn't line up, and for him, it was just a
1:29:06 > 1:29:13disaster. Even in practice, he sometimes comes to the Springs where
1:29:13 > 1:29:19I coach and choreographed, and he is so consistent, and to have the worst
1:29:19 > 1:29:24skater of your life at an Olympic Championships. I think it most
1:29:24 > 1:29:29probably was the pressure.
1:29:29 > 1:29:33You have that moment of thought about everybody's hopes on new, he
1:29:33 > 1:29:36has always been the underdog coming in, but now everybody is looking to
1:29:36 > 1:29:40him to be the champion.Mind you, globally, there wouldn't be many
1:29:40 > 1:29:48with much more pressure on them than Hanyu. He needed five escort
1:29:48 > 1:29:52officers at the airport, such was the attention on him.He has done it
1:29:52 > 1:29:58here before.And he was so beautiful.He makes quads looked
1:29:58 > 1:30:03like triples and triples look like a single. He is so tight in the air,
1:30:03 > 1:30:08and as you can see, doing that second triple, hands up in the air,
1:30:08 > 1:30:13gets more technical marks for that. I notice he is wearing this
1:30:13 > 1:30:17necklace, and I worry that when he is doing his quads and triples, it
1:30:17 > 1:30:22is going to smack him in the face. Whenever I work with any students, I
1:30:22 > 1:30:25always say, get rid of your jewellery, take the chewing gum out,
1:30:25 > 1:30:30it is not a fashion show!But it didn't seem to hold him back.Maybe
1:30:30 > 1:30:36it is his lucky charm. He is for sure going to pull off that skate
1:30:36 > 1:30:42later. He has got the experience, he has been here before. This may be
1:30:42 > 1:30:45his second time around defending his championships, so he has got
1:30:45 > 1:30:52everything going for him. But not far behind is Fernandez, and he is a
1:30:52 > 1:30:55great storyteller, people love his style of skating, he is always
1:30:55 > 1:30:59telling a story with this particular routine, this was like Charlie
1:30:59 > 1:31:04Chaplin. He really connects with the audience. Whenever he is out there,
1:31:04 > 1:31:07the audience with him, and he encourages the audience to be part
1:31:07 > 1:31:13of it. And that can lift the skater, lift the judges' idea of how you
1:31:13 > 1:31:17have just skated.So emotional connection is imported?Very much
1:31:17 > 1:31:24so. And this is what he has in bucket loads.
1:31:25 > 1:31:29They must know each other inside out in the sense of what the other is
1:31:29 > 1:31:34capable of.What else do you think might be nudging up to challenge
1:31:34 > 1:31:41Hanyu.
1:31:41 > 1:31:53Hanyu.Fernandez and Jin, it will be a jump fest.Now Shoma Uno. It looks
1:31:53 > 1:32:00risky, bit is coming off.It is a performance, you connect with him in
1:32:00 > 1:32:12the sense you're with him emotional andly internally. He has
1:32:13 > 1:32:17andly internally. He has the deepest knee bends. He is trained by the
1:32:17 > 1:32:22same
1:32:22 > 1:32:29same coach as.Japan have a strong hand.Yes they're huge.What about
1:32:29 > 1:32:41China? Boyang is their hope.He is a young pretender, nothing to Lues. --
1:32:41 > 1:32:47lose. Definitely for the future. If one of those boys ahead of him makes
1:32:47 > 1:32:51the slightest mistake, he is there to take a medal.We saw that in the
1:32:51 > 1:32:57long programme with the pairs, going in, fourth moving up to first.Yes,
1:32:57 > 1:33:03it can happen. Hanyu looks out there. He has got a lot of points,
1:33:03 > 1:33:07111, there is four between him and Fernandez. The next three are very
1:33:07 > 1:33:13tight.Early hours we will see the programmes. They have four and a
1:33:13 > 1:33:17half minutes to show what they can do. Does story telling become more
1:33:17 > 1:33:22important?I think so, if you're engaged with the audience and you're
1:33:22 > 1:33:27having a good performance the audience get behind you eight is one
1:33:27 > 1:33:32of those emotional moments, you sense that.Does that affect the
1:33:32 > 1:33:36judges the audience being behind them.You would be surprised,
1:33:36 > 1:33:44they're watching it technically, but they have component scores.If you
1:33:44 > 1:33:53have a huge ovation.Between a 5 and a 7.5, it goes up in 25 increments
1:33:53 > 1:34:00so you can go from a 9 to...They love it.Just that bit more can put
1:34:00 > 1:34:04it over the edge.Thank you. Right we are going to focus on curling
1:34:04 > 1:34:11now. And head over to the curling arena.
1:34:12 > 1:34:15arena. Because Jackie Lockhart has a short break before she starts
1:34:15 > 1:34:21commentating. What is going on in the women's competition? What are
1:34:21 > 1:34:26Canada doing Luesing again? -- losing again.Would anybody have
1:34:26 > 1:34:35expected that result? To lose to Sweden... Would have been hard, but
1:34:35 > 1:34:44to lose... To lose to Denmark and to Korea, that was really, really such
1:34:44 > 1:34:52a shock.Sorry I can tell you're struggling a bit with talk back. Can
1:34:52 > 1:34:55I ask you about the British women. They have had a break today, but
1:34:55 > 1:34:58they will have analysing what happened yesterday. Do you expect
1:34:58 > 1:35:02them to be feeling good after their performances and also are they
1:35:02 > 1:35:07keeping half an eye on what Canada are doing?They will definitely be
1:35:07 > 1:35:11keeping an eye on what Canada are doing. They have had break today and
1:35:11 > 1:35:22I think they will just relax. Logan, who is my co-commentator here... He
1:35:22 > 1:35:26is concerned they're sitting about and watching movies in the Olympic
1:35:26 > 1:35:35Park. A questionWhat do you expect from the men, they have Sweden
1:35:35 > 1:35:41coming. Will they beat Sweden?This will be a really tough game for the
1:35:41 > 1:35:45guys. If you asked me last week before they started, they would have
1:35:45 > 1:35:51been happy to be sitting on 2 and 2. But I'm hoping they will be sitting
1:35:51 > 1:35:59on 3 and 2 after this. They're very confident and they're going to have
1:35:59 > 1:36:03a good game I'm sure tonight.Thank you. Sorry about the problems.
1:36:03 > 1:36:16Clearly I think hearing a bit of an echo back. Live coverage of that
1:36:16 > 1:36:21game with Sweden will start at 11 on the red button and we will dip into
1:36:21 > 1:36:26it before the skeleton runs. We are about half an hour from first of the
1:36:26 > 1:36:32women heading out on the to the sliding track and we have Lizzie
1:36:32 > 1:36:39Yarnold and Laura Deas. But we love the variety of the Olympics and in
1:36:39 > 1:36:48women's snowboard cross there has been no more dramatic story than
1:36:48 > 1:36:53Jacob bell lis, she went for that show boat toe grab and fell in the
1:36:53 > 1:36:59closing stages in
1:36:59 > 1:37:02closing stages in us Turin in 2006. Since she has been trying to win the
1:37:02 > 1:37:10gold. But she did make it through to the final in the early hours of this
1:37:10 > 1:37:12morning of snowboard cross. Here what is
1:37:12 > 1:37:16morning of snowboard cross. Here what is happened. COMMENTATOR: Now
1:37:16 > 1:37:22the women's snowboard cross final. The fastest six women who have
1:37:22 > 1:37:28battled through to this point.
1:37:28 > 1:37:32battled through to this point.Think could go any way.They're all very
1:37:32 > 1:37:41quick.
1:37:42 > 1:37:52They're neck and neck.The French woman may have the lead. Jacobellis
1:37:52 > 1:38:00up the front. Different lines being taken. Jacob bell lis is out in
1:38:00 > 1:38:09front and she needs to hold on. Look at De Souza.
1:38:13 > 1:38:23at De Souza.Jacobellis moves across and they're back-to-back. Moioli is
1:38:23 > 1:38:31there. This is the most technical section of the course. Can they get
1:38:31 > 1:38:37some drag on her? They come into this section. Moioli so fast all
1:38:37 > 1:38:45season.Look at the youngsters, de Sousa has come from fourth, the
1:38:45 > 1:38:5116-year-old. Samkova starts driving. It is neck and neck. Who will get
1:38:51 > 1:38:58it? They're all down. It's all over the place.Who doubting who took the
1:38:58 > 1:39:05gold, it is Moioli, but it says de Sousa in second. They have given
1:39:05 > 1:39:14everything they have got to this course. They're laid down. None of
1:39:14 > 1:39:23them know. Moioli limping, but celebrating. That was as intense as
1:39:23 > 1:39:29sport gets. One of the closest races not just in Olympic women's
1:39:29 > 1:39:34snowboard cross history, but of all time. This is on board with Samkova
1:39:34 > 1:39:41and you get such a brilliant idea of just how tight this racing is.
1:39:41 > 1:39:49Samkova very smart, staying out of the traffic.There is nothing
1:39:49 > 1:39:57between Jacobellis and Sam Voe Ca there.Oh, it was Samkova and
1:39:57 > 1:40:08Jacobellis. Goodness, gracious, what a final. Thank you. The official
1:40:08 > 1:40:18results are in. STUDIO:
1:40:18 > 1:40:23results are in. STUDIO: Stewed Chaos as usual, but a
1:40:23 > 1:40:30second gold for Italy. I love that kit of Moioli. How much do you enjoy
1:40:30 > 1:40:34watching that, and what will the qualities you need to win?I love
1:40:34 > 1:40:41it. If you're going in with a target on you and you get pushed anything
1:40:41 > 1:40:48can happen. We saw one limping over the line. This is the royal. This
1:40:48 > 1:40:55start coming out, dropping into a three metre drop, having to work all
1:40:55 > 1:40:59this terrain and with snowboarding, some are facing each other, like a
1:40:59 > 1:41:07direct battle. They're goofy all the way around. It is so aggressive.
1:41:07 > 1:41:11They know each other and that any mistake and the medal will be thrown
1:41:11 > 1:41:18away. Anything can happen. Because it is such a long track. Zoe did
1:41:18 > 1:41:28well, 13th. She narrowly missed out on the semi-final. But look at the
1:41:28 > 1:41:31aerodynamics, you want to get out front. The least challenged position
1:41:31 > 1:41:37is out front. But they're taking over all the time. It is like a
1:41:37 > 1:41:46baton for who will be in front. It is so exciting. As an alpine racer
1:41:46 > 1:41:53seeing how much air they get, I can't tell you. The TV dives down
1:41:53 > 1:41:59everything about this. They put everything on line. All of these
1:41:59 > 1:42:07girls were in contention for a third place.
1:42:07 > 1:42:15place.They all go over.It is crazy.Just missing out. Right,
1:42:15 > 1:42:21second of the men's alpine events today, we have had the down hill
1:42:21 > 1:42:28that was won by Svindal. Finished second was Jansrud, his team mate.
1:42:28 > 1:42:35Talk us through the Super-G.That is a newer element of a discipline, the
1:42:35 > 1:42:38Norwegians have dominated this and won five of the eight golds on
1:42:38 > 1:42:50offer. All eyes were on them. Jansrud coming in with amazing form.
1:42:50 > 1:42:54He skied tidy and neat, but as we saw yesterday, this is all about
1:42:54 > 1:43:01risk. Super-G there is no training runs, the down hill is the fastest
1:43:01 > 1:43:06discipline. It is a real battle of confidence. You have an inspection
1:43:06 > 1:43:13and then you have to execute that line at 70mph. It is ruthless.We
1:43:13 > 1:43:22saw Svindal becoming the oldest alpine gold medallist, he is 35. He
1:43:22 > 1:43:26has built his body back together. And this was his run.He wanted to
1:43:26 > 1:43:32do the double. The double to be the king of speed at the Olympics is
1:43:32 > 1:43:38everyone's dream. There were a few line errors. Against gravity. Too
1:43:38 > 1:43:45much hard snow. Coming out, off the skis. He is finding the flow and
1:43:45 > 1:43:51linking the turns. He knows he has to have his best run and down hill
1:43:51 > 1:43:55comfortable on the longer skis. But in Super-G it is about confidence
1:43:55 > 1:43:59and knowing what he has been through, he is not expected to have
1:43:59 > 1:44:03the same confidence in Super-G as Jansrud. But he has a great run and
1:44:03 > 1:44:08comes down, clattering the gates. Norway have a great record and have
1:44:08 > 1:44:15won five of the eight previous races.Just catching an edge there.
1:44:15 > 1:44:23Focussed to the finish line.Jansrud still in front. Let's have a look at
1:44:23 > 1:44:27Meier, who was a surprise winner four years ago.Yes since then he
1:44:27 > 1:44:30has built his confidence over the speed distance. But he was angry
1:44:30 > 1:44:36from not being able to defend that title. He had the fire in the belly
1:44:36 > 1:44:40today and the speed in the skis. We weren't thinking he could win. We
1:44:40 > 1:44:44know he has the opportunity to get on that podium. But the way he skied
1:44:44 > 1:44:48today, his ankles and knees were rolling. He exkumented the perfect
1:44:48 > 1:44:52line and -- executed the perfect line. He was making sure the skis
1:44:52 > 1:44:59were initiating the turn with a lot of pressure at the top and searching
1:44:59 > 1:45:03for aerodynamics. Look what happened! Jansrud is gutted. Totally
1:45:03 > 1:45:10gutted. That is the Norwegian medal gone and... Impressive, because a
1:45:10 > 1:45:23few days ago he had a nasty crash. We know his body was hurting.
