0:00:38 > 0:00:42Last night, the opening ceremony got the game is officially opened in
0:00:42 > 0:00:46style with a glimpse into the local culture and Lizzy Yarnold carried
0:00:46 > 0:00:51the flag for Great Britain. But now the focus carries today one of the
0:00:51 > 0:00:56games where we start to see the other 12 venues here at Pyeongchang
0:00:56 > 0:01:01in all their glory. We are based around 150 kilometres east of the
0:01:01 > 0:01:07capital city in the beautiful Alpensia ski results. Welcome to our
0:01:07 > 0:01:14little balcony, right in the heart of the mountain cluster. It's a
0:01:14 > 0:01:18beautiful view, a beautiful day, it's warmed up, it only -8 with wind
0:01:18 > 0:01:24chill today which is actually a bit of a delight. We are in the heart of
0:01:24 > 0:01:28the mountain cluster, we have the ski jumping just have the right hand
0:01:28 > 0:01:31side, right next to the Sliding Centre, we have the cross-country
0:01:31 > 0:01:39and Biathlon Centre very nearby as well. There's been lots of sport
0:01:39 > 0:01:49already succumbing up today. -- so coming up today.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54coming up today. Marat Bjorgen races in the skiathlon. Elise Christie
0:01:54 > 0:02:00wants to put her Sochi heartbreak behind her, we have been following
0:02:00 > 0:02:07her build-up and we will look back at the team figure skating.
0:02:07 > 0:02:12Figure skating felt, former Olympic champion Robin Cousins has joined
0:02:12 > 0:02:16me. The team event yesterday, let's talk about this event, talk me
0:02:16 > 0:02:21through the structure and the element of it.It used to the
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Olympics at the Sochi games, and now we have the men's, ladies, pears and
0:02:24 > 0:02:29ice dance competing as a team together. We are seeing short
0:02:29 > 0:02:38programmes from the men and the pairs first, ladies and ice dance in
0:02:38 > 0:02:44a few days. It's the chance to throw the gauntlet down and say, this is
0:02:44 > 0:02:48how I am performing, look at me to go. For others, it's the chance to
0:02:48 > 0:02:52say, I will be here for once. Some teams are bigger than others so they
0:02:52 > 0:02:56can pick and choose, others will have to have no choice, they will
0:02:56 > 0:03:06have to skate in the team event and next week. For me, it is Shoma Uno
0:03:06 > 0:03:11and Nathan Chen and Patrick Chan, they will be looking for the balls
0:03:11 > 0:03:20in the men's. And
0:03:20 > 0:03:21in the men's. And it is Tarasova and Morozov representing athletes from
0:03:21 > 0:03:25Russia, they've just regained the European title, they are going to be
0:03:25 > 0:03:32sitting there team up for gold in the team event.Lots of mind games
0:03:32 > 0:03:35and competition between the individual elements of this team
0:03:35 > 0:03:39event. Who do you feel will be the strongest team going into this
0:03:39 > 0:03:44event?Collectively, it's going to be interesting because you have got
0:03:44 > 0:03:48a couple who are really strong in ice dance. Canada have a really
0:03:48 > 0:03:53strong team. It depends who they put out in the field. They have got
0:03:53 > 0:03:56people to choose from. You will see someone skate a short programme, if
0:03:56 > 0:04:02the teams qualified top five, they go to the long programme, they might
0:04:02 > 0:04:05be able to put someone else in for the free programme. Others have no
0:04:05 > 0:04:11choice, they are the only competitor for the country. Someone like the
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Italians who have got a strong team, they hold back knowing they have to
0:04:15 > 0:04:20compete in a week. There will be some mind games but no one wants to
0:04:20 > 0:04:25go to and and a big stage and not perform well.It all started
0:04:25 > 0:04:33yesterday, Robin was there.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Possibly the last time we'll see him skating on Olympic ice, the great
0:04:38 > 0:04:44Patrick Chan.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Patrick Chan. Ten time Canadian champion, a new record when he was
0:04:49 > 0:04:56given that title a few weeks ago at the age of 27. He is back looking
0:04:56 > 0:05:02for individual gold but also team called for Canada after silver in
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Sochi.Skating to a beautiful piece of music which takes me back to my
0:05:05 > 0:05:09youth, most of his competitors will never have heard of it!
0:05:24 > 0:05:35He will open with a quadruple toe loop, triple toe loop.Oh!Tight on
0:05:35 > 0:05:40the take-off. Made the rotation. But he fell and that will cost him.
0:05:52 > 0:05:58Very tight on the landing with the triple Lutz, put the toe loop on the
0:05:58 > 0:06:05end. Just the double.
0:06:33 > 0:06:42Absolutely needs this triple axel.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Not the start of the Olympics that Patrick Chan would have wanted, I
0:07:54 > 0:08:01don't think. You can tell by the slump of the shoulders there.And
0:08:01 > 0:08:11two big red boxes. 38, 30 two. He would want to be in the 50s from the
0:08:11 > 0:08:16technical school.
0:08:16 > 0:08:22So tight on the take-off, that right free leg not travelling through, it
0:08:22 > 0:08:27needs to come through past the other leg, barely part of the knee,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31nothing lifting and health with him into the air and it's just. With all
0:08:31 > 0:08:36of the boys, they have continue the rotation as they fall which means
0:08:36 > 0:08:39they're not getting into the air soon enough to get the rotation on
0:08:39 > 0:08:42the take-off. A lot of them are rotating on the way down and then
0:08:42 > 0:08:53eat to rotate on the way up. -- they need to rotate on the way up.81.66
0:08:53 > 0:08:56four Patrick Chan, so he takes the lead but not as big as he would have
0:08:56 > 0:09:05liked to have looking down the field and seeing who is coming up next.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09This is Oleksii Bychenko of Israel, the first skater to win a European
0:09:09 > 0:09:17medal from Israel.
0:09:24 > 0:09:33Let's see what he can produce today because he's here or he's not.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Feel free to sing along at home, people!
0:09:56 > 0:10:04Beautiful triple axel.
0:10:14 > 0:10:23Gorgeous quadruple toe loop. That's what the other boys needed to do.
0:11:01 > 0:11:07You can hear the crowd clapping along.
0:11:07 > 0:11:13along.Triple Lutz, triple toe loop. The team-mates are going wild in the
0:11:13 > 0:11:16box over there.Technically clean, not the prettiest of jumping
0:11:16 > 0:11:23elements.
0:12:20 > 0:12:28Terrific.He skates with abandon and he took the whole of this arena with
0:12:28 > 0:12:34him. Team Israel, there they are in the mix with that.And that's where
0:12:34 > 0:12:38everything can come together in a short programme. It's just two
0:12:38 > 0:12:43minutes and 40 seconds. He delivered great technical ability, the music,
0:12:43 > 0:12:46the components, the style, everything comes together. It's
0:12:46 > 0:12:51slightly scrappy around the edges but in this context, it's totally
0:12:51 > 0:12:52works.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02Watch that right leg, it will swing through and up. That got him the
0:13:02 > 0:13:08elevation.That's what Patrick Chan was missing.All of them so far, the
0:13:08 > 0:13:13same thing on the quadruple toe loop, he got right down over the
0:13:13 > 0:13:16knee, no question of rotation. And look how easy that was. No tension
0:13:16 > 0:13:23in the body at all.He looks so loose and relaxed on the ice.
0:13:37 > 0:13:4388.49 and a new season's Beth, what a time to produce it the first
0:13:43 > 0:13:48competition in the game. -- seasons best.So we have a new leader. And
0:13:48 > 0:14:00the cat is among the pigeons.Work, Good cat! -- good works, cat! The
0:14:00 > 0:14:06final skater for the men's short programme, Shoma Uno of Japan,
0:14:06 > 0:14:09hoping to add to sparkle to the proceedings, because of the bigger
0:14:09 > 0:14:19names have failed to deliver on that front. But this man, this man is
0:14:19 > 0:14:27capable of great things, but we said that about Patrick Chan and Nathan
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Chen and Mikhail Kolyada and none of them delivered. So there is a big
0:14:32 > 0:14:39gap at the top of the leaderboard if he can deliver to his ability.Two
0:14:39 > 0:14:41quadruple jumps planned.
0:15:03 > 0:15:13First of the two quadruples, quadruple flips.
0:16:37 > 0:16:43A quadruple toe loop.There you go!
0:16:46 > 0:16:57Phew!Now we need the triple axel...