1:45:30 > 1:45:38Now, Beat Feuz, was he a contender? He took loads of risks, and that is
1:45:38 > 1:45:46a relatively easy piste for these guys to ski on. Beat Feuz is going
1:45:46 > 1:45:49to be disappointed when he looks back to his splits in this Olympics,
1:45:49 > 1:45:52because in section he was the best man on the hill, but he wasn't able
1:45:52 > 1:45:57to have that clean run top to bottom.So, doesn't catch the time
1:45:57 > 1:46:08of Mateus Meyer, who wins his second gold-medal, but the Feuz fans. Two
1:46:08 > 1:46:14Olympic medals in the speed
1:46:16 > 1:46:22Olympic medals in the speed events, Jansrud is the same. It is so
1:46:22 > 1:46:25exciting, anything can happen in Super-G, and these guys, they really
1:46:25 > 1:46:33found their level.
1:46:33 > 1:46:37found their level. And when they are going through the air, and up the
1:46:37 > 1:46:41lists, the track looks beautiful.So excited for the female athletes
1:46:41 > 1:46:44coming on later. They will be knowing that this is an exciting
1:46:44 > 1:46:49hill and they need to find that fire and go for it, they need to unleash
1:46:49 > 1:46:55that Tiger.And you will want to get out on that's no?Apparently it is
1:46:55 > 1:47:02very grippy, it is now getting icy. I can't wait to go out there in
1:47:02 > 1:47:06support.Good stuff. Let's have a look at the timetable and see where
1:47:06 > 1:47:09we are going and what we're going to be showing you over the next of
1:47:09 > 1:47:14hours. We are headed live to the women's skeleton very shortly, the
1:47:14 > 1:47:17first run for defending champion Lizzy Yarnold, for Laura Deas as
1:47:17 > 1:47:21well from Great Britain. That is where we are going next. If you want
1:47:21 > 1:47:24to watch the curling, Great Britain's men are playing Sweden,
1:47:24 > 1:47:30that will start on the red button. If you want to watch an interrupted,
1:47:30 > 1:47:34you most certainly can. The second run for the skeleton should be
1:47:34 > 1:47:40starting at 12.20, and we will be there. We will also have skeleton
1:47:40 > 1:47:43obviously and curling, and freestyle skiing, ice hockey, ski jumping,
1:47:43 > 1:47:47everything like that all the way up to and after one o'clock when we
1:47:47 > 1:47:55changed channels over onto BBC Two. Well, it is Korean New Year today,
1:47:55 > 1:47:58and it is time to get into the zone and breathe deeply as we enter the
1:47:58 > 1:48:01skeleton zone.
1:49:26 > 1:49:35And that is the Alpensia Sliding Centre where in 20 minutes or so,
1:49:35 > 1:49:43two British women will try to become the first two dual medallists in one
1:49:43 > 1:49:47event, it is never happened that we have had two people standing on the
1:49:47 > 1:49:51same event in the same podium, and the tone was set this morning. This
1:49:51 > 1:49:52happened.
1:49:55 > 1:50:00Is this the run that will get Great Britain their first medal of these
1:50:00 > 1:50:10Winter Olympics?He is in front marginally of Tregubov. Is it to be?
1:50:10 > 1:50:16No! He misses out by two hundreds of a second. Tregubov is the man who
1:50:16 > 1:50:22celebrates a guaranteed medal, and Dom Parsons may be just about
1:50:22 > 1:50:36agonisingly missed out. This is where Dukurs might miss the
1:50:36 > 1:50:43speed.This is in the red, how much is he going to drop? Yes!He drops
1:50:43 > 1:50:48back by hind Parsons, and Dom Parsons, unbelievably, has his
1:50:48 > 1:50:54medal! Come on, Great Britain! Dom Parsons has a bronze medal because
1:50:54 > 1:51:02of Martins Dukurs, the Latvian, unable to hold it together. So from
1:51:02 > 1:51:06abject misery to Parsons, delightfully him, and Dukurs now
1:51:06 > 1:51:11feels the pain, and he misses out. And you have to feel for Latvia's
1:51:11 > 1:51:17Martins Dukurs, for him to think he is nailed on fire medal and then to
1:51:17 > 1:51:20be slipping back, but it meant that Dom Parsons becomes Britain's first
1:51:20 > 1:51:21medallist of these games.
1:51:25 > 1:51:28Is a very understated guy, he came in enjoying the fact all the
1:51:28 > 1:51:31attention was on the women, then he started to post really fast training
1:51:31 > 1:51:37times, and we were all thinking, this guy could do it, and he did.
1:51:37 > 1:51:39And this was his reaction afterwards.
1:51:39 > 1:51:44Bronze medallist at the Olympic Games, first medallist of the Team
1:51:44 > 1:51:48GB here in Pyeongchang, first men's skeleton medal in British history.
1:51:48 > 1:51:54Give us your reaction.It hasn't really sunk in yet. I thought I had
1:51:54 > 1:51:57lost it after that second round, well, fourth-round.Did your heart
1:51:57 > 1:52:02sink?I thought it had got away. I looked up at the time, I made a
1:52:02 > 1:52:08couple too many mistakes in that run. But Martins made some mistakes,
1:52:08 > 1:52:11and he is the last person I thought would make those mistakes.You have
1:52:11 > 1:52:15been mixing it with the very best in the sport, and going toe to toe with
1:52:15 > 1:52:19them. It must feel fantastic.It has been great, all the work we have put
1:52:19 > 1:52:25in has paid off, all the help everyone in the Federation, friends
1:52:25 > 1:52:28and family, even people playing the national lottery, where all our
1:52:28 > 1:52:32funding comes from, so a big thank you to all of them.
1:52:32 > 1:52:36What we think in the start house just before, 60 seconds before you
1:52:36 > 1:52:39go, you do that wonderful move with the heated bottoms, they stripped
1:52:39 > 1:52:46off. What is in your mind just then a?To be honest, a couple of weeks
1:52:46 > 1:52:55ago I pulled my adductor muscle, and so when I just lose off, I am
1:52:55 > 1:52:58holding them against the fronts of my legs to try and keep that warm so
1:52:58 > 1:53:03it is OK for the push.It wasn't just a full Monty move, there was a
1:53:03 > 1:53:07medical need!I was trying to keep it as warm as possible. And I didn't
1:53:07 > 1:53:11feel it at all today, so I got through it.And I think it is fair
1:53:11 > 1:53:16to say you're starts are in the lower portion of the field, but
1:53:16 > 1:53:22you're driving is absolutely superb. Yes, on this track as well, most
1:53:22 > 1:53:25people haven't had many runs on it, even the Koreans have only had a
1:53:25 > 1:53:30season to train on it, and no one knows it that well, and for the last
1:53:30 > 1:53:38four years, since we had my coach who came to Sochi, Chris, he was
1:53:38 > 1:53:44always drumming into us the importance of track walks, and every
1:53:44 > 1:53:48training day, everyone has gone home, and I would be most days after
1:53:48 > 1:53:51training walking down the track again and trying to absorb as much
1:53:51 > 1:53:55as possible so that I could walk down this track and predict how
1:53:55 > 1:53:58things are going to feel and what it's going to do.Hundreds of
1:53:58 > 1:54:01thousands of people have stayed up, and I also know from your mum and
1:54:01 > 1:54:07dad that great an TLC, I think she is 93, she has stayed up as well. --
1:54:07 > 1:54:16great aunt Elsie. All the best, congratulations again.Thank you.
1:54:16 > 1:54:20Amy Williams giving him a pat of encouragement and congratulations,
1:54:20 > 1:54:25and good for great aunt Elsie, because if you want to stay up and
1:54:25 > 1:54:30watch our first medal live, that is the way to do it. Dom Parsons go
1:54:30 > 1:54:38into 20th place on the leaderboard. South Korea intense, they had the
1:54:38 > 1:54:41champion Yun Sungbin, so a great celebration for them. Dom Parsons
1:54:41 > 1:54:46becomes the first British man to win a skeleton medal since 1948 when
1:54:46 > 1:54:49John Hammond took the bronze, and here is the full list of Great
1:54:49 > 1:54:50Britain's skeleton medals.
1:54:57 > 1:55:00And these are live shots, because they are waiting to make their way
1:55:00 > 1:55:04forward into the medals Plaza to have the actual medals put around
1:55:04 > 1:55:12their neck. They get the mascot, the White Tiger, Soohorang, at the time,
1:55:12 > 1:55:17but then they have the medal ceremony later. And we haven't seen
1:55:17 > 1:55:21a medal ceremony yet, so this will be rather fun. But just going back
1:55:21 > 1:55:25to that list of skeleton medal winners. Obviously the recent ones
1:55:25 > 1:55:31have all been women. Alex Coomber, Shelley Rudman, Amy Williams,
1:55:31 > 1:55:37champion in 2010, Lizzy Yarnold, champion in 2014. And never in any
1:55:37 > 1:55:39winter Olympic sport has a British athlete successfully defended their
1:55:39 > 1:55:43title. That is what Lizzy Yarnold will be trying to do over the course
1:55:43 > 1:55:48of this morning and tomorrow morning. And Laura Dees alongside
1:55:48 > 1:55:54her as well could equally get onto that podium. Just a reminder as we
1:55:54 > 1:55:59see this medal ceremony begins at curling has started on the red
1:55:59 > 1:56:05button. Great Britain's men are playing Sweden, and they are in the
1:56:05 > 1:56:11very early stages of the first end.
1:56:11 > 1:56:15And the officials come out to make this presentation. Alex Coomber is
1:56:15 > 1:56:19alongside me here in the studio. You have been through this medal
1:56:19 > 1:56:23ceremony, you got your bronze medal, and this is some moment, isn't it?
1:56:23 > 1:56:31It is incredible. It is everything. It is what it is all for, and just
1:56:31 > 1:56:35amazing. Seeing the flag go up, it all seems a bit bizarre, like it is
1:56:35 > 1:56:39just not really happening. I think most people who get their medal,
1:56:39 > 1:56:42everyone says exactly the same, it takes a while for it to sink in.And
1:56:42 > 1:56:46part of the presentation team there, that gentleman won the table tennis
1:56:46 > 1:56:55gold medal in Athens. And the massive reception here will be for
1:56:55 > 1:56:58the champion, because to have a host nation winning away from the ice
1:56:58 > 1:57:03rink for the very first time, normally it is short track speed
1:57:03 > 1:57:06skating in which the Koreans dominate, but for them to win a
1:57:06 > 1:57:13skeleton gold medal is the huge, huge moment, so there will be a
1:57:13 > 1:57:27great reception here. Ivo very part of the presentation party. And Alex,
1:57:27 > 1:57:30the nice thing about being the bronze medallist means you are the
1:57:30 > 1:57:34first one up, the first onto the podium. You don't have to wait.You
1:57:34 > 1:57:39get to enjoy the moment longer, definitely.I know you have still
1:57:39 > 1:57:42got your bronze medal because you brought it in the other day.It is
1:57:42 > 1:57:48so exciting for him.And Chemmy, you know Dom Parsons, he is very low-key
1:57:48 > 1:57:52and understated, but he will feel such pride right now.And for him to
1:57:52 > 1:57:57have handled that pressure, and the unknown, with such impeccable poise
1:57:57 > 1:58:02is amazing. Is he looking over thinking, I was two hundreds of that
1:58:02 > 1:58:05silver medal?I think he is thinking, I'm so glad I moved up
1:58:05 > 1:58:12from fourth! Amazing. The moment of Dom Parsons' sporting career, Great
1:58:12 > 1:58:17Britain's first medallist in Pyeongchang, in skeleton, he takes
1:58:17 > 1:58:21the bronze medal, the first British man to win a medal in this sport
1:58:21 > 1:58:27since 1948.
1:58:28 > 1:58:36A former 400 metres runner, and he switched to skeleton in 2007. He was
1:58:36 > 1:58:39taken to the push track at Bath University and thought, this is
1:58:39 > 1:58:43quite fun, I could be good at this. We do his first Olympic Winter Games
1:58:43 > 1:58:51in Sochi four years ago, so only the second time he is experienced the
1:58:51 > 1:58:58Olympic feeling. And now he has a medal around his neck. And the
1:58:58 > 1:59:04Olympic Athletes from Russia taking the silver there. The athlete who
1:59:04 > 1:59:10thought Martins Dukurs would knocking down as well, but because
1:59:10 > 1:59:15the Latvian just had a couple of errors, he moved up to silver, and
1:59:15 > 1:59:22Dominic moved into bronze.
1:59:22 > 1:59:26Dominic moved into bronze. And they get a really cool little desktop, I
1:59:26 > 1:59:29don't know what you call that. Chemmy, what you call that thing he
1:59:29 > 1:59:34is holding in his hand? Paperweight? Amazing memories, that is what I
1:59:34 > 1:59:39would call that!Well done. And here we go, for the host nation, South
1:59:39 > 1:59:43Korea, gold in skeleton, and a thoroughly dominant performance,
1:59:43 > 1:59:52hugely impressive, from Yun Sungbin. Feeling the cold of it, I think. But
1:59:52 > 1:59:54I think also emotional. This is massive.
1:59:54 > 1:59:57CHEERING
1:59:59 > 2:00:06Listen to the cheering. And there was a big crowd at the Sliding
2:00:06 > 2:00:10Centre, probably the biggest crowd they have had, because he led by two
2:00:10 > 2:00:18rounds, extended his lead. And he has the gold medal.
2:00:18 > 2:00:25And it means that certainly for the first time on the BBC this year, we
2:00:25 > 2:00:33will hear the Korean national anthem. It means our song expressing
2:00:33 > 2:00:39love towards their country.
2:00:41 > 2:00:48Ladies and gentlemen, the anthem of the Republic of Korea.
2:00:52 > 2:01:00KOREAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS
2:01:47 > 2:01:58Ladies and gentlemen, the Olympic medallists!
2:01:59 > 2:02:05CLARE: The Korean fans cheer their champion. Using Ben took the gold in
2:02:05 > 2:02:08the skeleton, but the British fans say, we're off and running, because
2:02:08 > 2:02:14Dom Parsons got the first British medal of these games for our team,
2:02:14 > 2:02:19the bronze. It is the best funded team Great Britain has sent out,
2:02:19 > 2:02:24with a target of five medals. And Dom Parsons, who was on the edge of
2:02:24 > 2:02:27that target, he was not unable forward as a guaranteed medal but
2:02:27 > 2:02:32there was hope from the skeleton of one to two medals, and one is in the
2:02:32 > 2:02:37bag. And there are his friends, his supporters and family. Well done,
2:02:37 > 2:02:44Dom! We echo that. We will get more reaction to Dom Parsons'
2:02:44 > 2:02:47performance, but could it get better? We have the first half of
2:02:47 > 2:02:53the women's skeleton coming up. There are four runs in total, all
2:02:53 > 2:02:58the time is added together. What we have seen in trading suggests that
2:02:58 > 2:03:02both Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas have a chance. They have a shot at
2:03:02 > 2:03:08winning medals here. Laura Deas, what will she be thinking at this
2:03:08 > 2:03:16moment?Right now, you can see her adjusting her runners. The front of
2:03:16 > 2:03:20the runners is smooth. The back has the groove in it and she wants to
2:03:20 > 2:03:22make sure she has the right amount of groove on the track. It depends
2:03:22 > 2:03:29on the ice conditions. She is making sure her sled is correct. She will
2:03:29 > 2:03:42make sure she has got her kit, her helmets, things like
2:03:42 > 2:03:46helmets, things like her visor being clean.She was a hockey player and
2:03:46 > 2:03:50then an event rider. She says that being on a course teaches you a lot
2:03:50 > 2:03:57about balance and reading something beneath you, using your body and
2:03:57 > 2:04:02core strength.
2:04:04 > 2:04:10core strength. Alex, is there any intimidation that goes on in this
2:04:10 > 2:04:14warm-up?You saw the Latvian girl there. She had her headphones on.
2:04:14 > 2:04:18She will be listening to music, just trying not to get overawed by the
2:04:18 > 2:04:26crowds and the TV and not be affected by what others are doing.
2:04:26 > 2:04:30Most athletes go into themselves and make sure they are going through
2:04:30 > 2:04:34their preparations as they have done before and keep it the same.What do
2:04:34 > 2:04:38you want to see happen here?I want to see an exciting race, which I
2:04:38 > 2:04:47think we are guaranteed. Whoever is in the top five or six after today
2:04:47 > 2:04:52is in with a good shot. It is not all going to happen today. It will
2:04:52 > 2:04:58be a four run race.A lot of British support. Let's join our commentary
2:04:58 > 2:05:01team, Amy Williams, the champion from 2010, John Jackson and John
2:05:01 > 2:05:06Hunt.
2:05:06 > 2:05:14Welcome back to the sliding centre at 20 women prepared to go for their
2:05:14 > 2:05:18first heat of the skeleton. Lizzy Yarnold is the defending champion.
2:05:18 > 2:05:23She will go off 14th in the opening round. Laura Deas will be tense. The
2:05:23 > 2:05:27silver medallist from Sochi is not here. She has retired. Elena
2:05:27 > 2:05:33Nikitina was sent home in disgrace from the Russian team. The first to
2:05:33 > 2:05:38go if the remaining. Low expectations for her. She is ranked
2:05:38 > 2:05:4432 in the world.She has come through in the last few years, but
2:05:44 > 2:05:52to make it here at the Olympics is still a great achievement. She has
2:05:52 > 2:05:57been falling off the corners, a bit scrappy at the top, which is the
2:05:57 > 2:06:05important part of this track. But that is the section, corners ten and
2:06:05 > 2:06:1011, that is really bleeding time for the athletes. They have to get it
2:06:10 > 2:06:13perfect to get the speed at the bottom of this track, which is
2:06:13 > 2:06:19unique. It's uphill sections from Kaunas 14 to 15, so you can't make
2:06:19 > 2:06:26mistakes.You can see that Mazilu has had a fair run without being
2:06:26 > 2:06:31spectacular. She is one of just two in this event who were going at your
2:06:31 > 2:06:39time. Can you remember who the other one is?
2:06:39 > 2:06:47one is?Katie Uhlaender and Jenny flock, those are the athletes are
2:06:47 > 2:06:53used to slide with. You can see her now going around corner two. She's
2:06:53 > 2:06:59just likely getting the wrong angle and then hitting the wall. It's a
2:06:59 > 2:07:05unique track with uphill sections and flat sections, so they really
2:07:05 > 2:07:11have to take the speed from the push through to the first few corners.
2:07:11 > 2:07:23First Olympic Games for career's Sophia Jong -- for Korea athlete. A
2:07:23 > 2:07:31lot of the Koreans have stepped forward.
2:07:31 > 2:07:36forward. Jeong is on her way, again an unknown quantity.She is, but she
2:07:36 > 2:07:45has started well. She has made a little mistake. But overall, she has
2:07:45 > 2:07:49had more runs than anybody else on this track, so she should be able to
2:07:49 > 2:07:54keep it together. Because it is her first Olympics, maybe there is a bit
2:07:54 > 2:08:01of nerves. That loud noise is her helmet on the ice. She is losing a
2:08:01 > 2:08:07bit of form, but she's putting in a massive run. This could be a new
2:08:07 > 2:08:12track record, although it is still a bit untidy.That was a beautiful one
2:08:12 > 2:08:18until she had that skid going into corner 12. But it is a track record.
2:08:18 > 2:08:23She had an incredible start time, and then she had that big skid on
2:08:23 > 2:08:33the wonky straight ten and 11. Then you could see she was struggling.
2:08:33 > 2:08:43She brought that speed through. That track record was set last March in
2:08:43 > 2:08:49one of the first events to be staged at this venue. We can see her sled
2:08:49 > 2:08:52is literally skidding sideways. That means the knife on the runners is
2:08:52 > 2:08:58cutting into the ice and it is like brakes. Imagine how fast she would
2:08:58 > 2:09:02be if that was a straight down there.You can't help thinking how
2:09:02 > 2:09:07fast some of these women are going to be going.It wouldn't surprise me
2:09:07 > 2:09:20if we got close to 51 seconds.Next to go is Oguchi from Japan. World
2:09:20 > 2:09:25ranked number 23, she has been ever present on the World Cup seen this
2:09:25 > 2:09:35year, with four top 20 finishes.She seemed a bit scrappy of exit two.
2:09:35 > 2:09:46Big mistake there as she comes into the middle part of the track.
2:09:46 > 2:09:52Hopefully now, she will settle in. This is where she needs to get it
2:09:52 > 2:10:01right. You can see how much time she has lost to the Korean slider.You
2:10:01 > 2:10:08can see the time at the bottom right hand side of your TV screens. Once
2:10:08 > 2:10:11it goes red, it means they are slower than the rider in front, so
2:10:11 > 2:10:19you always want to see it in the green.How good was that Jeong ran?
2:10:19 > 2:10:27We have two great Canadians coming soon.The first few athletes to go
2:10:27 > 2:10:30are the bottom of the field generally, and then you have the
2:10:30 > 2:10:35best athletes. So yes, we will now see the World Cup leaders and what
2:10:35 > 2:10:41the World Championship leaders are about. You see her getting into the
2:10:41 > 2:10:44perfect body position. All these sleds are made and designed for
2:10:44 > 2:10:51every single athlete. She skids and it pushes her straight over,
2:10:51 > 2:10:56clipping the ice as it comes into corner 12. If you want to win a
2:10:56 > 2:11:01medal on this track, you have to get that clean. You can't afford to hit
2:11:01 > 2:11:12or skid.One of the big contenders next is Elisabeth Vathje from
2:11:12 > 2:11:20Canada. She gets married next month to another bobsleigh athlete. She is
2:11:20 > 2:11:22consistent, arguably the most consistent athlete we have seen this
2:11:22 > 2:11:31winter.She has been an incredible athlete. Hopefully, they have all
2:11:31 > 2:11:37got the right setup. The ice is very hard. You can see the shine on it.
2:11:37 > 2:11:42It is evening here, late at night. The temperature of the ice is minus
2:11:42 > 2:11:51six. So far, this is a beautiful, clean looking one. She has nailed
2:11:51 > 2:12:03the top section. We now want to see her coming out of corner nine.
2:12:03 > 2:12:09her coming out of corner nine.That is going to cost her a bit of time.
2:12:09 > 2:12:21It was a bit messy down the bottom. Whoa where did that come from? She
2:12:21 > 2:12:26made some scruffy mistakes and I was expecting to see her stay in the
2:12:26 > 2:12:32red, but somehow she got it back and the speed of her sled came through.
2:12:32 > 2:12:37You're right, that was untidy from an early stage.But she got away
2:12:37 > 2:12:44with that.The Korean slider had made a few more mistakes higher up.
2:12:44 > 2:12:50Have we just found a wild card? The Korean slider will be the one person
2:12:50 > 2:12:55we have not accounted for in these top medal places.Yeah
2:12:55 > 2:12:56we have not accounted for in these top medal places.Yeah. We just sit
2:12:56 > 2:13:04Elisabeth Vathje clipping the site. She drops low and then rises again.
2:13:04 > 2:13:08That is the longer way around the corner and she has to fight to come
2:13:08 > 2:13:14out. She kept clipping early and almost toppled on her side at one
2:13:14 > 2:13:20part.Another Canadian next, first Olympic Games for a new look
2:13:20 > 2:13:30Canadian team. It is a complete revamp for them. She is number five
2:13:30 > 2:13:39in the world.Brilliant start time. These athletes train all summer long
2:13:39 > 2:13:49to be explosive on that start.She has nailed the top section here. She
2:13:49 > 2:14:01just needs to relax a bit.
2:14:02 > 2:14:08Has she got more control than her team-mate?
2:14:09 > 2:14:15team-mate?She is into the red here. Looks as though Vathje will hold the
2:14:15 > 2:14:23advantage over her. They have just claimed a bit of speed back.Yeah,
2:14:23 > 2:14:27and having watched the men's race earlier, if they were in the red
2:14:27 > 2:14:31before corner 15, they never got back out into the lead. And yet the
2:14:31 > 2:14:37women here are somehow find a way of getting that tiny bit more speed.
2:14:37 > 2:14:40Maybe there are making slightly less mistakes on the flat part of the
2:14:40 > 2:14:49course. We know how the uphill putt can lose time.That was incredible.
2:14:49 > 2:14:53You can see they are all wearing race bibs. They are one size fits
2:14:53 > 2:14:57all, so the men would have won exactly the same size and each
2:14:57 > 2:15:01night, you are selling up your number to make it as tight as
2:15:01 > 2:15:06possible. You can see the sewing marks down the side.Two excellent
2:15:06 > 2:15:14Canadians. Now three superb Germans.
2:15:20 > 2:15:29Tina Hermann next. She is world champion.Did she step out? It
2:15:29 > 2:15:33didn't look that smooth. We might have to see a replay. But one thing
2:15:33 > 2:15:39the Germans are good at, they are not necessarily the quickest but
2:15:39 > 2:15:43they are good at finding speed on the track and they are usually some
2:15:43 > 2:15:48of the fastest towards the bottom. She is one of the smaller, lighter
2:15:48 > 2:15:57athletes. Perfect body position, shoulders down, had down, feet
2:15:57 > 2:16:02together. You can see her working with her head to get through and she
2:16:02 > 2:16:08did not skid.She will start accelerating because she is so quick
2:16:08 > 2:16:15and clean through the main part of the course.She has put a good
2:16:15 > 2:16:20distance of ground between her and the two Canadians. Tina Hermann has
2:16:20 > 2:16:26just made a big statement the Germany.I think we will see this
2:16:26 > 2:16:30track record beaten a few times throughout this race. It will be due
2:16:30 > 2:16:37at the end of four runs will have the track record, but that was a
2:16:37 > 2:16:41good run by Tina Hermann. These athletes are nervous, it is the
2:16:41 > 2:16:47first run, so it is interesting to see how they come out on run two.
2:16:47 > 2:16:53Get the first race nerves out of their legs, so that is the crucial
2:16:53 > 2:16:57exit of corner nine. She is a little bit late out of the corner but she
2:16:57 > 2:17:02controls it really well.Great shots of her eyes through the visor. She
2:17:02 > 2:17:11has a big lead, Tina Hermann.My heart is pumping, I am so excited to
2:17:11 > 2:17:22see these athletes come down.