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Beautifully done, it difficult entry with the spread Eagle on the exit,
0:17:01 > 0:17:07and the take-off.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Look at that technical score already...
0:17:23 > 0:17:28APPLAUSE
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Shoma Uno, the world silver medallist, sparkling like his
0:17:33 > 0:17:38sequence! I think there was one mistake. But he made up for it,
0:17:38 > 0:17:43didn't he?He just fell out of the landing of the triple flip, not a
0:17:43 > 0:17:47perfect performance but the strongest we have seen today. It
0:17:47 > 0:17:50will be the leader. It's one of those performances where you go
0:17:50 > 0:17:54great, I've done that, not my best but I've got away with it. This will
0:17:54 > 0:18:02help him, moving next week.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19He does a hand down count as a penalty -- does a hand down penalty
0:18:19 > 0:18:24count as much as a fall?No. He fell out, the hand will go down and there
0:18:24 > 0:18:31will be a deduction. That's deduction is the grade of execution
0:18:31 > 0:18:36from the judges. But we were talking about how the short programme is put
0:18:36 > 0:18:39together and for me, the composition of this particular programme is
0:18:39 > 0:18:41fantastic.
0:18:51 > 0:19:01Shoma Uno has completed the short programme...Wow!That's a fantastic
0:19:01 > 0:19:13score.A big leap for Shoma Uno and team Japan. That's 14 points clear
0:19:13 > 0:19:17of Israel, in second place. As it works out it breaks down two points.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23If you are in first place you get ten points, second placed nine
0:19:23 > 0:19:31points, third-place eight points... That's the scores. Shoma Uno takes
0:19:31 > 0:19:37ten points for teamed Japan.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41ten points for teamed Japan. Patrick Chan, despite costly mistakes, with
0:19:41 > 0:19:51team Canada in third taking V8 points. -- taking eight points.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56points. -- taking eight points.And after this pair have gone, I would
0:19:56 > 0:20:04expect Team Canada are way in the mix. We have Megan Duhamel, and Eric
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Radford, silver medallists in the last Olympics, and two-time
0:20:07 > 0:20:12champions.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16Brilliant to watch.
0:20:43 > 0:20:51Tight and fast on the triple twist... The next element, side by
0:20:51 > 0:20:58side,
0:20:58 > 0:21:08side, the triple Lutzs. Squeaky on both landings, but they made them
0:21:08 > 0:21:11happen.
0:21:24 > 0:21:32It's very well done on the throw triple Lutz.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08APPLAUSE Team Canada are on their feet in the
0:23:08 > 0:23:11team boxes. They loved that performance. Megan Duhamel and Eric
0:23:11 > 0:23:16Radford will be pleased with that as well.Very strong indeed, they came
0:23:16 > 0:23:20out and they knew they had to lay down the gauntlet. And they have
0:23:20 > 0:23:23done it. That was superb!
0:23:26 > 0:23:34Not as much hyped and more lateral in the rotations as some of the
0:23:34 > 0:23:39other girls but it is clean into the landing, down on the knee. The
0:23:39 > 0:23:44extension...
0:23:44 > 0:23:50extension... The side by side Lutzs.
0:24:02 > 0:24:12He was on two feet!Spotted!He was fully rotated but he landed on two
0:24:12 > 0:24:17feet. Touchdown with the free foot that was still crossed. Megan,
0:24:17 > 0:24:26clean.
0:24:28 > 0:24:40Megan Duhamel and Eric Radford have earned in the short programme...
0:24:41 > 0:24:4576.57 for Megan Duhamel and Eric Radford, putting them at the top of
0:24:45 > 0:24:51the leaderboard as the pairs are concerned.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55concerned. This is a lovely, lovely pair to watch. She's won bronze at
0:24:55 > 0:25:04the last two Olympics, two-time world medallists together.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06world medallists together. The German pair, Bruno Massot just got
0:25:06 > 0:25:16his passport in time to compete at these Olympics.
0:25:28 > 0:25:36Took time-out, did not compete at the European Championships,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38the European Championships, let's see if this additional training time
0:25:38 > 0:25:46paid off... Watch the height on the twist...
0:25:59 > 0:26:11The side by side triple Salchows... Yes!
0:26:26 > 0:26:40Very cautious on the take-off of the throw, the triple flip.
0:28:01 > 0:28:08CHUCKLES Bags of pizzazz, I enjoyed that!
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Pretty much with everyone who has skated so far today, just the one
0:28:13 > 0:28:17mistake.Yes, they were so tentative coming into the throw... They did
0:28:17 > 0:28:26not have any lift or height. Just unable to be controlled at all.It
0:28:26 > 0:28:34is a charming routine.Fantastic, there is so much to love!
0:28:34 > 0:28:38there is so much to love! Such amazing height that they get on the
0:28:38 > 0:28:51twist. On one event, she went out of the shot! He captures her with bags
0:28:51 > 0:28:59of room to spare.
0:29:05 > 0:29:13Excellent timing on the Salchows. Beautifully done!
0:29:13 > 0:29:19Beautifully done! Just waiting and waiting...
0:29:22 > 0:29:25waiting... For me, they did not throw far enough. Yes, unable to
0:29:25 > 0:29:35control it.
0:29:38 > 0:29:45Hmm, 75.3 six. That is not enough to lift them above the Canadian
0:29:45 > 0:29:52pairing, but they are in second place at the moment. Barely a point
0:29:52 > 0:30:01in it. Canada are still in the top. Germany are down in seventh place.
0:30:01 > 0:30:09And here are the Olympic Athletes from Russia... The world bronze
0:30:09 > 0:30:15medal lists, newly minted European champions.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17champions. Robin is rubbing his hands, it isn't just the cold, is
0:30:17 > 0:30:24it?
0:30:54 > 0:30:59Beautiful on the triple twist. Great speed, great flight. Easy, like
0:30:59 > 0:31:05landing, now we need the side by side triple toe loop to be the same,
0:31:05 > 0:31:12yes!
0:31:24 > 0:31:29Triple loop. Beautiful!
0:33:16 > 0:33:21This into the reception for that, that is superb skating. -- listen to
0:33:21 > 0:33:24the reception. The first time all morning, finally, some skaters have
0:33:24 > 0:33:28come out onto the ice and put together the performance they would
0:33:28 > 0:33:33have wanted.Absolutely and they will be in about an hour's time
0:33:33 > 0:33:39reliving this and going, that's what we need to do next week because that
0:33:39 > 0:33:44was absolutely pristine and on the money. Beautiful. Typical classical
0:33:44 > 0:33:57style. Russian way of skating. Again, a good spirit. -- split.
0:33:57 > 0:34:04Filly, easy rotation, catch on the waste, down, timing on the jumps is
0:34:04 > 0:34:09perfect.Spot on, there.
0:34:25 > 0:34:32You can hear the Russian fans up to the left in the stands, they are all
0:34:32 > 0:34:39holding up, straight tens! That's not how the scoring works!It isn't.
0:34:39 > 0:34:46A very difficult ending to this list. -- lift.
0:34:48 > 0:35:04Of course, coached by Aliona Savchenko's X skating partner. He is
0:35:04 > 0:35:14on the far right. Of the screen. That was a superb demonstration of
0:35:14 > 0:35:21their skating.Season's best, 78.83, have adopted that? -- have they
0:35:21 > 0:35:30topped it? Yes they have, 80.92, they have busted it. So three or
0:35:30 > 0:35:39four more on top of it.And a very comfortable lead.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47comfortable lead.There it is. Fourth place for the Olympic
0:35:47 > 0:35:53Athletes from Russia.
0:35:53 > 0:36:00Athletes from Russia. That's confirmation of the pairs short
0:36:00 > 0:36:07programme, the limit athletes from Russia leading the way, Canadians
0:36:07 > 0:36:12second, Germans that. This is just the pairs short programme, the team
0:36:12 > 0:36:19event, there four elements to this. I was heading to be able to update
0:36:19 > 0:36:22you on where the teams lie but I don't think we will be able to see
0:36:22 > 0:36:28that. I can tell you that Canada out in front, here they are. Canada out
0:36:28 > 0:36:34in front after the first day of the team event, 17 points. USA in second
0:36:34 > 0:36:38and Japan in third. Considering that event started
0:36:38 > 0:36:39and Japan in third. Considering that event started
0:36:39 > 0:36:42before the opening ceremony had even taken place, it sounded like a great
0:36:42 > 0:36:45atmosphere in the arrhythmia today. We will start with the men's
0:36:45 > 0:36:53singles, Luna, Shoma Uno,
0:36:53 > 0:36:56singles, Luna, Shoma Uno, a great performance.We had seen Nathan
0:36:56 > 0:37:04Chen, Patrick Chan not deliver, it was not going to be who is going to
0:37:04 > 0:37:10do it. But Shoma Uno has such class and quality, he has got to be a
0:37:10 > 0:37:17favourite for gold and he is a favourite of mine and a contender.
0:37:17 > 0:37:23Bychenko the only one who went clean yesterday, a few slips and spills
0:37:23 > 0:37:27yesterday, can you say why?Some of the skaters are saying, it is not
0:37:27 > 0:37:36quite the ice they are used too skating on, we have got short track
0:37:36 > 0:37:41events and figure skating events on the same arena, and the ice is
0:37:41 > 0:37:46softer for the figure skaters usually. It is the same for every
0:37:46 > 0:37:50body so you can say what you like about it but you have to do your job
0:37:50 > 0:37:54and some did it better than others. The Russians won gold in Sochi, and
0:37:54 > 0:38:01when they came out in the pairs competing under the elliptic flag, a
0:38:01 > 0:38:07beautiful team.Amazing, they did not -- Olympic flag. They needed to
0:38:07 > 0:38:11put the gauntlet down and they did it in style, there were so far ahead
0:38:11 > 0:38:14of everyone else and in a league of their own. That is them saying, we
0:38:14 > 0:38:19are here for the gold medal, take it from us.Interestingly, as much as
0:38:19 > 0:38:23their routine is sensational, everyone is talking about the
0:38:23 > 0:38:29Japanese pair. Because they danced to an animated cartoon chewing at
0:38:29 > 0:38:42its centre place mat, -- and anime theme tune, and the place went mad,
0:38:42 > 0:38:51it is like someone dancing to a Frozen tune here.It is huge here,
0:38:51 > 0:38:55anime cartoons are huge here, and the music likewise. So the young
0:38:55 > 0:39:00Japanese pair team skating to music from the TV show, and everyone has
0:39:00 > 0:39:04gone wild for it. The skating was great, they have not been together
0:39:04 > 0:39:11that long. Medal contenders, not right now, but they are YouTube
0:39:11 > 0:39:15sensations!Maybe that is all they need. Canada leads the way in terms
0:39:15 > 0:39:20of the official standings, two elements to go. They have a large
0:39:20 > 0:39:25squad, other your favourites for this metal? -- are they your
0:39:25 > 0:39:34favourites?Yes, I think
0:39:34 > 0:39:38favourites?Yes, I think they are, they compete in the short dance for
0:39:38 > 0:39:48Canada, the pair, so they will be looking to keep them in the event.
0:39:48 > 0:39:54And
0:39:54 > 0:40:01And then Evgenia Medvedeva from team Russia is
0:40:01 > 0:40:07Russia is going to be here, she wants to lay down her gauntlet for
0:40:07 > 0:40:11an Olympic gold, she was beaten by Alina Zagitova previously,
0:40:11 > 0:40:1415-year-old team-mate.There is no figure skating today, that is why
0:40:14 > 0:40:19Robin is with me. Thank you very much for joining us. That gets back
0:40:19 > 0:40:24and away tomorrow, the team event with the women's individual and ice
0:40:24 > 0:40:28dance. But we're going to stick on the ice, and going to stay on the
0:40:28 > 0:40:33skates. But very different gates, because after a disappointment for
0:40:33 > 0:40:38years ago in Sochi, Elise Christie arrives here with high medal
0:40:38 > 0:40:42expectations in the short track speed skating. She is coming here as
0:40:42 > 0:40:47one of the stars of Team GB and David McDaid went to meet her as she
0:40:47 > 0:40:54prepared for Pyeongchang. This is Elise Christie. She's the
0:40:54 > 0:41:01best short tracks beats cater the UK has ever produced. -- speed skater.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04A world record holder, triple world champion and Great Britain's best
0:41:04 > 0:41:12hope for a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. She's a very special
0:41:12 > 0:41:15athletes but four years ago, she nearly walked away from the sport
0:41:15 > 0:41:22she loves.They have all gone down! I went for the win, and that's the
0:41:22 > 0:41:26way it went, unfortunately.One of the favourites for gold in Sochi,
0:41:26 > 0:41:30the Olympics you worked so hard for ended in this qualification is,
0:41:30 > 0:41:34disappointment and death threats.I had a lot of abuse on the Internet
0:41:34 > 0:41:38that I had to deal with, it's been tough as well. I'm finding it quite
0:41:38 > 0:41:46hard.Hers is a remarkable story of courage, not giving up in the most
0:41:46 > 0:41:49difficult circumstances, and redemption.
0:41:58 > 0:42:03South Korea's capital and home to almost 10 million people. A city
0:42:03 > 0:42:13always on the move, obsessed with speed. And just 80 miles to the east
0:42:13 > 0:42:17lies the quiet ski resort of Pyongyang, the venue for the 23rd
0:42:17 > 0:42:21Winter Olympics. With the game is fast approaching, I travelled to
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Korea with a short track team from Britain for an important training
0:42:25 > 0:42:35camp.So, the goal today on the ice, obviously, it's going to be low
0:42:35 > 0:42:39intensity session, the first session on the ice. So our goal is just a
0:42:39 > 0:42:45focus on our basic skating position, get comfortable, get coordination
0:42:45 > 0:42:52back.Why have you decided to come here, why is it so important?We
0:42:52 > 0:42:55have come over here the exact amount of days before that we're going to
0:42:55 > 0:42:59come out for the games, were practising our exact run-up to the
0:42:59 > 0:43:04games. Training on the rink that we will stay at, staying at the same
0:43:04 > 0:43:07hotel and going through every process we will put in place for the
0:43:07 > 0:43:13games to iron out any bugs.For athletes as well, you want them to
0:43:13 > 0:43:19be used to things. They are finely tuned machines. Creatures of habit.
0:43:19 > 0:43:22Absolutely, and our guys aren't great at change. If you think about
0:43:22 > 0:43:26it, we come out at the end of January for the whole month of
0:43:26 > 0:43:31February and doing high-rise living in hotel blocks. So it's important
0:43:31 > 0:43:36for us to identify those places outside that we can go and relax and
0:43:36 > 0:43:39escape the bubble.
0:43:44 > 0:43:5839.O, Stuart, you win! We are trying to check our strength each
0:43:58 > 0:44:01day to see if our jet lag is improving. I went up by ten in ten
0:44:01 > 0:44:05minutes, so in ten minutes my jet lag storm out of the building!
0:44:05 > 0:44:12That's how it works!Well, Elise, we're here in Korea, how was it to
0:44:12 > 0:44:17be here?It's exciting, it bit warmer than it is at home so we like
0:44:17 > 0:44:22that. It's good to get out and act is getting adjusting to the time
0:44:22 > 0:44:26zone for the games and we really like that the rink we are training
0:44:26 > 0:44:31at anything was very cold and anything is good.This is all about
0:44:31 > 0:44:40preparation for Pyongyang?Yes, we're -- for Pyeongchang? Yes, we're
0:44:40 > 0:44:46practising on the same rink we will be training on for the games, just
0:44:46 > 0:44:53getting as much into a routine as he can.South Korea has one more
0:44:53 > 0:44:59Olympic short track medals than any other country, so it's an ideal
0:44:59 > 0:45:06definition, and not just for training. -- ideal destination.
0:45:06 > 0:45:15Karim Tortilla!It's a country that you have spent a lot of time in,
0:45:15 > 0:45:20tell us about your religion should put the country.I've been here --
0:45:20 > 0:45:26relationship with your country. I have been it a lot, I can understand
0:45:26 > 0:45:32a bit of the language. It's one of my favourite cities in the world, so
0:45:32 > 0:45:35much to do, so lively, so different to Britain. And sometimes it's nice
0:45:35 > 0:45:40to have a contrast like that. I don't know if I could live here all
0:45:40 > 0:45:45the time because they are so busy all the time and I feel like Britain
0:45:45 > 0:45:49has a nice laid-back element where you can go and sleep at night and
0:45:49 > 0:45:54there is not everyone still buzzing outside. It's nice to come on a trip
0:45:54 > 0:46:00and see it all. And be part of the action for a bit.