2:17:22 > 2:17:23see these athletes come down.This one, Jacqueline Lolling from Germany
2:17:23 > 2:17:30is virtually unstoppable. She won the World Cup on this track last
2:17:30 > 2:17:37March. The pre-event favourite, just has a bit of corrective work to do
2:17:37 > 2:17:47early?She has, because they are getting I wobble as they are coming
2:17:47 > 2:17:54out. This is one of the best sliders in the field. This is her style and
2:17:54 > 2:17:58she needs that to get the speed in. She is now building speed into the
2:17:58 > 2:18:07crucial corner.This is absolutely beautiful so far. Her body position,
2:18:07 > 2:18:13she looks cool and calm on the sled. So far, I think we will see another
2:18:13 > 2:18:17track record.She is better than her team-mate, will she pull in front
2:18:17 > 2:18:26even further?She just sets the marker a little bit higher. Tina
2:18:26 > 2:18:31Hermann, made a big statement, but Jacqueline Lolling has more than
2:18:31 > 2:18:37matched her.She has been unbelievable for the last few years,
2:18:37 > 2:18:41she has pretty much won everything, has been on the podium in nearly
2:18:41 > 2:18:48every single race. Incredible. She was one to watch, her body position
2:18:48 > 2:18:54straightaway, onto the sled. This is how you need to do this, absolutely
2:18:54 > 2:19:01perfect. Concentrated on having her head down and her shoulders low. You
2:19:01 > 2:19:10can see how the two Germans are different on the sled.Will there be
2:19:10 > 2:19:15highs and lows for the two British women to come surely? Next up,
2:19:15 > 2:19:21following on from Jacqueline Lolling, another German, another
2:19:21 > 2:19:27debut
2:19:27 > 2:19:32debut here for Jacqueline Lolling. She has a lot to do to match
2:19:32 > 2:19:42Jacqueline Lolling and Tina Hermann. The faster start re-have had is 5.0
2:19:42 > 2:19:48two. But at the bottom they found speed.
2:19:48 > 2:19:52speed. The British women are going to challenge these girls because the
2:19:52 > 2:19:58British women can start well and fine speed. This isn't going as well
2:19:58 > 2:20:03as planned for Anna. It's not where she wants to be and she is a little
2:20:03 > 2:20:09bit off the pace, compared to her team-mates.That is the difference
2:20:09 > 2:20:13between her pushed time, she's starting the bit slower. The Germans
2:20:13 > 2:20:18are very strong, Lagai said, at finding speed up the bottom. That is
2:20:18 > 2:20:22why we were surprised with the men earlier on today, German guys were
2:20:22 > 2:20:33not the higher up in the field.Anna Fernstadt just into third on the
2:20:33 > 2:20:39Canadians fourth and fifth. Getting very interesting. And after our next
2:20:39 > 2:20:46athlete, Janine Flock from Austria, we will see Laura Deas.Loading onto
2:20:46 > 2:20:51the sled and we have been discussing how the sled slots onto those
2:20:51 > 2:20:58grooves. 20 metres long, depending on the track. They slot the run into
2:20:58 > 2:21:02it and it keeps it in a straight position for you to be able to push
2:21:02 > 2:21:07and then you have to load up the right time. We saw earlier in the
2:21:07 > 2:21:17men's race, it can push out and you are struggling.Janine Flock, 28 and
2:21:17 > 2:21:22that her second Olympic Games. Former world number one in 2015.
2:21:22 > 2:21:30Dropped slightly now to the world number six.Great start time by her,
2:21:30 > 2:21:36she trained so hard in the summer for the start, coached by my old
2:21:36 > 2:21:44coach. She is a hit or miss athlete, she is either flying and winning or
2:21:44 > 2:21:52she makes a big mistake. Let's see what she can do here today.
2:21:52 > 2:21:54what she can do here today.She had two World Cup victories at St Moritz
2:21:54 > 2:22:00and Blake Placid.When it goes right, it goes right. Let's hope
2:22:00 > 2:22:03with her start time, she can bring get down to this crazy uphill
2:22:03 > 2:22:11section of the track.Most have been holding speed up this stage. Is she
2:22:11 > 2:22:18going to take the lead ahead of Jacqueline Lolling? Not quite. Only
2:22:18 > 2:22:24small margins, we are talking about. She goes second.I thought she would
2:22:24 > 2:22:28come through in first place, she was ahead. But in the last corner,
2:22:28 > 2:22:33didn't have the speed of the Germans.It was a good run?That was
2:22:33 > 2:22:41a really good run.Anybody that close to Jacqueline Lolling at this
2:22:41 > 2:22:46stage of the competition has done a good job.That is perfect, she is
2:22:46 > 2:22:51looking straight into corner 12. Just clipped at the exit, but it was
2:22:51 > 2:22:58right at the timing gates about wouldn't have made any difference.
2:22:58 > 2:23:02British support aplenty and Laura Deas is next. 29-year-old, her first
2:23:02 > 2:23:09Olympic Games, she is from Wrexham, originally. Has been involved in so
2:23:09 > 2:23:17many sports up until now. Used to be an event rider. What has caught your
2:23:17 > 2:23:20eye, Amy?I was about to say to John, Weaver in the restaurant with
2:23:20 > 2:23:32her yesterday. I gave her a hug and I told her to relax and enjoy it.
2:23:32 > 2:23:36Start time is exactly what I was hoping for. She is as strong and
2:23:36 > 2:23:43powerful goal.Number seven in the world, two higher than Lizzy
2:23:43 > 2:23:49Yarnold. She has started the first run well.He has, she is using the
2:23:49 > 2:23:53corners to push her around the track to her benefit. Just get where she
2:23:53 > 2:23:58needs to be by not doing too much. Is she losing a little bit of time?
2:23:58 > 2:24:04I could be a costly mistake. Is it enough to keep her in the mix. We
2:24:04 > 2:24:10know these speeds, she will lose a couple of attempts by the time she
2:24:10 > 2:24:18gets across the line.As long as she doesn't lose too much. All of a
2:24:18 > 2:24:23sudden, she is two tenths of a second behind Jacqueline Lolling.A
2:24:23 > 2:24:28costly mid-run mistake. He wasn't even that bad, it was just a tiny
2:24:28 > 2:24:33clip, but that is enough. She held it together, you could see she did
2:24:33 > 2:24:38stay calm and she did not panic. But she just lost it. It is the uphill
2:24:38 > 2:24:44section and it is so unforgiving, this track.We sought Katherine
2:24:44 > 2:24:51Grainger watching on.This was the mistake. She was losing time at this
2:24:51 > 2:24:56point, but we know the way the sled will then turn around in the corner,
2:24:56 > 2:25:01you have to do a lot of work. That is what scrubs the time away. Then
2:25:01 > 2:25:06you come round the big corner, 12. Consistent theme through the sliding
2:25:06 > 2:25:22sports, not just Skeleton. She is just off third place at the moment.
2:25:31 > 2:25:38Let's see if her speed is still intact.Great start, she is keeping
2:25:38 > 2:25:45herself in the mix. That looks like a bit of a mistake. It looks like
2:25:45 > 2:25:54she's sliding off the exit rather than using the corners to push out.
2:25:54 > 2:26:03She is now building speed into the crucial corner nine.Just a little
2:26:03 > 2:26:08bit cutting off the corner. She is just clipping it. That is what we
2:26:08 > 2:26:17are going to see.Same mistake as Laura Deas, almost identical. These
2:26:17 > 2:26:22athletes get six runs to learn this track.Two runs a day for three days
2:26:22 > 2:26:29prior to race day. They haven't perfected steering and that will be
2:26:29 > 2:26:34the steering they will be going home to talk to their coaches about.The
2:26:34 > 2:26:37difference between those two mistakes, when you looked at Laura
2:26:37 > 2:26:48Deas and hers, they were similar. Laura only
2:26:48 > 2:26:52Laura only lost two tenths, so when Laura get it right, she will nail it
2:26:52 > 2:26:58and put herself back in the medals. Exactly that. Her whole body leaving
2:26:58 > 2:27:04the sled. If Laura nails that, I have no doubt she will get into the
2:27:04 > 2:27:08medal position. I hope she can go back between runs and sort it out in
2:27:08 > 2:27:18her head and know what to do.The most experienced in the field in
2:27:18 > 2:27:24terms of Olympic expertise, Katie Yolande from the United States. She
2:27:24 > 2:27:32lost the bronze medal by the then disgraced Russian athlete. She is on
2:27:32 > 2:27:37a mission?She is desperate for a medal, she went away for a bit and
2:27:37 > 2:27:41did weightlifting, tried to compete in the London 2012, but come back to
2:27:41 > 2:27:48the sport of Skeleton.Katie has a different style to most of the other
2:27:48 > 2:27:51sliders. Her ankles are just looking like they are all over the place,
2:27:51 > 2:27:58but that is her style. She has always been like that. That is the
2:27:58 > 2:28:03difference between all of these athletes, has she got enough in the
2:28:03 > 2:28:09back just to keep the speed up the bottom to stay in the mix? She needs
2:28:09 > 2:28:16to stay cool and calm.She steers with her feet, she is messy on the
2:28:16 > 2:28:24sled.I think she is losing time and will fall behind Laura Deas. She
2:28:24 > 2:28:30remains fifth at the moment. Katie Uhlaender has just gone six.
2:28:30 > 2:28:38Jacqueline Lolling leads from Janine Flock and Tina Hermann.Katie's
2:28:38 > 2:28:46start was really good. That
2:28:46 > 2:28:49start was really good. That is what we expected from her. It seems like
2:28:49 > 2:28:58her legs are moving around quite a lot. You can see her in slow motion.
2:28:58 > 2:29:05The athletes are weighing their sled, and there is a minimum and
2:29:05 > 2:29:09maximum weight sled and depending on what that is is what your body
2:29:09 > 2:29:20weight can be.Lizzy Yarnold will be after the
2:29:21 > 2:29:24after the Latvian. I understand she has got to have a knee operation
2:29:24 > 2:29:40after The Games, it is giving her trouble.I know all about them.
2:29:40 > 2:29:42trouble.I know all about them. This is the top section and then it goes
2:29:42 > 2:29:48very flat and then it gets deeper again before it gets to the uphill
2:29:48 > 2:29:54sections.The Latvian, because she is so slight, this is a gravity
2:29:54 > 2:30:00sport. She can only have the sled to a certain weight. Although she is
2:30:00 > 2:30:05looking good and her form is good, it is a gravity sport. Because she
2:30:05 > 2:30:13is lighter, she will naturally lose speed. That could be the problem.
2:30:13 > 2:30:18She weighs 57 kilos, the Germans and the British girls are more 75, 80
2:30:18 > 2:30:27kilos. But a really good, solid run. She did nothing wrong, but lost time
2:30:27 > 2:30:33quite dramatically in the last 400 metres. Certainly from Ben 13
2:30:33 > 2:30:39onwards?
2:30:46 > 2:30:49Priedulena is still behind Laura Deas, who is in fifth place in this
2:30:49 > 2:30:57first heat. Loelling leads.
2:30:58 > 2:31:00first heat. Loelling leads.Lizzy needs to put a good run in. She
2:31:00 > 2:31:03can't win a medal on this one, but she could lose it if you make any
2:31:03 > 2:31:09mistakes. She needs one in the bag. She has been sliding well all week.
2:31:09 > 2:31:15But she doesn't appear to have been sliding well all winter.She admits
2:31:15 > 2:31:18that. She couldn't find her rhythm on the sled, but it all came
2:31:18 > 2:31:29together when it matters. All these athletes have been
2:31:32 > 2:31:35athletes have been peaking at this time. Now she just has to hold it
2:31:35 > 2:31:39together and stay calm and consistent.Olympic champion Lizzy
2:31:39 > 2:31:47Yarnold is under way.Just a couple of mistakes between four and five.
2:31:47 > 2:31:53She is a quality athlete, but she has the pressure on her of wanting
2:31:53 > 2:32:02to retain her title.
2:32:02 > 2:32:05to retain her title. This could be the run that puts her at the top of
2:32:05 > 2:32:17the pile.It is going to be close. Quicker than Merlin! And clearly,
2:32:17 > 2:32:22Lizzy Yarnold is here the business. That was a good run. I was
2:32:22 > 2:32:26interested to see the tiny clip on that one key straight into 12, how
2:32:26 > 2:32:33much was that going to affect the rest? Le Khalifa Lizzy, it doesn't
2:32:33 > 2:32:39-- luckily for Lizzy, it didn't. She is having a chat, there is a little
2:32:39 > 2:32:45issue. She has had the odd in a problem over the last or two and she
2:32:45 > 2:32:49didn't look happy there, but she looks great on the sled. She looked
2:32:49 > 2:32:56in total control.With some of these oscillations, whether it has given
2:32:56 > 2:33:04her this is a problem, it might give her a bit of a wobble. But she
2:33:04 > 2:33:09looked great there. And she is number one in the standings.
2:33:09 > 2:33:12Brand-new track record by Lizzy Yarnold.Without wanting to tempt
2:33:12 > 2:33:15fate, you would be surprised if any of the other remaining athletes can
2:33:15 > 2:33:20get ahead of her. There is every chance Lizzy Yarnold will be the
2:33:20 > 2:33:27first round leader, which is excellent for her.
2:33:27 > 2:33:34excellent for her. Here goes Kim Meylemans, the first Belgian to
2:33:34 > 2:33:39represent skeleton in the games.For her, is just about building
2:33:39 > 2:33:53experience. That was a bit of a high line.
2:33:54 > 2:34:01There are little mistakes everywhere and it costs them a lot of time.
2:34:01 > 2:34:04That is the unforgiving nature of this track. It doesn't allow any
2:34:04 > 2:34:09mistakes.
2:34:10 > 2:34:18mistakes. For these less experienced sliders, they need more runs on the
2:34:18 > 2:34:23track to get the knowledge they need for each of these corners and to get
2:34:23 > 2:34:30the speed. Meylemans completes her first run already well off the pace.
2:34:30 > 2:34:37She would have been a surprise contender, number 13 in the world.
2:34:37 > 2:34:42That position is probably all she can hope for.It's about building
2:34:42 > 2:34:47experience in these games, looking at for years' time. That is what a
2:34:47 > 2:34:52lot of these young sliders will be doing.Yeah, we have clearly got our
2:34:52 > 2:34:57top athletes who want a medal and will be happy unless they get one.
2:34:57 > 2:35:01These are the sliders at the bottom the field. They are not as
2:35:01 > 2:35:05experienced and they are happy to be here representing their country.