0:46:00 > 0:46:01Do you get recognised
0:46:01 > 0:46:04Do you get recognised in the street ever, because you are the world
0:46:04 > 0:46:08champion?It has happened a couple of times since I have been here
0:46:08 > 0:46:14already. It is easy, because I am blonde, it's not a normal thing to
0:46:14 > 0:46:19see here. But people are always sweet and friendly. I always like to
0:46:19 > 0:46:24say hello to everyone who wants to say hello. It is weird, it isn't
0:46:24 > 0:46:27something I ever expected but it is nice.We haven't always been a
0:46:27 > 0:46:34famous speed skater. Tell us how it all began for you?I started as a
0:46:34 > 0:46:39figure skater, when I was really young, like, seven. Then I
0:46:39 > 0:46:45transferred over, because we did a race the week after I started. Just
0:46:45 > 0:46:51a fun race. I won the Selection box of chocolates from winning the race.
0:46:51 > 0:46:57After that, you are sat on the short track! So I switched over to short
0:46:57 > 0:47:03track. I did it full time from 15 or 16.So it was a love of chocolate
0:47:03 > 0:47:10that got you into it?Definitely! Once you get a Selection box, your
0:47:10 > 0:47:13heart is set on it!She was one of those kids where you could show her
0:47:13 > 0:47:18something and she picked it up immediately. She had been natural
0:47:18 > 0:47:22ability, probably from her figure skating background, she knew how to
0:47:22 > 0:47:26control her blades. After a few weeks, one of the coaches from the
0:47:26 > 0:47:30running club asked if she wanted to join, they saw a lot of potential as
0:47:30 > 0:47:36a runner there. But her heart was in speed skating.The choice between
0:47:36 > 0:47:41the two was because she became British champion and she was offered
0:47:41 > 0:47:45a place, her dream was to go to the Olympic Games. Because she was
0:47:45 > 0:47:50offered a funded place, she took it.
0:47:50 > 0:47:54She gets the thrills that she wants and the competitiveness. Close
0:47:54 > 0:47:58racing with other girls, and with the guys as well, she is pretty
0:47:58 > 0:48:03competitive! But to go further in the sport,
0:48:03 > 0:48:07Elise had to leave home in Livingston to train with the Great
0:48:07 > 0:48:12Britain squad. For the last 12 years, she has lived in Nottingham.
0:48:12 > 0:48:17Would you describe yourself as a morning person?Definitely an
0:48:17 > 0:48:24evening person! I hate mornings. Get off, stop it! When she moved away
0:48:24 > 0:48:27from home at 15, it was really difficult.As a parent it is
0:48:27 > 0:48:33difficult to let your child go at that age, especially a girl. Some
0:48:33 > 0:48:37days I have regretted it. Because I miss her. And it's always a long
0:48:37 > 0:48:41distance away but the fact that she is very good at keeping in contact
0:48:41 > 0:48:46has really helped.A lot of drinking to do when you are an athlete... Not
0:48:46 > 0:48:57the good kind! All right, let's get out for the day. On time, that's
0:48:57 > 0:49:01unusual!Becoming a world leading athlete takes dedication and
0:49:01 > 0:49:04commitment. Training is long and hard, particularly in an Olympic
0:49:04 > 0:49:13year. Today, we are going to the centre, what is happening today?We
0:49:13 > 0:49:18have the brief for the ice. They tell us what to do and we go on the
0:49:18 > 0:49:23ice, it's about one hour and 45 minutes to two hours on the ice. I'm
0:49:23 > 0:49:29yawning now!When did you realise that you were pretty good at it?
0:49:29 > 0:49:36That it could be your future?Umm... I think it was after Vancouver. I
0:49:36 > 0:49:41came back from there and I thought either stop now and go back to
0:49:41 > 0:49:47school, and be with my family... Or I can, like, switch my mindset a
0:49:47 > 0:49:54bit. Make a lot of changes. And then make myself the person to be. I
0:49:54 > 0:50:01think the biggest thing, how it changed, was the belief. Thank God
0:50:01 > 0:50:18for parking assist! All right... You get a special... Boop! Elise's coach
0:50:18 > 0:50:24is Nick Gooch, he won a bronze medal in 1994 at the Olympics. He is now
0:50:24 > 0:50:31helping Elise realise her potential. I think you are doing good today.
0:50:31 > 0:50:36What is your relationship like how would you describe yourself?She is
0:50:36 > 0:50:40challenging, she likes to be competitive. If I go to the gym and
0:50:40 > 0:50:46I train with her, she always tries to compete with you. The key is the
0:50:46 > 0:50:50mental toughness. How hard she is prepared to push herself. She is
0:50:50 > 0:50:56emotionally invested on a daily basis which is why she gets so much
0:50:56 > 0:50:59from training but investing her emotion on a daily basis has a cost.
0:50:59 > 0:51:03On the turn, you are using your hip to turn but bring your left leg
0:51:03 > 0:51:09through, don't keep it static. Do you understand what I mean? OK,
0:51:09 > 0:51:14first group, let's go.It's been an interesting ten years, with the
0:51:14 > 0:51:17relationship developing gradually. It started well we didn't get along
0:51:17 > 0:51:23at all to start with. I was coached by someone else. Then we were forced
0:51:23 > 0:51:27to work together and that's when we developed. I'm really unfit just
0:51:27 > 0:51:34now, as I am skating.Take it one at a time.I think I know better than
0:51:34 > 0:51:39him all the time and he finds it hilarious. It has been a funny
0:51:39 > 0:51:42relationship, but it is definitely, you know, he has put as much into
0:51:42 > 0:51:51this as I have.Keep leaning! Keep it!It hasn't been an easy few
0:51:51 > 0:51:54months. Elise has struggled with a thigh injury, limiting how much
0:51:54 > 0:52:00training she can do. She has had to miss some big races.Today was an
0:52:00 > 0:52:05increase in the last couple of days, she is feeling it. Some progress in
0:52:05 > 0:52:10terms of the volume completed. She had a tough session in the gym
0:52:10 > 0:52:14yesterday, it's making sure we don't push too hard too early, we will
0:52:14 > 0:52:21build up her training when she's back to where she needs.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24Thankfully, plenty of time to recover before the Olympics.And
0:52:24 > 0:52:30less training at the rink means more free time.Bella, Bella! We are
0:52:30 > 0:52:37leaving you...You have two docs now?Yes, does much of our s.One
0:52:37 > 0:52:44was a gift?Yes, it was a gift from my boyfriend for my birthday. I
0:52:44 > 0:52:48don't get to go out much. We walk the dogs together sometimes and it
0:52:48 > 0:52:54gives us something to do. You have something to distract you from
0:52:54 > 0:53:00skating, I guess! It's a lot of fun. It's nice to have some company at
0:53:00 > 0:53:10home.Your boyfriend lives in Hungary, right?Yes, there is Face
0:53:10 > 0:53:14time, but nobody there a lot. My neighbour is around a lot. My family
0:53:14 > 0:53:19try and get down. But with him living away, it's nice to have some
0:53:19 > 0:53:26dogs around.His boyfriend -- her boyfriend is also a short track
0:53:26 > 0:53:31world champion. He represents Hungary, based in Budapest. So time
0:53:31 > 0:53:36together is rare.I calculated we spent two days outside of skating
0:53:36 > 0:53:41together this year. It's been difficult, but last year I was
0:53:41 > 0:53:45flying over for weekends there to have a break and stuff like that.
0:53:45 > 0:53:48Now we are only training together this year so it has been a lot
0:53:48 > 0:53:55tougher without any time. Everything has turned into Santa Claus.
0:53:55 > 0:54:01Amazing!She is trying to build this relationship as strong as she can,
0:54:01 > 0:54:12even if we cannot be together. I'm in Budapest, she is in Nottingham.
0:54:12 > 0:54:15If I said I can come to England any more, I think she would make the
0:54:15 > 0:54:21choice to move to Hungary for me. That's pretty good.Is amazing for
0:54:21 > 0:54:27her, he's really level-headed and laid-back and chilled. Is the
0:54:27 > 0:54:30opposite, they need that balance so she doesn't go too far with things.
0:54:30 > 0:54:38They are really good for one another.That is cool!That is you.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42That's not a bad thing to be compared to.if something bad
0:54:42 > 0:54:49happened to her, I would always try and let her see the good side. I am
0:54:49 > 0:54:55trying to be... Maybe that is part of my job? To be there for her 24-7.