2:35:05 > 2:35:08They are wearing the Olympic rings on their chest. They might want to
2:35:08 > 2:35:15be in the top 15 or top ten.
2:35:19 > 2:35:21be in the top 15 or top ten.Marina Gilardoni is really consistent, but
2:35:21 > 2:35:28she has found her Christiansen -- consistency at the wrong end of the
2:35:28 > 2:35:35top ten. She is not going to discredit herself.Know, and she is
2:35:35 > 2:35:41normally an awesome starter.
2:35:41 > 2:35:43normally an awesome starter. And you're right, she went through a
2:35:43 > 2:35:46year or two when she was getting better and better, and then it seems
2:35:46 > 2:35:53to fall off a bit. So whether it's a bit of injuries or whether she has
2:35:53 > 2:35:57changed her equipment, I am not sure.She had a hamstring injury for
2:35:57 > 2:36:08most of the season. So whether she is in 100% shape... It is what it
2:36:08 > 2:36:20is, that she is losing time to Lizzy.
2:36:20 > 2:36:26Lizzy.Gilardoni squeezes into ninth place.These celebs don't have any
2:36:26 > 2:36:36brakes, as you can see. -- the sleds don't have any brakes. So you have
2:36:36 > 2:36:39this very glamorous yellow matting, which doesn't look the coolest thing
2:36:39 > 2:36:48to smash into. Sangakkara just a few oscillations. Not too bad, but she
2:36:48 > 2:36:54was losing speed at the bottom part of the track. We have seen that a
2:36:54 > 2:37:01lot, especially if you don't get corner 12 right.So we are coming to
2:37:01 > 2:37:08the conclusion of run number one here. Still four athletes to go.
2:37:08 > 2:37:14Lizzy Yarnold has been fastest of all, despite looking wobbly off the
2:37:14 > 2:37:23track at the end. Now back to the action and the world number 14 is
2:37:23 > 2:37:28Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands. She is at Herbert Olympic Games. She
2:37:28 > 2:37:31became the first athlete from the Netherlands to podium at the World
2:37:31 > 2:37:35Cup race with an excellent third ahead of Yarnold at a World Cup
2:37:35 > 2:37:41event here in Pyeongchang last March.Perform in training has not
2:37:41 > 2:37:50been the same. She has been just outside the top ten. So now that we
2:37:50 > 2:37:55are in the Olympic Games, is it the pressure is getting to her a bit?
2:37:55 > 2:37:59Could she also put a run in that would bring her towards the front of
2:37:59 > 2:38:06the pack which gives her confidence? A lot of this is about confidence.
2:38:06 > 2:38:10Get the nerves out of your system and realise that you are a good
2:38:10 > 2:38:17slider. You are in the top in the world to be here, and get confidence
2:38:17 > 2:38:31from that.She goes in eighth place. Laura Deas is in sixth place. It's a
2:38:31 > 2:38:36pretty good first run for the British women. There are now just
2:38:36 > 2:38:48three more to come.That wasn't a bad slide. No real big mistakes.
2:38:48 > 2:38:52bad slide. No real big mistakes. But not the perfect run. She slides one
2:38:52 > 2:38:55way and then the other, but that was one of the better sleds we have
2:38:55 > 2:39:02seen.It was. She didn't have the speed going into it before she
2:39:02 > 2:39:05reached the straight at ten and 11 to take it to the bottom, but a
2:39:05 > 2:39:10solid run.Some noisy American support on the way in. There is a
2:39:10 > 2:39:16brave chap there cheering on Kendall Wesenberg, who is just 17, the
2:39:16 > 2:39:24youngest athlete in the competition. She is from Modesto on the West
2:39:24 > 2:39:31Coast of America. I asked what it was like clever sliding -- what it
2:39:31 > 2:39:38was like for sliding, and she said there is not a mountain insight.She
2:39:38 > 2:39:42made a mistake there. That will cost her some time. The speed is going to
2:39:42 > 2:39:49drop away. Another mistake there. You could see the oscillation
2:39:49 > 2:39:57getting a bit out of hand.
2:39:57 > 2:39:59getting a bit out of hand. Again, first Olympics, just a bit messy,
2:39:59 > 2:40:07but hopefully she will learn for the next run.Her gum mother is from
2:40:07 > 2:40:15Penzance, a nice British connection. -- her grandmother is from Penzance.
2:40:15 > 2:40:20You get six months to learn this track, so each time you go down, you
2:40:20 > 2:40:25write down the consequences.We do a lot of visualisation as well and
2:40:25 > 2:40:32track walks. We have special walkers that we strap over our trainers and
2:40:32 > 2:40:39you are studying the ice and working out where you want to be at which
2:40:39 > 2:40:43part of the track. And all of that comes together to help give you more
2:40:43 > 2:40:53knowledge on the track. You could see that she was way too high. And
2:40:53 > 2:40:59the consequences those hits and skids.It has been an absorbing
2:40:59 > 2:41:04watch. Lizzy Yarnold leads with two to go in this first run of the
2:41:04 > 2:41:09Winter Olympics. First Olympics now for Jaclyn Narracott. She's from
2:41:09 > 2:41:20Australia. 27. If you like your athletics, you will remember her
2:41:20 > 2:41:26uncle, Paul Mariner cot, a good sprinter who one they beat Carl
2:41:26 > 2:41:32Lewis, Paul Narracott.
2:41:32 > 2:41:34Lewis, Paul Narracott.This is Dom Parsons' girlfriend going around
2:41:34 > 2:41:39here. Her parents were cheering on Dom earlier to the bronze medal.Not
2:41:39 > 2:41:46a bad looking start. She is a quality slider with a lot of
2:41:46 > 2:41:52experience over some of the other women. If she can put a decent run
2:41:52 > 2:42:03together... That will cost her a bit of time. But this should put her in
2:42:03 > 2:42:10with confidence for the next run. You're right, she was looking top
2:42:10 > 2:42:16ten at one stage, but it just tailed off. The mistake midway has proved
2:42:16 > 2:42:28costly at the end.A lot of the Australian skeleton sliders came
2:42:28 > 2:42:36from surf life-saving, so they transferred their skills across. And
2:42:36 > 2:42:40they taught them how to do skeleton. They had a development programme
2:42:40 > 2:42:50like we have in Great Britain. They poached theirs from life-saving.
2:42:50 > 2:42:55There is one more athlete to go. We have had lots of slices of history
2:42:55 > 2:42:59in the sliding events so far. Another one here as the Nigerian
2:42:59 > 2:43:04flags are
2:43:04 > 2:43:08flags are waved for the 36-year-old who now makes history. She becomes
2:43:08 > 2:43:14the first Nigerian skeleton athlete to ever compete in the sport. And
2:43:14 > 2:43:19later in the week, she will be joined by the Nigerian bobsleigh
2:43:19 > 2:43:22team, part of the first delegation of Nigerian athletes to compete at
2:43:22 > 2:43:29the Winter Games. John, we all wish her a good run here. I saw a couple
2:43:29 > 2:43:34of her training runs. The track was getting the better of her.Yeah, she
2:43:34 > 2:43:46doesn't have experience. But this is where it will start. She just needs
2:43:46 > 2:43:55to get the control. This is just an experience for her. She has not had
2:43:55 > 2:44:06enough experience to settle down. Again, a heavy hit. She is all over
2:44:06 > 2:44:12the place here. Hopefully, she will get to the top on the next run and
2:44:12 > 2:44:16settle in. You conceive the difference between the top sliders
2:44:16 > 2:44:28and how easy the top girls make it look. These are the common mistakes.
2:44:28 > 2:44:33But look, she's competing and she's happy.To be here, representing your
2:44:33 > 2:44:36country and to have qualified for these games is an incredible thing
2:44:36 > 2:44:45to do.It is indeed. Adeagbo completes her run and hopefully can
2:44:45 > 2:44:51build on that experience. The 20 athletes will all get four runs, so
2:44:51 > 2:45:01she will have another three cracks.
2:45:03 > 2:45:07Let's quickly ask you about Lizzy Yarnold. Leading after run one, but
2:45:07 > 2:45:11looking wobbly when she went back into the changing room. What is your
2:45:11 > 2:45:16take on that, Amy Williams?It didn't seem to affect her run. She
2:45:16 > 2:45:24had a great start and she looked in control until that last bit. As we
2:45:24 > 2:45:30so her take her helmet off, she did look a bit concerned about something
2:45:30 > 2:45:34and was holding on the coach's arm of the bottom. She has this inner
2:45:34 > 2:45:40ear problem. It will be interesting to know whether she was a bit
2:45:40 > 2:45:44worried about it all felt a bit iffy in the bottom corners, but it didn't
2:45:44 > 2:45:50seem to affect her performance.
2:45:51 > 2:46:01Confirmation, Lizzy Yarnold leads. Laura Deas in six plays. Amongst the
2:46:01 > 2:46:07ones who are struggling, somewhat surprisingly, the Canadian pair of
2:46:07 > 2:46:12Jane
2:46:15 > 2:46:20Jane Channel and Elizabeth battle. But Lizzy Yarnold leading and the
2:46:20 > 2:46:27second run isn't far away. CLARE BALDING: Lizzy Yarnold, out in
2:46:27 > 2:46:32front. Alex, we will see those shots again getting off the sled, but
2:46:32 > 2:46:38let's talk about her run and what she got right.She stayed calm, she
2:46:38 > 2:46:43didn't panic, she made a few mistakes but she didn't let it upset
2:46:43 > 2:46:47her. She got down nice and safely in first place, which is where you want
2:46:47 > 2:46:52to be at the end of the first run. She is the defending champion, she
2:46:52 > 2:46:58doesn't seem to get nervous and almost grow with the occasion. She
2:46:58 > 2:47:01has talked about this listening to an orchestra of information as you
2:47:01 > 2:47:08are going down the track, listening to the track and to yourself?It is
2:47:08 > 2:47:12about working with the track and not against it. When it is technical
2:47:12 > 2:47:17like this, that is what you have got to do. She will take in everything
2:47:17 > 2:47:20around her and you have got to be quick with your thinking and
2:47:20 > 2:47:24reaction, just to make sure you set yourself up as perfectly as you can
2:47:24 > 2:47:30for the coming bends.You cannot win it on the Thursday, but you can lose
2:47:30 > 2:47:35it. It is no bad thing to post a mark that says to everybody else, I
2:47:35 > 2:47:42am back, I am in form and I am the champion.She has been here before,
2:47:42 > 2:47:46she is experienced at this and she should go away pretty satisfied.
2:47:46 > 2:47:51This is the bit we are concerned about. Turn ten were loads of people
2:47:51 > 2:47:56had trouble, she was smooth and didn't lose time. We will see the
2:47:56 > 2:48:02shots at the end. She has had this problem, a balance issue, that
2:48:02 > 2:48:07sometimes going down the track, she hasn't quite necessarily known where
2:48:07 > 2:48:13she is. She actually looks better but it is the shots when she
2:48:13 > 2:48:17immediately got off the sled, she looked disorientated.Hopefully she
2:48:17 > 2:48:22will go and talk to her team and support crew. I would imagine she
2:48:22 > 2:48:25has experienced this before and they will know how to do with it. She has
2:48:25 > 2:48:29time to have a rest and backed off from the track and hopefully she
2:48:29 > 2:48:35will be ready for the second run. Laura Deas is in sixth after the
2:48:35 > 2:48:40first run. She made a mistake at turn ten, could you see her, if she
2:48:40 > 2:48:48can get things right, moving up the leaderboard?Definitely. She had a
2:48:48 > 2:48:55brilliant start. That corner is causing a lot of people, a lot of
2:48:55 > 2:49:00problems. She posted such good times in the training run, she can ride
2:49:00 > 2:49:04the corner well, she just needs to do it in the race.There is nothing
2:49:04 > 2:49:08wrong getting the bit between your teeth after the first run. It is
2:49:08 > 2:49:18possibly a good position for her to be in.She might be angry with
2:49:18 > 2:49:21herself for not getting it right first time but she has three more
2:49:21 > 2:49:26runs to get that corner right. Each time you do the run, you can improve
2:49:26 > 2:49:30on it.She just slides from one side to the other, and the Mace show the
2:49:30 > 2:49:36slow motions, there is a shot from behind where you can see the impact
2:49:36 > 2:49:43and her swinging one way and then crashing into the track.She made
2:49:43 > 2:49:47speed on the bottom section after the mistake?That is the right thing
2:49:47 > 2:49:52to do, she didn't come up off the sled, she kept her body nice and
2:49:52 > 2:49:55tight with the sled and got straight back into the steering for the next
2:49:55 > 2:50:01bend.You can see it in slow motion. With your body, when you know you
2:50:01 > 2:50:07are going to make the impact, what do you do?On that occasion, you
2:50:07 > 2:50:13want to tens of the bit, some people, when they are impacting,
2:50:13 > 2:50:19they are coming right off the sled. Then they will bang back down on it,
2:50:19 > 2:50:22skid out of it, if you know you are going to crash, you should tens of
2:50:22 > 2:50:31the pit and as you impact, you should relax again.Pre-empted.
2:50:31 > 2:50:35Jacqueline Lolling, who set the early pace, the World Cup leader
2:50:35 > 2:50:41from Germany, even she wasn't completely smooth through it?No one
2:50:41 > 2:50:44had a perfect run, she was very clean for the majority of the time.
2:50:44 > 2:50:50Here is Laura again. This is a very difficult bend. It is one of the key
2:50:50 > 2:51:00parts of this track.
2:51:00 > 2:51:02parts of this track.The Canadian, Mirela Rahneva, that was one of the
2:51:02 > 2:51:08worst, with the speed she hit?Yes, you can almost brush off it and it
2:51:08 > 2:51:12won't affect you too much.This is how to do it smoothly, Lizzy
2:51:12 > 2:51:19Yarnold. From that aerial shot, you can see how relaxed she is on the
2:51:19 > 2:51:26sled?Inner ear issues is painful for anyone in daily life, imagine
2:51:26 > 2:51:36having that at 80 miles an hour?She recovers very quickly, but you could
2:51:36 > 2:51:43see her going...We are not to watch it and panic and think she cannot
2:51:43 > 2:51:49deliver, she will be able to deliver, she has had this before.
2:51:49 > 2:51:53They are used to dealing with it now, she has had it for a long time.
2:51:53 > 2:51:59They were set in motion the plan they normally do when this happens.
2:51:59 > 2:52:03Just to recap, Lizzy Yarnold is in first position and will go last in
2:52:03 > 2:52:08run two and Laura Deas will go sixth last because she has only five
2:52:08 > 2:52:11sliders faster than her after the first run and she know she can
2:52:11 > 2:52:20improve. 12:30pm that will run on BBC One. We will be suspecting to
2:52:20 > 2:52:25BBC Two roundabout when Laura Deas goes, so Lizzy Yarnold, you will see
2:52:25 > 2:52:29her second run on BBC Two. But on BBC One we have been celebrating
2:52:29 > 2:52:34Britain's first medallist from these games, Dom Parsons, taking the
2:52:34 > 2:52:39bronze medal in the men's Skeleton, moving up to third place because of
2:52:39 > 2:52:46a mistake from Martins Dukurs. All smiles for Dom Parsons. We will be
2:52:46 > 2:52:50talking to him very shortly. Right now, over on the red button you can
2:52:50 > 2:53:00follow the curling. Cammy Smith, the lead for the men's's team, Carl
2:53:00 > 2:53:04Waddle and Thomas Muirhead. Thomas Muirhead, Eve Muirhead's younger
2:53:04 > 2:53:12brother. And he goes there before handing over to the skip, Kyle
2:53:12 > 2:53:18Smith. All 25 years and younger. They are up against Sweden, a
2:53:18 > 2:53:21rematch of the European Championship final from a few months ago which
2:53:21 > 2:53:32Sweden one. But the closing stages and Great Britain are leading having
2:53:32 > 2:53:45taken two. This is the Swedish skip. Experienced side.
2:53:47 > 2:53:53Experienced side. Sweden have got the hammer. Looks as if he was just
2:53:53 > 2:53:59going to slide in. Now they sleep. Bit of urgency. Double yellow
2:53:59 > 2:54:05stones, let's go to Steve Cram, you can update us as to what is
2:54:05 > 2:54:11happening. COMMENTATOR: Great Britain have been
2:54:11 > 2:54:17playing exceptionally well until last few minutes. One or two
2:54:17 > 2:54:26mistakes have
2:54:26 > 2:54:31mistakes have allowed Sweden to take advantage. They have the hammer
2:54:31 > 2:54:34here. Britain forced them to take one in the first end. Played that
2:54:34 > 2:54:40one really well. Really good structured second end. Picked up
2:54:40 > 2:54:49two. Then a steel in the third means they lead 3-1 and we have seen a
2:54:49 > 2:54:56couple of wonderful shots from Oskar Eriksson, the Swedish third. Cammy
2:54:56 > 2:55:01Smith, Kyle Waddell, thinking about a time-out. What you do want to do,
2:55:01 > 2:55:05if they can help it, they have given away the two, they don't want to
2:55:05 > 2:55:13allow more than that if possible. Logan Gray and Jackie Lockhart with
2:55:13 > 2:55:21me. Logan, what are the options? They have just called a time-out.
2:55:21 > 2:55:28Horrible position to be in. They do have a stone in second shot at the
2:55:28 > 2:55:32front of the forefoot, but they will have to do something pretty good not
2:55:32 > 2:55:38to lose two or three, anyway.
2:55:38 > 2:55:41to lose two or three, anyway. The British coach is on his way down but
2:55:41 > 2:55:45he is also a former team-mate of Niklas Edin.I wonder if there will
2:55:45 > 2:55:52be a little word or a smile. Completely ignored him.He has got a
2:55:52 > 2:55:56job to do and he will do it very well. This is the first time we have
2:55:56 > 2:56:01seen the boys under pressure in this end. The first three ends, we have
2:56:01 > 2:56:04been playing very well but the Swedish boys have been making
2:56:04 > 2:56:10errors. In this end, the Swedish boys haven't made any errors, so
2:56:10 > 2:56:13they have come back when our boys have asked the question, they have
2:56:13 > 2:56:20come back and played some good shots.The thing about the coach, he
2:56:20 > 2:56:25comes in and put it back to the players. If I am a player, I am
2:56:25 > 2:56:43looking for a sign from the coach. They are talking about...
2:56:45 > 2:56:50Make that one roll over there. That one over there. Those of the two
2:56:50 > 2:56:59options.Let's make a call then.The clock is running down. They didn't
2:56:59 > 2:57:06even acknowledge him. Didn't even look over once.He is telling them
2:57:06 > 2:57:13what to do, what they would do.
2:57:17 > 2:57:21what to do, what they would do.The coach has gone and what did they
2:57:21 > 2:57:28decide?What they are going to do is the shot with the highest reward,
2:57:28 > 2:57:33but also the highest risk. They going to try to put their own yellow
2:57:33 > 2:57:37and rolled over towards the red, just played by Niklas Edin. The
2:57:37 > 2:57:44danger with this shot, and I would be a bit scared, is that you just
2:57:44 > 2:57:50pick out your own yellow stone and leave a shot for four.Exactly, I
2:57:50 > 2:57:53was holding up my forefingers. If this goes wrong... Let's hope it
2:57:53 > 2:57:58doesn't. Kyle Smith has played some wonderful shots in the match so far
2:57:58 > 2:58:05and we are still in the early stages.
2:58:05 > 2:58:13stages.Great shot.Good effort, he is lying two. There is an option.
2:58:13 > 2:58:19Even the double takeout. He wouldn't be able to pick up... Would he get
2:58:19 > 2:58:35three? I am not sure he would. Almost, almost. The issue really
2:58:35 > 2:58:41then the Niklas Edin, is he going to play double takeout?Yes, but only
2:58:41 > 2:58:46to score two, if he can.The other British stone is on the right hand
2:58:46 > 2:58:53side.Super shot by Kyle Smith, you have do have nerves of steel to make
2:58:53 > 2:58:59a shot like that.Niklas Edin trying to take out both of these British
2:58:59 > 2:59:04stones and then he manages it pretty well. They take their two. Not sure
2:59:04 > 2:59:11it is worth looking at, Thomas Muirhead has a look around. Now we
2:59:11 > 2:59:18are all square, tied up after four ends. Little bit of momentum swing
2:59:18 > 2:59:21back to Sweden. It has been all with Great Britain up to this point, but
2:59:21 > 2:59:27let's remind you, this Swedish team, many people are saying are certainly
2:59:27 > 2:59:32capable of winning the gold medal. Canada will always be the
2:59:32 > 2:59:35favourites, but they have been in great form over the last couple of
2:59:35 > 2:59:42years. Won the grand slam tour in Canada and major championships as
2:59:42 > 2:59:49well. This is Niklas Edin's six European Championships against Great
2:59:49 > 2:59:56Britain in December, against this team here.
2:59:59 > 3:00:02Elsewhere, well keeping you up-to-date. There was a good
3:00:02 > 3:00:05atmosphere tonight. Korea are trailing against Canada but they are
3:00:05 > 3:00:09doing a good job against them. The United States are walking all over
3:00:09 > 3:00:14Denmark, 6-1 up at the moment. Switzerland got off to a good start
3:00:14 > 3:00:22against Japan. But they have not got off to a good start in this
3:00:22 > 3:00:25competition. Great Britain face of the three best teams, Switzerland
3:00:25 > 3:00:31included, Sweden here and of course Canada. And having won two of them
3:00:31 > 3:00:35already, a win here would be a major bonus given the tough start they
3:00:35 > 3:00:40have had.
3:00:40 > 3:00:52have had. So the hammer transfers to the British team.
3:01:00 > 3:01:12It looks heavy.Smith has done well. We were talking about the stats
3:01:12 > 3:01:19earlier. At one point, he was at 100%.
3:01:22 > 3:01:26100%.I think that fourth end was a sign of what Sweden can do. They
3:01:26 > 3:01:31played a perfect end and could have scored as many as four, if Kyle had
3:01:31 > 3:01:37not played a fantastic last stone. Such a dangerous team, the Swedish
3:01:37 > 3:01:42side.
3:01:47 > 3:01:50side.But it is a bit tit-for-tat as well. You can have great shots on
3:01:50 > 3:01:55either
3:01:56 > 3:02:05either side.
3:02:12 > 3:02:19Not as much pressure as they would have liked to exert.
3:02:24 > 3:02:30Looking pretty good here.
3:02:40 > 3:02:49Looking miles ahead. I don't know if it's the advantage that Niklas Edin
3:02:49 > 3:02:54has, but playing in lots of championships rather than playing
3:02:54 > 3:02:58against strong Canadian teams, only one Canadian team can represent
3:02:58 > 3:03:06Canada at the Olympic Games. We have had a situation this time where
3:03:06 > 3:03:11people have won before. Canada have two former medallists this time
3:03:11 > 3:03:23around. Would Canada still be your favourite, or...? I have heard
3:03:23 > 3:03:30people say Edin may be the favourite.50-50 for me. It depends
3:03:30 > 3:03:38who turns up on the day.You're sitting on the fence! I'm going to
3:03:38 > 3:03:44send Niklas Edin.
3:03:45 > 3:03:48send Niklas Edin.Just to remind you that you played in nine matches.
3:03:48 > 3:03:53There are ten teams taking part. You play the other night and the top
3:03:53 > 3:03:56four are ranked on a win loss record and make it through to the
3:03:56 > 3:04:01semifinals.
3:04:07 > 3:04:13If there is a tie for the fourth place, there was a tie-break
3:04:13 > 3:04:22session.
3:04:22 > 3:04:26session. Ideally, to make sure you will be in the semifinal, you have
3:04:26 > 3:04:35to win six matches. If you win five, you may need a tie-break.
3:04:40 > 3:04:43you may need a tie-break.Niklas Edin here's been very clever and
3:04:43 > 3:04:50setting loss of stones up at the front here.
3:04:50 > 3:04:58We saw that in the last end.
3:05:05 > 3:05:12I think GB have spotted the danger early.
3:05:14 > 3:05:17early. It is still very early in the end as well. So this will give them
3:05:17 > 3:05:25a better opportunity to get a better opening.
3:05:29 > 3:05:33opening. It does feel like there is a change in feeling in the Swedish
3:05:33 > 3:05:36camp. They have taken a lot of confidence from that fourth end and
3:05:36 > 3:05:45they seem to be attacking more. They are taking more risks and playing a
3:05:45 > 3:05:53game where they feel the GB team are not quite at the same level.We were
3:05:53 > 3:05:59chatting earlier about this idea that Great Britain were very relaxed
3:05:59 > 3:06:06at the beginning, which was great. And Sweden had maybe not quite woken
3:06:06 > 3:06:10up to the fact that they were in a game here. Their first three
3:06:10 > 3:06:14matches, they jumped to an early lead and almost cruised home. They
3:06:14 > 3:06:20have certainly woken up now. It is important that Britain continue to
3:06:20 > 3:06:32play in the manner in which they started this match.
3:06:32 > 3:06:35started this match.It feels like Team GB got a bit of a fright in the
3:06:35 > 3:06:40fourth and the mood seems more stern.But Kyle still played that
3:06:40 > 3:06:51cracking shot.I know. It was only until that Eriksson shot... This
3:06:51 > 3:07:01looks good.
3:07:04 > 3:07:12He has found his draw weight. He has struggled with it, but is much
3:07:12 > 3:07:22better tonight.
3:07:23 > 3:07:28Talking about freeze, maintaining the temperature in the arena is
3:07:28 > 3:07:33helped by these big blowers near us which blow out cold air. We are
3:07:33 > 3:07:41conveniently set very close and they are working on full pelt tonight.
3:07:41 > 3:07:50Niklas Edin has a few options here. You saw him indicating the top
3:07:50 > 3:07:58yellow. I think he wants to control the four free to the top of the
3:07:58 > 3:08:03house and make it difficult for Great Britain to score more than
3:08:03 > 3:08:08one.
3:08:19 > 3:08:30Oskar Eriksson played some great shots in the previous end.
3:08:30 > 3:08:39shots in the previous end.But that makes it difficult for themselves.
3:08:39 > 3:08:49The trouble is, these guys' accuracy, they can put one red on to
3:08:49 > 3:08:59another red easily.That is what I am worried about here.
3:08:59 > 3:09:07am worried about here. Just need to be a bit wary.Niklas Edin is always
3:09:07 > 3:09:13looking to or three shots ahead of himself.
3:09:36 > 3:09:42Is that the top red or the yellow?
3:09:45 > 3:09:50Now, if his radar back on target? It's been slightly off in the first
3:09:50 > 3:09:55three ends.
3:09:55 > 3:10:03three ends.It was when they gave the steel away.
3:10:10 > 3:10:24Well, well, well. We talked about what he did in the last end.
3:10:24 > 3:10:36Overall, the skipper has not been performing to his high standards.
3:11:02 > 3:11:13The only has one more stone.
3:11:16 > 3:11:20But if he did that, the boy still have a free draw. So they are trying
3:11:20 > 3:11:27to take him away from the free shop that is in the house at the moment.
3:11:27 > 3:11:33Making chase a different stone.This kind of shot is where communication
3:11:33 > 3:11:39is critical.