0:54:55 > 0:55:01To always be positive.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05To always be positive.2014 in the Russian resort of Sochi. Elise's
0:55:05 > 0:55:12second Winter Olympics and a medal was a very real possibility...At
0:55:12 > 0:55:17Sochi, I knew that I was capable of getting a medal but I knew that I
0:55:17 > 0:55:19was inexperienced compared to a lot of the people I would be racing. I
0:55:19 > 0:55:24knew that I could be a there and by the time I got to Sochi that year, I
0:55:24 > 0:55:29was skating the best I had ever done.Racing in three events, she
0:55:29 > 0:55:33found herself with a chance at an unfamiliar distance.Suddenly I was
0:55:33 > 0:55:39in the 500 final. I hadn't been in the European Championship 500 final
0:55:39 > 0:55:46or a World Championship, or a World Cup. I also found myself in the 500
0:55:46 > 0:55:53final, which was really cool. 500 is always the most exciting, to me!The
0:55:53 > 0:55:58ladies 500 metres is about to get underway...
0:55:58 > 0:56:05Going away cleanly this time.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08Overhauled by Elise Christie! They have all gone down! There is only
0:56:08 > 0:56:16one ice skater left standing.We can see it again here, the start was
0:56:16 > 0:56:21clean, coming out of the first bend, Elise Christie charges down the
0:56:21 > 0:56:28inside... There wasn't a lot of room. Crashing straight into
0:56:28 > 0:56:34Fontana.The collision has been assessed and looked at. The upshot
0:56:34 > 0:56:37is that Elise Christie has been penalised and sadly after finishing
0:56:37 > 0:56:43second, she has had to finish with fourth.I had the speed, I moved up
0:56:43 > 0:56:48and unfortunately, the girl hit me off my feet. So I hit everyone else
0:56:48 > 0:56:53as I went down.You have the 1000 metres to go?Yes, I will use the
0:56:53 > 0:56:56next day to get my head back together and go for it.The whole of
0:56:56 > 0:57:01the country is behind you, I'm sure you have every sympathy. You made us
0:57:01 > 0:57:06proud. Well done.Thank you.
0:57:06 > 0:57:10Two days later she was back on the ice, this time try to reach the
0:57:10 > 0:57:15final of the 1500 metres.Once again, luck wasn't on her side.Into
0:57:15 > 0:57:19the back straight... They are struggling behind, the two at the
0:57:19 > 0:57:25front. Here comes Fontana. Elise Christie takes it. The Russian is
0:57:25 > 0:57:32there. It's a great confidence booster for Elise Christie... I
0:57:32 > 0:57:38cannot believe it, she has again been penalised! What an honour --
0:57:38 > 0:57:46what on earth happened?I don't know what happened, I'm gobsmacked. I
0:57:46 > 0:57:49mean, I respected the decision the other day but today I've got no idea
0:57:49 > 0:57:53what is going on.What is your reaction? I've been in the sport
0:57:53 > 0:58:00over 30 years, and I have never seen anything like this. Straying barely
0:58:00 > 0:58:04one centimetre off the track led to a second disqualification of the
0:58:04 > 0:58:08games. As well as all of the drama on the ice, she was dealing with
0:58:08 > 0:58:13something quite sinister off it.I had quite a lot of abuse over the
0:58:13 > 0:58:17Internet but I've had to deal with. It has been tough so I am finding it
0:58:17 > 0:58:22quite hard.What do you mean you've had stuff on the Internet?I've had
0:58:22 > 0:58:28a few people threatening me. Stuff like that. Just cyber bullying,
0:58:28 > 0:58:31basically. It has been a tough few days anyway.
0:58:34 > 0:58:40What is it like to get a death threat? I don't think most of us,
0:58:40 > 0:58:43thankfully, we did experience that? I'd heard of it happening to other
0:58:43 > 0:58:47people and I thought, it's just an online message. Surely you don't
0:58:47 > 0:58:52think that is going to actually happen? But you do. When it happens
0:58:52 > 0:58:56to you, you do believe that person and these people are genuinely
0:58:56 > 0:59:01threatening your life. And your family's life, and so it becomes
0:59:01 > 0:59:07very scary. I spent about six months afterwards feeling scared of being
0:59:07 > 0:59:13in my house alone. Or going out alone. So many out once made it feel
0:59:13 > 0:59:20so real. Even though realistically, it was coming from most of the
0:59:20 > 0:59:24Koreans. They weren't going to be in England but it was a very difficult
0:59:24 > 0:59:29time. Since I've gone into competition since, everybody has
0:59:29 > 0:59:32been super fans and really nice. It's a nice turn around and there is
0:59:32 > 0:59:37definitely no fear now, but having anything happening. Anybody who does
0:59:37 > 0:59:43say anything, I can see that they are sat behind a computer, thinking
0:59:43 > 0:59:49it is funny or feeling powerful. When actually, they aren't. So it is
0:59:49 > 0:59:55very difficult at the time. For anyone who has experienced it. It is
0:59:55 > 0:59:58life changing.With death threats preying on her mind, there was a
0:59:58 > 1:00:03last chance for Olympic redemption in her favourite event, the 1000
1:00:03 > 1:00:10metres. Flying through the heats, she easily made the semifinals.The
1:00:10 > 1:00:12last one was the most frustrating. That
1:00:12 > 1:00:15last one was the most frustrating. That is the one where I did not do
1:00:15 > 1:00:21anything wrong.Here comes Elise Christie, she has ignited the
1:00:21 > 1:00:28burners. She is in third. That was a brilliant piece of skating. But the
1:00:28 > 1:00:32Chinese skater has challenged her on the inside. She falls and takes
1:00:32 > 1:00:38Elise Christie out as well.
1:00:44 > 1:00:45I cannot believe
1:00:45 > 1:00:48I cannot believe it, the Chinese skater penalised, and Elise
1:00:48 > 1:00:51Christie, and she's not going to advance.I can't believe it's
1:00:51 > 1:00:55happened again. The last thing I expected to happen today. I was
1:00:55 > 1:01:01trying to skates so cleanly.
1:01:01 > 1:01:03That right when you were back in your room with Charlotte, with your
1:01:03 > 1:01:10roommate, what was it like?I was probably better than I was a few
1:01:10 > 1:01:18months later. I wasn't great, I didn't really know what to do and
1:01:18 > 1:01:25think about, how can I cope with such a big loss. It was the thing
1:01:25 > 1:01:30that I dedicated everything to, and work ridiculously hard for. And then
1:01:30 > 1:01:36I also knew what everyone else was saying on social media, and they
1:01:36 > 1:01:41hadn't seen the turnaround of that because I had -- I had not seen the
1:01:41 > 1:01:45turnaround because I had turned my social media or so I was still under
1:01:45 > 1:01:48the impression that everyone was still abusing me. There was nothing
1:01:48 > 1:01:53anyone could do, I was so scared and alone.It's really hard what anyone
1:01:53 > 1:01:56go through that, especially when they're so close, and were sharing
1:01:56 > 1:01:59rooms together. So each night you try to talk it through but there's
1:01:59 > 1:02:04not much you can say to someone when she's got the disqualification and
1:02:04 > 1:02:10it didn't go to plan. She went into the Olympic games, she could have
1:02:10 > 1:02:13come away with three gold medals, she was that good at that point,
1:02:13 > 1:02:17which made it even more devastating. As parents, we found that very
1:02:17 > 1:02:23difficult to deal with this especially because they have a
1:02:23 > 1:02:26bubble around the team, and the child, so it's difficult for
1:02:26 > 1:02:29apparent because you don't have very much access to your child at all.
1:02:29 > 1:02:35And then we're getting all of the media, getting reported on Facebook
1:02:35 > 1:02:40and the papers, it was very difficult, actually.The way Elise
1:02:40 > 1:02:44dealt with the disappointment was by getting straight back to
1:02:44 > 1:02:48competition. But those distractions only proved to be a short-term fix.
1:02:48 > 1:02:53I went off on my off-season, and that was when I thought, I'm not
1:02:53 > 1:02:59going back. Because I can't deal with that. There's no way I could go
1:02:59 > 1:03:05to that ever again in my life. I was fine when I skated, but my outside
1:03:05 > 1:03:09life, I'd became totally useless. I was in a tournament which I didn't
1:03:09 > 1:03:16need to talk to anyone at, and that is how I worked. Because at the
1:03:16 > 1:03:20time, there was no impact on my performance, I thought, I'm strong
1:03:20 > 1:03:27enough to deal with this. But I really wasn't.Close to walking away
1:03:27 > 1:03:33from speed skating, she considered her switch to track cycling but a
1:03:33 > 1:03:36sense of loyalty to the team who stuck by her through the tough times
1:03:36 > 1:03:44brought her back. European titles followed before in 2017, she
1:03:44 > 1:03:50conquered the world. From a point from not wanting to do the sport to
1:03:50 > 1:03:54becoming the world champion, some turnaround.It was my dream to be
1:03:54 > 1:04:00all title winner, but a shrug I was dreaming to be world champion for
1:04:00 > 1:04:04awhile but it was not this year, it was a different trajectory. The
1:04:04 > 1:04:11first one was the biggest deal.It's going to be tight, she's done it!