3:11:45 > 3:11:55They need to get it spot on.Stone placement is key.They are not
3:11:55 > 3:12:08sweeping it much.Steady, boys. Perfect. Stopped just in time. A
3:12:08 > 3:12:13great shot. If you're not sure about the rules, once it passes that the
3:12:13 > 3:12:20line, the horizontal line, Sweden are allowed to sweep it. One of the
3:12:20 > 3:12:23Swedish sweepers was trying to get it another two or three inches
3:12:23 > 3:12:30deeper in the house.
3:12:30 > 3:12:32deeper in the house.This is definitely forcing Niklas Edin to
3:12:32 > 3:12:42chase that shot.
3:12:42 > 3:12:48chase that shot.They caught that one of its fine, the sweepers. But
3:12:48 > 3:13:00they have put it in a prime spot. Niklas Edin wants to put as much
3:13:00 > 3:13:09pressure as he can on the British skip.He was hoping to roll to the
3:13:09 > 3:13:18other side of the red. Great opportunity here now for a hit and
3:13:18 > 3:13:30stick and a two.Not quite his night so far. He came into this game with
3:13:30 > 3:13:35impressive stats. He had been shooting at 90% in the matches so
3:13:35 > 3:13:41far. Top of the league. He has certainly not been up to that level
3:13:41 > 3:13:44this evening, and that is why Great Britain have a good handle on this
3:13:44 > 3:14:00match now. Now, looking for the chance to take two.
3:14:01 > 3:14:04Nice shot. Kyle Smith continues the great form he has shown this
3:14:04 > 3:14:08evening. They pick up two in the fifth end. Great Britain lead Sweden
3:14:08 > 3:14:165-3. CLARE: They have a break now in the
3:14:16 > 3:14:20fifth end. He will be wondering what he could have done better, because
3:14:20 > 3:14:26Sweden trail.
3:14:30 > 3:14:34Sweden trail. That will continue on the red button. We will be joining
3:14:34 > 3:14:37it again at the conclusion of the second run of the bone shuddering
3:14:37 > 3:14:44skeleton.
3:14:47 > 3:14:54Laura Deas, one of the fastest starters in the field.It is down to
3:14:54 > 3:15:02you in that moment. There is nobody else.
3:15:02 > 3:15:09else. I love this sport. I am in it because I want to win.Lizzy
3:15:09 > 3:15:17Yarnold, is the Olympic champion. My goodness.The Brits have arrived
3:15:17 > 3:15:22because Lizzy Yarnold, the defending champion is the fastest after the
3:15:22 > 3:15:32first run. A time of 51.66 seconds sees her narrowly in
3:15:32 > 3:15:34sees her narrowly in front of Jacqueline Lolling Germany. Laura
3:15:34 > 3:15:41Deas is sixth fastest and we were concerned that Lizzie was mouthing
3:15:41 > 3:15:46the words, dizzy, as she got off her sled. She has been suffering from
3:15:46 > 3:15:52these mini blackouts during her runs, Alex?Yes, I think she is used
3:15:52 > 3:15:55to this, at least it has happened before, it is not like it is the
3:15:55 > 3:15:59first time. She will have the team around her and they will know what
3:15:59 > 3:16:06to do to get her ready for the second run.Laura Deas, had a very
3:16:06 > 3:16:13good run, had a little bit of a mistake at turn ten?This race, has
3:16:13 > 3:16:17four runs, every run, the positions will change, people will go faster,
3:16:17 > 3:16:20they will be making mistakes and they won't be making mistakes.She
3:16:20 > 3:16:28is well in there at the moment. She is not far of the spaces in front of
3:16:28 > 3:16:32her.We have had a lot of questions from viewers who are watching
3:16:32 > 3:16:37Skeleton for the first time. Kim says, when we look at the start, and
3:16:37 > 3:16:41there were very good start from both of our British competitors, how long
3:16:41 > 3:16:47can they push the sled before they jump on it and light on it?They
3:16:47 > 3:16:51have 50 metres, but as you are pushing the sled, you are going down
3:16:51 > 3:16:55a hill. At some point, the sled starts to run away from you about is
3:16:55 > 3:17:00when you have to get your timing absolutely perfect. You want to push
3:17:00 > 3:17:03as long as possible, but you don't want the sled to be racing down the
3:17:03 > 3:17:09track and leaving you at the top. Laura Deas was the second fastest
3:17:09 > 3:17:14starter. Lizzie's start, you are tellingly, Alex, when you started
3:17:14 > 3:17:19you are behind the sled with two hands on it?We used to have both
3:17:19 > 3:17:23hands on the sled which puts more pressure on it. They have changed
3:17:23 > 3:17:33and with the one hand, it is faster, but it is more dangers. Jeff Pain,
3:17:33 > 3:17:37Canadian in 2002, he came on the track and he was doing this groovy,
3:17:37 > 3:17:42one-sided thing and we thought, that will not take off and that is what
3:17:42 > 3:17:45everybody does now.Question from Luke Arnolds, why is it called
3:17:45 > 3:17:53Skeleton?It originates from being called Skeleton bobsleigh. Then it
3:17:53 > 3:17:57became Skeleton Bob. You take a bobsleigh, strip ever think of it
3:17:57 > 3:18:03and then you are left with just the Skeleton. Then the word Bob was
3:18:03 > 3:18:08dropped and it just became Skeleton. Jade says what happens if the slider
3:18:08 > 3:18:12falls off the sled but crosses the line with a winning time, as we see
3:18:12 > 3:18:17Lizzie coming over the winning line. They pull up in this and Granollers
3:18:17 > 3:18:23way. Both feet out, it looks like it will be painful on the toes. Let's
3:18:23 > 3:18:30look at what Lizzie was saying. Just a bit dizzy. Wanting some support.
3:18:30 > 3:18:36She comes round quickly and looks happier coming off the track. But
3:18:36 > 3:18:40the question being, what happens if you come off your sled and you slide
3:18:40 > 3:18:44over the winning line and your time is fast this?It is possible to come
3:18:44 > 3:18:49off the sled on the track and get back on it. I have done it myself.
3:18:49 > 3:18:52That rules they must be in contact with your sled when you cross the
3:18:52 > 3:18:58finish line. You can like that as long as you are in contact with the
3:18:58 > 3:19:06sled.Would it be the sled's time or your time?If you are capable of
3:19:06 > 3:19:10towing your sled in front of you across the line, that would count.
3:19:10 > 3:19:15But I wouldn't suggest it.A lot of questions about the money being
3:19:15 > 3:19:19invested in the technology. White of the helmets not more aerodynamic?
3:19:19 > 3:19:27They looked like they could be shaped even more?The helmet rule is
3:19:27 > 3:19:30one of the rules that states nothing aerodynamic can be done to the
3:19:30 > 3:19:37helmet. The idea is to make it a level playing field so the rich
3:19:37 > 3:19:42companies who invest a lot of money don't gain an unfair advantage.Are
3:19:42 > 3:19:48you allowed to wear body protection like on your spine like we do in
3:19:48 > 3:19:53skiing?You can wear protection that can stop you injuring yourself, but
3:19:53 > 3:19:57the rules say no aerodynamic additions whatsoever. It is a
3:19:57 > 3:20:02clear-cut rule. If you try to claim something was just for protection
3:20:02 > 3:20:04but the jury decided it was aerodynamic, you would have to take
3:20:04 > 3:20:12it.All those questions were coming across on social media, so use a
3:20:12 > 3:20:19hash tag Aske Alex. The second run, they go in reverse order. So for the
3:20:19 > 3:20:25fourth run they will go leader lass. Which is better, first or last?
3:20:25 > 3:20:29Depends on the ice, you want the best ice. Normally the first one
3:20:29 > 3:20:33down get the better ice because it is cleaner. But it is so cold at the
3:20:33 > 3:20:38moment I don't think it will make that much difference. The other side
3:20:38 > 3:20:42of it is, going lass, you see everybody going out of the start
3:20:42 > 3:20:46house. If you are the winner, you end up on your own in this big room,
3:20:46 > 3:20:52everyone else has finished and that can be quite frightening experience.
3:20:52 > 3:20:56Amy Williams was talking about that, she said everybody disappears and it
3:20:56 > 3:21:01becomes quieter and quieter. It is a different type of tension. We are
3:21:01 > 3:21:12going to head Bullrun two. Coverage of the curling continues on the red
3:21:12 > 3:21:16button. He is Kendall Wesenberg at the starting gate.
3:21:16 > 3:21:23Go back to John Hunt. COMMENTATOR: Kendall Wesenberg going now, sitting
3:21:23 > 3:21:29in 17th place. The 17-year-old from the United States whose grandmother
3:21:29 > 3:21:33was from Cornwall. She struggled through inexperience or ability, a
3:21:33 > 3:21:41mixture of both in run number one, Amy?Yes, not quite getting the
3:21:41 > 3:21:45steering exactly right. It is very hard when you are learning. You have
3:21:45 > 3:21:48got to feel the pressure through your body and through the sled and
3:21:48 > 3:21:53then correct the steering, change the direction of the sled at exactly
3:21:53 > 3:21:57the right point. It is a lot to take on but that is how you do that
3:21:57 > 3:22:05corner. She has got hair steering in corner nine spot on. Let's hope she
3:22:05 > 3:22:12can keep that speed to this unique uphill section and hold on the end.
3:22:12 > 3:22:2152.77 was her time from the first run this will be comparable.
3:22:21 > 3:22:23run this will be comparable. 52.96, slightly slower. Later on, it looked
3:22:23 > 3:22:29cleaner banned the first run?It did, certainly down the bottom but
3:22:29 > 3:22:33her mistake was at the top between two and three. It does cost you a
3:22:33 > 3:22:42lot of time. It is hard to pick the speed up down the bottom.You could
3:22:42 > 3:22:47then, like she did, have a clean bottom section but you haven't got
3:22:47 > 3:22:52the speed out of the second corner. It is a vital corner to get right,
3:22:52 > 3:22:56to keep that speed through the flat section, which is three, four and
3:22:56 > 3:23:06five.Next ago, the young
3:23:06 > 3:23:09five.Next ago, the young Belgian Kim Meylemans. She had two top ten
3:23:09 > 3:23:16finishes in Whistler. In Canada she finished fifth and that was her best
3:23:16 > 3:23:22placing on the circuit for the last three years. She is world number 13
3:23:22 > 3:23:29and in 16th place.Her first run wasn't so bad, just little errors
3:23:29 > 3:23:32here and there. She will be looking to come down the track and sort them
3:23:32 > 3:23:38out. Nice and clean through two and three. She will carry has speed to
3:23:38 > 3:23:45the start. Little bit of a high line, but it works for her. Coming
3:23:45 > 3:23:50to seven, you can hear her head as she gets a little bit high. Her
3:23:50 > 3:23:57helmet is scraping against the ice. She was probably literally angled a
3:23:57 > 3:24:02tiny little bit which shifted her cross. But this is a good, clean
3:24:02 > 3:24:10run.She comes into corner 15, up the hill and into 16, the final
3:24:10 > 3:24:20bend.52.56, bettered by 52.54 which is consistent and reasonably quick.
3:24:20 > 3:24:25Not the sort of speed that will take her towards the leaders.Someone
3:24:25 > 3:24:30asking me on Twitter, I have done a bit of a hash tag Aske Amy. I will
3:24:30 > 3:24:37try to ask as many as I can. Someone asked why we don't have a track in
3:24:37 > 3:24:43the UK? They cost millions of pounds to make and we have the push track
3:24:43 > 3:24:47at Bath University the British sliders use which is a dry track we
3:24:47 > 3:24:51practice starting on. If we could make it into an ice has come it
3:24:51 > 3:24:55would be incredible because you could push these exact sleds on it.
3:24:55 > 3:24:58But we don't have our own tracks so we have to travel around the world
3:24:58 > 3:25:03all winds of the six months. That was showing us the different lines
3:25:03 > 3:25:09of different athletes going down the track.Meylemans is happy, leader
3:25:09 > 3:25:18for the moment. Next for Australia, Dom Parsons's partner.
3:25:18 > 3:25:20Dom Parsons's partner. This is Jaclyn Narracott who goes for
3:25:20 > 3:25:24Australia at her first Olympic Games. She finished eighth in San
3:25:24 > 3:25:30Moritz and that was the best of her top 15 finishes this winter.She is
3:25:30 > 3:25:35an experienced slider and has been around for a long time, but never
3:25:35 > 3:25:42quite made the mark. Whether she hasn't got the equipment, that is
3:25:42 > 3:25:47the best weather, the technology or she is not settling in. She looks a
3:25:47 > 3:25:51little bit tense, like she has not sunk into the sled. When I am
3:25:51 > 3:25:57teaching you athletes, I tell them to be like a sack of potatoes on the
3:25:57 > 3:26:03sled, you have to become one being, you and the sled.Losing some time,
3:26:03 > 3:26:12those mistakes from nine down.
3:26:12 > 3:26:16those mistakes from nine down.52.76 is her time, slower than run number
3:26:16 > 3:26:22one. But she goes seconds.Dom Parsons, watching his girlfriend,
3:26:22 > 3:26:26they have been dating for the last few years. He managed to get here
3:26:26 > 3:26:33quickly to watch and everyone is supporting one another. You can just
3:26:33 > 3:26:38see her going around very high. She drops off and is almost having to
3:26:38 > 3:26:42skid into the next corner and she cannot keep control and is hitting
3:26:42 > 3:26:47very hard left into corner 12. Silly athletes now have to go off into the
3:26:47 > 3:26:55room. On the first run, they get their sled Wade, their body weight
3:26:55 > 3:27:04weight because there is a minimum maximum weight sled.There is some
3:27:04 > 3:27:07snow in the outcome but I don't think it is coming down hard enough
3:27:07 > 3:27:15to affect things, Amy?No, it is that floaty snow. If anything came
3:27:15 > 3:27:18down hard, they do have shades, but I don't think this will be settling
3:27:18 > 3:27:31on the track.Next ago, this 29-year-old from Canada. She will be
3:27:31 > 3:27:41disappointed she is as far back as 14th, Mirela Rahneva.She has got a
3:27:41 > 3:27:45black visor and we have had a lot of questions about bar. We put shampoo
3:27:45 > 3:27:50on the inside and wipe it off to help with the fog and misting up.