1:04:11 > 1:04:16She is the world champion, Elise Christie!I just remember screaming,
1:04:16 > 1:04:25and I never act like that.
1:04:25 > 1:04:29My in motion 's tentative stay in the box in public. So for me to just
1:04:29 > 1:04:38scream like that -- might in motion to stay in the box. So to scream Mac
1:04:38 > 1:04:43that was weird. I think it really took over when I got the other
1:04:43 > 1:04:47title, it didn't sink in, it probably has not even sunk in now
1:04:47 > 1:04:51because I'm so busy preparing for the next thing. It's the biggest
1:04:51 > 1:04:54achievement in short track to be crowned overall world champion,
1:04:54 > 1:04:57bigger than an Olympic gold medallist, it's the biggest thing
1:04:57 > 1:05:03you can do.It was an incredible season. Yes, I think... It was a
1:05:03 > 1:05:13great time.Obviously very emotional thinking about it?Yes, I think...
1:05:13 > 1:05:17You're on the journey with them on a daily basis, you invest that emotion
1:05:17 > 1:05:24as well. So when she achieves, that means a lot to me as well.
1:05:38 > 1:05:43In Seoul, there is a break in the training schedule and a trip to
1:05:43 > 1:05:47remind the team why they're putting in the hard graft. What are you
1:05:47 > 1:05:53thinking when you see that?It still feels like a long time! 100 days,
1:05:53 > 1:05:58still a third of the year. So I thought it was a lot closer. So it's
1:05:58 > 1:06:02quite nice to be in Korea when it is 100 days because that's quite cool,
1:06:02 > 1:06:07I didn't know until quite recently that we were going to be so it's
1:06:07 > 1:06:14nice to be around everyone and be here where the clock is.Just
1:06:14 > 1:06:22describe what Pyeongchang, these Winter Olympics, these Olympics,
1:06:22 > 1:06:26signify to you.Everyone wants to seek redemption, but I already
1:06:26 > 1:06:29personally think like I've made redemption so for me it's not about
1:06:29 > 1:06:33redemption. For me, it's about changing the way people view me. But
1:06:33 > 1:06:39also, it's the dream. Every athlete dreams of being an Olympic
1:06:39 > 1:06:43medallist.This is where you keep the medals, not on display?No,
1:06:43 > 1:06:48they're going to get put on display but I haven't figured out where yet.
1:06:48 > 1:06:54The boxed ones are all championships.What would it be like
1:06:54 > 1:07:03if she won an Olympic gold?I think...
1:07:03 > 1:07:10think... I don't know!I would have said in Sochi she could have won
1:07:10 > 1:07:17three gold medals, to see it unfold how it did was heartbreaking and at
1:07:17 > 1:07:21that point I thought, she was one of the fastest. Definitely the
1:07:21 > 1:07:25strongest going into that games. Will she ever be that far ahead of
1:07:25 > 1:07:28the field? But I feel like she's even stronger and faster and that's
1:07:28 > 1:07:34what hurts last season has shown. It wouldn't faze me, if I was allowed
1:07:34 > 1:07:41to bet on it, I would!Seeing her as a small insecure girl who didn't
1:07:41 > 1:07:46have a great deal of self belief, she has gone full circle to being,
1:07:46 > 1:07:53I'm the best.When she was a girl, she would come in if something had
1:07:53 > 1:07:56not on highway and through her skates into the cupboard, she's
1:07:56 > 1:08:00never going to do it again. Now we know how much it means to her and
1:08:00 > 1:08:03how much it means to the team and we're excited and hoping that she
1:08:03 > 1:08:10will achieve her dream.Is there room for an Olympic one?Three big
1:08:10 > 1:08:15smackers here. Since the Olympics, I have believed that even if something
1:08:15 > 1:08:19is getting to be mentally, I will be able to perform and not worry about
1:08:19 > 1:08:23that. Which is why, I guess, I feel like I'm robust enough for these
1:08:23 > 1:08:26games coming up because it doesn't matter what goes on, the performance
1:08:26 > 1:08:32will be fine. The point is, why have I trained that Hodge to settle for
1:08:32 > 1:08:37second place? That's almost not fair on myself. The dream is not to go
1:08:37 > 1:08:41out and sit in second place and pick up a medal, the dream is to go out
1:08:41 > 1:08:46and try and win the gold. And that might mean we replicate Sochi, but
1:08:46 > 1:08:52I'm not scared. I'm not scared of doing that in terms of how hard I
1:08:52 > 1:08:56have worked, I feel like I deserve to go out and try to win, irrelevant
1:08:56 > 1:09:03what anyone else will try and save. -- irrelevant to what anyone says.I
1:09:03 > 1:09:10get the impression it's more than just a nice piece of metal to you.
1:09:10 > 1:09:14Definitely, you know what they say, the medal will probably end up in a
1:09:14 > 1:09:19cabinet someone, like my world medals. But it's not about the piece
1:09:19 > 1:09:22of metal, it's about what it means. It will be disappointing to stick by
1:09:22 > 1:09:27it for four years and for that not to happen, obviously. That would be
1:09:27 > 1:09:34really tough. But there are four more years afterwards. If needs be!
1:09:34 > 1:09:45So, it K. -- it's OK.
1:09:46 > 1:09:50Well, what an incredible four years it has been for Elise Christie. It's
1:09:50 > 1:09:55amazing to see the emotion that is invested from her coat and ever
1:09:55 > 1:10:00around her and from her, and she gets her Olympic challenge underway
1:10:00 > 1:10:09today. She's in the 500 metres for -- short track speed skating,
1:10:09 > 1:10:1610:45am UK time. Not to be missed. A lot of expectation and excitement
1:10:16 > 1:10:20around that. From one woman going for her first Olympic medal to the
1:10:20 > 1:10:26iron lady who already has ten of them. Marit Bjorgen is going in the
1:10:26 > 1:10:30cross-country little bit later and she is aiming for an incredible 11th
1:10:30 > 1:10:34Olympic level which could make her the most decorated female Winter
1:10:34 > 1:10:41Olympian in history.
1:10:47 > 1:10:51Marit Bjorgen is closing in on another superb piece of Winter
1:10:51 > 1:11:00Olympic history. This is a woman totally dominant. Gold on the very
1:11:00 > 1:11:06first day, gold in the team sprint, and she's finishing in style. It's
1:11:06 > 1:11:15gold again for the iron Lady of Norway.
1:11:15 > 1:11:19The Norwegian currently sits joint top on ten medals, six of them have
1:11:19 > 1:11:22been gold, three of them came in
1:11:22 > 1:11:25top on ten medals, six of them have been gold, three of them came in
1:11:25 > 1:11:32Sochi four years ago. Claudia Pechstein is also competing this
1:11:32 > 1:11:37year but she has not won a
1:11:37 > 1:11:38Pechstein is also competing this year but she has not won a medal
1:11:38 > 1:11:45since 2006. Before we see if she can make history, let's have a look at
1:11:45 > 1:11:51the Alpensia cross-country arena. Cross-country skiing is one of the
1:11:51 > 1:11:56ultimate physical challenges. One of its disciplines races over the
1:11:56 > 1:12:02longest distance of any winter and export. 50 kilometres in one go.
1:12:02 > 1:12:06There are two microwaves to ski, classic, which involves a fast
1:12:06 > 1:12:13walking motion along parallel tracks, and freestyle, which
1:12:13 > 1:12:18resembles ice-skating. There are six events for men and women, all with
1:12:18 > 1:12:24the goal to complete the various distances as quickly as possible.
1:12:24 > 1:12:27Norway is the dominant force and six time champion Marit Bjorgen could
1:12:27 > 1:12:31become the most decorated the bill Olympian of all time if she adds to
1:12:31 > 1:12:35her tally of ten medals here in Plum Chang.
1:12:35 > 1:12:40-- Pyeongchang. Such any credible gruelling sport
1:12:40 > 1:12:46and they approaching the start line. Marit Bjorgen going for the 11th
1:12:46 > 1:12:52medal. Rob Walker is the commentator, you might have some
1:12:52 > 1:12:56history, what a way to start your Olympics. Do you think she can do
1:12:56 > 1:12:59it?
1:12:59 > 1:13:07Good afternoon. I'm certain she can. A medal of any colour and she will
1:13:07 > 1:13:10be the most decorated female Olympian in history, as you have
1:13:10 > 1:13:17said. As a woman used to going for gold, only one colour will do.
1:13:17 > 1:13:21Stunning conditions here at the skiing centre, we are so excited
1:13:21 > 1:13:25about this first instalment of drama. And I know these world-class
1:13:25 > 1:13:34women are itching to get going. Heidi Weng is leading the World Cup
1:13:34 > 1:13:39standings, she is still searching for her maiden individual gold. She
1:13:39 > 1:13:54is yet to stand on top on her own. Oestberg, another Norwegian, team
1:13:54 > 1:14:02sprint gold, racing since the age of two. And what about Jessica
1:14:04 > 1:14:10two. And what about Jessica Diggins, she won the last...
1:14:16 > 1:14:24It's not all about the Norwegians, Kalla is a master at Peking at the
1:14:24 > 1:14:27right time. She has raced sparingly this year and she will be feeling
1:14:27 > 1:14:41very fresh. Another one of the Norwegians, Haga. And then Krista
1:14:41 > 1:14:49Parmakoski, but Bjorgen has only lost one race. She looked poised,
1:14:49 > 1:14:56composed and ready. She said she is as hungry and energetic as he was
1:14:56 > 1:15:03right at the beginning of her career. Another quality performer
1:15:03 > 1:15:08here, she only just missed a medal in the skiathlon last year. Two
1:15:08 > 1:15:14different techniques, the real test of the all-rounder. Our first race
1:15:14 > 1:15:20for gold is underway in Pyeongchang. Is it destined to be a moment of
1:15:20 > 1:15:23history for Marat beer can, defending world champion, or can one
1:15:23 > 1:15:33of the others than I have the glory that she desires? Basher or deny her
1:15:33 > 1:15:35the glory? So much to look forward to.
1:15:40 > 1:15:47I'm delighted to be joined by you, your first looking forward to the
1:15:47 > 1:15:50cross country. Ollie, we have been itching for these days to take down.
1:15:50 > 1:15:54We forget about the statistics and now we get on with watching world
1:15:54 > 1:15:59class action.We have been bouncing off the walls! A phenomenal setting
1:15:59 > 1:16:05for these races. We have 7.5 kilometres of classic, that is what
1:16:05 > 1:16:10we are seeing in front. Then the pit stop, when you switch, then 7.5
1:16:10 > 1:16:16kilometres along the same course, skating to the finish. Marit
1:16:16 > 1:16:20Bjorgen, the headline. Everybody wants to know whether she can beat
1:16:20 > 1:16:24the number one female Winter Olympian of all time. She isn't that
1:16:24 > 1:16:28far off being the number one Winter Olympian of all time, male or
1:16:28 > 1:16:32female. She could do it with a bit of effort at these games. She is a
1:16:32 > 1:16:37multiple Olympic gold medallist when she turns up. But any Norwegian
1:16:37 > 1:16:44here, there are a couple of sweets, we have Finland, pushing her close.
1:16:44 > 1:16:50And even Jessie Diggins from the USA. I think we have five or six
1:16:50 > 1:16:57candidates which could beat her to the finish.Alongside Ollie, a
1:16:57 > 1:17:01fascinated observer is posing Musgrave, the Winter Olympian in
1:17:01 > 1:17:05Sochi four years ago. You know what it takes to compete alongside these
1:17:05 > 1:17:11women. Put into context in these early stages, as we look at the back
1:17:11 > 1:17:18there at Number 10, put into context what Marit Bjorgen has already
1:17:18 > 1:17:23achieved in the sport and how incredible it would be if she gets a
1:17:23 > 1:17:31medal of any colour here and moves to 11 medals already?She is one of
1:17:31 > 1:17:35the greatest performers we've ever had, 37 now and at the top of her
1:17:35 > 1:17:40game for 15 years. It's a tough sport and it's incredible to compete
1:17:40 > 1:17:44at such a level for such a long time. She's shown after the major
1:17:44 > 1:17:48championships how to perform at the top level when it really matters.
1:17:48 > 1:17:53I'm excited to see what she can do today.It's an important point, she
1:17:53 > 1:17:58knows what to do on the day and she knows her body well enough, she
1:17:58 > 1:18:02doesn't have two race as much as her rivals. We haven't seen since the
1:18:02 > 1:18:06end of last year. She finished fifth, she had a cold and wasn't
1:18:06 > 1:18:09necessarily on top form. She doesn't need to be doing that the whole
1:18:09 > 1:18:13time. It's a different approach and build up taking it into the race
1:18:13 > 1:18:18like that, compared to the younger the regions and the Swedes nipping
1:18:18 > 1:18:23at her heels.Posy, have us your view on this ski Avalon. In the old
1:18:23 > 1:18:29days it was known as the combined pursuit, it is an all-round test. We
1:18:29 > 1:18:34have a ski classical on the tracks, then there is the transitional area,
1:18:34 > 1:18:38as you mention, and then two fast circuits of freestyle. It's a really
1:18:38 > 1:18:47tough test. If you favour the classical, you could look impressive
1:18:47 > 1:18:50early on, Kowalczyk is past her best now, but you cannot just nail one
1:18:50 > 1:18:56can you have to be good at both? Absolutely, some say it favours the
1:18:56 > 1:18:59skate specialists, if you can hang with the pack, you've got the chance
1:18:59 > 1:19:04to push the pace and be in front when it counts at the finish.
1:19:04 > 1:19:11Regardless, if you can't do it in the pace section. We need to be a
1:19:11 > 1:19:16good all-rounder.
1:19:16 > 1:19:20good all-rounder.If you are Charlotte Kalla, looking someone to
1:19:20 > 1:19:23stop Marit Bjorgen, with someone like Charlotte Kalla's pedigree, we
1:19:23 > 1:19:28know that she is phenomenal. If you remember Sochi 2014, Charlotte Kalla
1:19:28 > 1:19:32delivered an incredible relay finish, coming over the line. It was
1:19:32 > 1:19:36one of the moments of the games. How do you beat that woman there? How do
1:19:36 > 1:19:41you beat Marit Bjorgen? Do you try and stretch out the race or go for
1:19:41 > 1:19:49it?Nobody has the answer, which is why she is so successful. Marit
1:19:49 > 1:19:53Bjorgen pushes the pace, she is further back, we are used to seeing
1:19:53 > 1:19:57her at the front but she controls the pace. If it comes to a sprint
1:19:57 > 1:20:00finish, she will be able to beat everyone at the end but she can push
1:20:00 > 1:20:09the pace in the pack too.Charlotte Kalla is hugely popular in Sweden,
1:20:09 > 1:20:14she comes from a tiny town in the Arctic Circle. It's interesting, she
1:20:14 > 1:20:19has decided to do this year exactly what she did ahead of Sochi. She has
1:20:19 > 1:20:25barely raised since Christmas. She will be arriving here fresh. In
1:20:25 > 1:20:29contrast to someone like Heidi Weng, although brilliantly she won a
1:20:29 > 1:20:34second consecutive tour to ski, she has raced literally everywhere. With
1:20:34 > 1:20:40a set of events as brutal as this, coming in fresh has to be helpful
1:20:40 > 1:20:46for Charlotte Kalla. The tactic works and she did so brilliantly in
1:20:46 > 1:20:50Russia.Yes, she did brilliantly there and we have seen in the World
1:20:50 > 1:20:55Championships. She had her home Championships in Sweden in 2015, we
1:20:55 > 1:20:58didn't see much of her before that she won gold in front of a home
1:20:58 > 1:21:02crowd. It works for her. It's important if you know you're winning
1:21:02 > 1:21:06strategy to stick at it. There's no point her racing too much when she
1:21:06 > 1:21:11knows she can work without that.A clarification, Charlotte Kalla is
1:21:11 > 1:21:16now in the centre of your picture, on the left-hand tracks wearing the
1:21:16 > 1:21:20number five, number one is the World Cup leader Heidi Weng. I noticed
1:21:20 > 1:21:27towards the front of the group, Kowalczyk, wearing the number 22. A
1:21:27 > 1:21:32good performer when it comes to the classical. An Olympic champion in
1:21:32 > 1:21:37her own rights. Arguably a touch past her best. Marit Bjorgen happy
1:21:37 > 1:21:43wearing number eight. To be in that pack, there's a long way to go here.