3:27:50 > 3:27:59Some athletes prefer black, orange, yellow all clear. We are trying to
3:27:59 > 3:28:06look at the profile of the eyes, trying to see the textures of the
3:28:06 > 3:28:11ice.
3:28:12 > 3:28:19ice.Then 15, Mirela Rahneva. She was very high in the final bend. She
3:28:19 > 3:28:27has gone 52.33, quite a bit quicker than the first run.Quite big chunks
3:28:27 > 3:28:33of times. There is a little race within its own between the top ten
3:28:33 > 3:28:43and the bottom ten. We are coming out into the top athletes.Overall,
3:28:43 > 3:28:47it was a lot more tidy, she just tidied up the mistakes up from the
3:28:47 > 3:28:54first run.
3:28:54 > 3:28:59first run. That is about how one is faster than the other. Great shots,
3:28:59 > 3:29:02especially when the sleds are overlaid and you can see them close
3:29:02 > 3:29:07together.They are good, one good athlete is compared to one who has
3:29:07 > 3:29:17got it all wrong. There she is.We do a lot of video feedback, filming
3:29:17 > 3:29:24the starts and exits into each corner.Here is Sophia Zhong, she
3:29:24 > 3:29:29was first to go earlier on and she did throw down what we thought was a
3:29:29 > 3:29:35good time of 52.40 seven. But so many women have gone much quicker
3:29:35 > 3:29:40than her. Despite the promise of the first run, she does have some ground
3:29:40 > 3:29:46to make up.She was very messy on the first run, but relatively quick
3:29:46 > 3:29:50to the girls around her. If he puts in a good run, she could move up
3:29:50 > 3:29:59quite a few places.She has managed to make quite a few mistakes, but
3:29:59 > 3:30:05has has done something she is up and down. She knows this track really
3:30:05 > 3:30:12well. Let's just see if she can go back into the green. Not quite.Not
3:30:12 > 3:30:20to be. She goes third, of those who have gone already. Nearing the
3:30:20 > 3:30:25halfway stage of this second run. That was to do with the big mistake
3:30:25 > 3:30:31as she came down the little chicane, the Dragon's tale. There was too
3:30:31 > 3:30:36much for her to do around the bottom. We know the big corner 12
3:30:36 > 3:30:43costs so much time for the bottom of the track.
3:30:43 > 3:30:47That was such a hard hit. Her whole body is coming off the sled and it's
3:30:47 > 3:30:54hard to control, but she did get it under control. But hitting it with
3:30:54 > 3:30:59that falls would have bled time from her.Perhaps the biggest surprise of
3:30:59 > 3:31:03round number one was the disappointing performance of
3:31:03 > 3:31:07Elisabeth Vathje, the world number three coming into the Olympic Games.
3:31:07 > 3:31:14She finds herself languishing in 12th place, with much to do.I
3:31:14 > 3:31:21literally had her as one of my medal hopes. She will desperately be
3:31:21 > 3:31:27trying to correct the wrong is from her first run.
3:31:27 > 3:31:30her first run.Learning aside, she has probably been the most
3:31:30 > 3:31:35consistent slider of this season.I wonder if the Canadians as a whole
3:31:35 > 3:31:41have an issue with their equipment similar to what the German men had.
3:31:41 > 3:31:47There was no speed in the sled. Is it just something they have got
3:31:47 > 3:31:53wrong in their development? The lines were not bad on the first run.
3:31:53 > 3:31:57But she needs to get this right to pull herself back to the front.And
3:31:57 > 3:32:04she is doing that. She looks way more relaxed. Her lines are really
3:32:04 > 3:32:13good. She is at 126 kilometres an hour.She wobbled ferociously around
3:32:13 > 3:32:2416. In the first round, we had five women including Lizzy Yarnold who
3:32:24 > 3:32:35went under 52 seconds. So she still finds herself off the pace.That was
3:32:35 > 3:32:40four tenths quicker, so she has tidied up a lot from her first run.
3:32:40 > 3:32:44Maybe it was first run nerves, settling into the Olympic Games. But
3:32:44 > 3:32:54you have to be consistent over four runs.I fear that first run might
3:32:54 > 3:32:58have taken her out of the medals. Everyone else is going to be
3:32:58 > 3:33:05consistent unless they make major mistakes.Now to another Canadian,
3:33:05 > 3:33:14Jane Channell.
3:33:14 > 3:33:18Jane Channell. She finished fourth in the 2015 World Championships. She
3:33:18 > 3:33:28is at her first Olympic Games and she is number five in the world.
3:33:28 > 3:33:32These are all the top athletes that we see on the podium. She was having
3:33:32 > 3:33:43to fight to not let the sled skip to the left.
3:33:43 > 3:33:48the left.She placed 11th after the first run.This is a good-looking
3:33:48 > 3:33:55run so far.
3:33:55 > 3:33:59run so far. She needs to nail the straight to overtake her team-mate.
3:33:59 > 3:34:04You can hear how much her helmet is scraping on the wall from the
3:34:04 > 3:34:10G-forces. That is causing her to lose speed.For a clean run, I'm
3:34:10 > 3:34:18surprised she has not been making up more time. There was a slight drift,
3:34:18 > 3:34:21but I'm surprised she didn't get down quicker. They are either trying
3:34:21 > 3:34:26too hard or they haven't got the runners on. And that is causing her
3:34:26 > 3:34:33to grip too much. To me, that looked like a solid run. If I didn't see
3:34:33 > 3:34:39the times, I help would have put that in first place.I think she has
3:34:39 > 3:34:47come into band 12 and had to steer too hard.
3:34:47 > 3:34:52too hard. She has had to drive the led to much. You see the difference
3:34:52 > 3:34:56in the lines between the two Canadians. She is going a lot
3:34:56 > 3:35:01further around the corner than her team-mate. It might be an extra
3:35:01 > 3:35:07meter that she has travelled around the corner, which does cost a couple
3:35:07 > 3:35:18of hundredths here and there.
3:35:21 > 3:35:26Marina Gilardoni is in tenth place.
3:35:30 > 3:35:42She has yet to get close to landing a big one.
3:35:42 > 3:35:44a big one.She was a bobsleighed athlete and then made the transition
3:35:44 > 3:35:51to skeleton. She made some big inroads but has then plateaued to
3:35:51 > 3:35:57where she is now.With a lot of the athletes, we can hear their helmet
3:35:57 > 3:36:05on the ice. We do do a lot of neck strengthening in the summer with
3:36:05 > 3:36:11cables and police etc to try and strengthen our neck, but it can be
3:36:11 > 3:36:15hard. Sometimes on corners, you have pressure pushing your head down onto
3:36:15 > 3:36:20the ice.
3:36:25 > 3:36:30the ice.How is that for reliability?It's good to be
3:36:30 > 3:36:35consistent.
3:36:35 > 3:36:38consistent. But she is consistently middle of the road rather than
3:36:38 > 3:36:43consistently at the top. But if that is your limit, then if you can keep
3:36:43 > 3:36:48that together and be good on all the runs, that is all you can ask for.
3:36:48 > 3:37:02Then you have to upgrade your equipment. That was not a bad run.
3:37:05 > 3:37:09The athletes are just putting their sled is against the rails. There
3:37:09 > 3:37:14were now hang around, but their coats on and watch the rest of the
3:37:14 > 3:37:17athletes come down.Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands has happy memories
3:37:17 > 3:37:21of this track. She slid beautifully when third here in the World Cup
3:37:21 > 3:37:29event last March. She was beaten only by the disgraced Russian,
3:37:29 > 3:37:35Nikitina. Excellent course experience for Bos and she starts
3:37:35 > 3:37:40off joint eighth.It would be an excellent result if she could stay
3:37:40 > 3:37:48in the top eight.
3:37:49 > 3:37:51in the top eight. She needs to get this important part of the track
3:37:51 > 3:38:01right.
3:38:04 > 3:38:08She's entering the uphill sections, which you can't quite see on your TV
3:38:08 > 3:38:17screen. It is a big climb into the last corner.
3:38:17 > 3:38:20last corner.She gets second behind Elisabeth Vathje, who is still
3:38:20 > 3:38:31looking happy.
3:38:31 > 3:38:34looking happy. CLARE: Here on BBC One, we will be going to the news on
3:38:34 > 3:38:37one o'clock, which will probably mean the Laura Deas, who is
3:38:37 > 3:38:43currently in sixth place, her run will be on BBC Two and going in
3:38:43 > 3:38:47reverse order, Lizzy Yarnold will be last ago. She is the leader after
3:38:47 > 3:38:53run one. So run two will resume on BBC Two at one o'clock. The red
3:38:53 > 3:38:56button at the moment is showing Great Britain's men's curling team
3:38:56 > 3:39:06up against Sweden.
3:39:07 > 3:39:12Katie Uhlaender is next to go for the United States. She was an
3:39:12 > 3:39:17agonising fourth in Sochi. She is at her fourth Olympic Games. She was
3:39:17 > 3:39:22world champion in 2012. She has had a tremendously distinguished sliding
3:39:22 > 3:39:27career.
3:39:28 > 3:39:38career.This is the one she wants. Maybe she wanted a little too much,
3:39:38 > 3:39:45which is why she gives it 110%, 10% too much.She is desperate to get
3:39:45 > 3:39:52this. She has been a slider for many years. But she has always been a
3:39:52 > 3:39:56messy person, you see her using her legs a lot more. She never seems
3:39:56 > 3:40:04that settled, but she is a powerful athlete. She literally was a para
3:40:04 > 3:40:09athlete in the summer, wanting to become a weightlifter -- a power
3:40:09 > 3:40:16athlete. But she is going to be disappointed. She desperately wants
3:40:16 > 3:40:20this, but maybe sometimes you just try too hard. You have to just let
3:40:20 > 3:40:29the sled slide.She has gone a bit slower, sadly. There is danger that
3:40:29 > 3:40:37we were and this session -- she will end this session drifting from the
3:40:37 > 3:40:43medal contenders.What a run that was from Elisabeth Vathje. Her first
3:40:43 > 3:40:47run will cost her a potential medal, because she has moved up quite a few
3:40:47 > 3:40:52places already. She might be able to knock on the door of where Laura
3:40:52 > 3:40:59Deas is, but hopefully Laura will push forward.
3:40:59 > 3:41:04push forward.Next ago is Priedulena from Latvia, currently in seventh
3:41:04 > 3:41:14place. She went 52.1 in the first round.
3:41:14 > 3:41:17round. This was the young lady apparently struggling with a knee
3:41:17 > 3:41:24injury, but there was no sign of that on run number one. She was
3:41:24 > 3:41:30powerful and onto her sled very nimbly.A solid start from her. Just
3:41:30 > 3:41:36having to drop her to. A lot of athletes get pulled the left-hand
3:41:36 > 3:41:44side.
3:41:44 > 3:41:49side.Because she is the smallest female in the group in terms of body
3:41:49 > 3:41:56weight and this is a gravity sport, against the larger women in the
3:41:56 > 3:42:03sport, she's going to suffer because she's almost 20 kilos down on them.
3:42:13 > 3:42:24She has gone slightly slower.That was a good run.So Priedulena
3:42:24 > 3:42:30continues to slide consistently. CLARE BALDING: Latvia take the lead
3:42:30 > 3:42:33in the women's skeleton. Laura Deas will be the next slider on the
3:42:33 > 3:42:38track. We will be going over to BBC Two. We will show you that run on
3:42:38 > 3:42:43BBC Two as we continue to count down to the leader after the first run
3:42:43 > 3:42:47who is the defending champion, Lizzy Yarnold, aiming to become the first
3:42:47 > 3:42:50British athlete to successfully defend a Winter Olympics title. She
3:42:50 > 3:42:54has started in style, but she needs to stay consistent. Chemmy Alcott
3:42:54 > 3:42:59and Alex Kerber will be with me on BBC Two on the day when Britain won
3:42:59 > 3:43:03their first medal of these Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, courtesy of
3:43:03 > 3:43:09Dom Parsons. He moved up from fourth to third position after four runs of
3:43:09 > 3:43:13the men's skeleton. And in the 21st century, he is the first British man
3:43:13 > 3:43:18to take a medal in the Winter Olympics. A tremendous moment for
3:43:18 > 3:43:22Dom. He is out there now supporting both his girlfriend, the Australian
3:43:22 > 3:43:28slider, who has already gone down, Jaclyn Narracott, and also offering
3:43:28 > 3:43:32his support for Laura Deas and Lizzy Yarnold. We have a lot more
3:43:32 > 3:43:35excitement to come from Pyeongchang. The team are up and running. They
3:43:35 > 3:43:40have a medal in the bag. Could Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas put
3:43:40 > 3:43:43themselves into a position where perhaps, we could have a situation
3:43:43 > 3:43:47in which Britain have two people on the podium in the same event for the
3:43:47 > 3:43:54first time? BBC One is now heading towards the One O'Clock News, but
3:43:54 > 3:43:57our coverage of these Winter Olympics on day seven continues
3:43:57 > 3:44:00right now on BBC Two.