1:21:43 > 1:21:46The pack is looking fairly close together as we come to the first
1:21:46 > 1:21:52checkpoint.They have done 2.26 kilometres now. We can see over 20
1:21:52 > 1:21:59people within ten seconds of one another. Not strung out too much.
1:21:59 > 1:22:08They are doing two loops of 3.75 kilometres in a classic style.Posy,
1:22:08 > 1:22:10there are some very technical elements to cross-country. It isn't
1:22:10 > 1:22:16as simple as it looks. For those who may be watching cross-country skiing
1:22:16 > 1:22:19for the first time, give us the layman 's guide to waxing? Although
1:22:19 > 1:22:26it may sound like a boring subject, it was vital in Sochi. In spite of
1:22:26 > 1:22:30all of the resources the Norwegian team have that their disposal, they
1:22:30 > 1:22:36got their waxing very wrong in their first few races at Sochi, it was
1:22:36 > 1:22:40nearly a national outcry! Give us the inside's guide as to what is
1:22:40 > 1:22:45important with wax and wide.They did indeed, it can win or lose your
1:22:45 > 1:22:50race, it's frustrating when you rely on your skis at the end of the day.
1:22:50 > 1:22:54Firstly, you have the glide wax which makes you going fast downhill.
1:22:54 > 1:23:00That's about the speed and acquired that in the classic, you have a kick
1:23:00 > 1:23:05wax. In the centre of your ski, you have a kick wax own. You apply the
1:23:05 > 1:23:11wax there and as you compress it gives you the push to get uphill.
1:23:11 > 1:23:16It's about getting a balance between glide and kick, you want to get
1:23:16 > 1:23:19uphill but go downhill quickly as well. There is a lot to think about.
1:23:19 > 1:23:24You need a good set of skis to put the wax on as well.There's a lot
1:23:24 > 1:23:28that happens behind the scenes which is decisive in terms of getting the
1:23:28 > 1:23:32athletes to be start line and in the shape where they can win. The
1:23:32 > 1:23:36Swedish coaching team has had a struggle with Nora virus this week.
1:23:36 > 1:23:46It could have, even if it takes not .5% of Charlotte Kalla or Nielsen,
1:23:46 > 1:23:53the disruption is big news. Headline news in Sweden all week long. If
1:23:53 > 1:23:58there was ever a chance of Charlotte Kalla winning an Olympic skiathlon,
1:23:58 > 1:24:05today is the day.Definitely, it's too early to count though. There are
1:24:05 > 1:24:09still 20 or so people in the front pack. Let's see how it goes. She
1:24:09 > 1:24:15could do really well today. I have good feelings for her.We mentioned
1:24:15 > 1:24:21Jessie Diggins towards the start of our coverage, she's on the left-hand
1:24:21 > 1:24:25side. It's really important for the non-European nations to show that
1:24:25 > 1:24:31they can get among the heavyweights of Norway and Sweden, she has
1:24:31 > 1:24:36improved a lot in the last few years. She's at the forefront of a
1:24:36 > 1:24:42big development in of American cross-country skiing?The American
1:24:42 > 1:24:45team has been really strong in the last few years. It's nice to see a
1:24:45 > 1:24:51new nation competing at the top. It isn't just her, there are three or
1:24:51 > 1:24:55four skiers on their day who can win in these different events. For
1:24:55 > 1:25:03Jesse, we talked about how you have to be good at a classic technique.
1:25:03 > 1:25:07She is now able to be competitive in races like the skiathlon, which she
1:25:07 > 1:25:10may have struggled in before. It's interesting to see her staying with
1:25:10 > 1:25:15the pack but also leading. I think it shows how much she has improved
1:25:15 > 1:25:22in her confidence.The US team in general.Jessie Diggins is really
1:25:22 > 1:25:26looking forward to these events later in the Olympics. The strength
1:25:26 > 1:25:34and depth, it isn't just her, you have Randall, Marit
1:25:34 > 1:25:36and depth, it isn't just her, you have Randall, Marit, they've got a
1:25:36 > 1:25:39real group which they haven't had before. There's the chance they can
1:25:39 > 1:25:45kick it off and get on the podium today.She definitely has a shot
1:25:45 > 1:25:51today. Jessie Diggins has a lot of self belief, every time she goes
1:25:51 > 1:25:54out, she believes she can be on the podium. It's important to make it at
1:25:54 > 1:26:06the top level.The first of four circuits completed. It is 3.75
1:26:06 > 1:26:13kilometres in classic. It is important to get in and out as
1:26:13 > 1:26:19quickly as possible, a big group altogether. Nobody has really been
1:26:19 > 1:26:24dropped. I noticed the cameras were focused on the German and nights and
1:26:24 > 1:26:31the last climb of the tour to ski, Boehler was just off the back of the
1:26:31 > 1:26:35big group but everyone seems in touch. 15 going through with 62 in
1:26:35 > 1:26:42total.
1:26:42 > 1:26:45total.For bid 62, that's Annika Taylor, the only British contender
1:26:45 > 1:26:50we have. Born in the USA, in California. Her father is British.
1:26:50 > 1:26:56She's been in the team since 2013, I believe. Posy, you are overlapped
1:26:56 > 1:26:59with her a bit, give us a flavour of what the experience would be like
1:26:59 > 1:27:03for her? You might she will have a similar experience to what I had in
1:27:03 > 1:27:08Sochi. This ski races different to the others. You may have braced in
1:27:08 > 1:27:13World Championships or World Cups, but there is more exposure and more
1:27:13 > 1:27:17people watching -- you may have raced. She can really take a
1:27:17 > 1:27:20positive experience from this. Hopefully we will see some good
1:27:20 > 1:27:27things from her.The last time we see the athletes going uphill, Marit
1:27:27 > 1:27:31Bjorgen had moved level with the leaders. She is on the left-hand
1:27:31 > 1:27:38side, wearing number eight. Number 35 is Victoria Carl, she was 12th in
1:27:38 > 1:27:45the sprint in Innsbruck six years ago, in the youth Winter Olympic
1:27:45 > 1:27:52Games. She has had a taste of the big time.
1:27:53 > 1:27:59big time. Number 22 Kowalczyk, just on the left there. Palmer Caskey is
1:27:59 > 1:28:05tracking, the iron Lady with a long way to go. She was not bothered with
1:28:05 > 1:28:10the early pace. She was in the third or fourth row. Now, she has just
1:28:10 > 1:28:14decided to let everybody else know that she is there. She is focused
1:28:14 > 1:28:20and ready to go for gold again -- Parmakoski is tracking.Parmakoski
1:28:20 > 1:28:24tracking behind her. They've had an interesting relationship in terms of
1:28:24 > 1:28:29how close they've been to one another in these races. In the World
1:28:29 > 1:28:33Championships, Parmakoski was the only one who could really stay in
1:28:33 > 1:28:36touch with Marit Bjorgen in that race. Finishing five seconds off.
1:28:36 > 1:28:40Then there was a gap of about half a minute, back to Charlotte Kalla in
1:28:40 > 1:28:47third.Parmakoski had her third individual World Cup this season,
1:28:47 > 1:28:52she's been on the podium plenty of times and had her first actual win.
1:28:52 > 1:28:56A massive confidence boost going into the games. IMac it came ten
1:28:56 > 1:29:03days or so before she got onto the plane to come out here. It is a
1:29:03 > 1:29:09tough course and she knows that she is in good shape.A super Saturday
1:29:09 > 1:29:17for them, Parmakoski is seen as a big hope. In the biathlon, they have
1:29:17 > 1:29:23huge hopes with a couple of shots at the gold today?They will be working
1:29:23 > 1:29:32on their biathlon. It promises to be a great race as well. It is
1:29:32 > 1:29:35alongside Sir Alpensia cross-country skiing centre, they use a lot of
1:29:35 > 1:29:43their own tracks. It is stunning. We have walked and jogged round, Ollie
1:29:43 > 1:29:49and I, it is well laid out. In Sochi, there were some eye watering
1:29:49 > 1:29:56climbs, it isn't an easy course at all, but this skiathlon isn't
1:29:56 > 1:29:59necessarily as hilly as Sochi. Those clients are perhaps more gradual in
1:29:59 > 1:30:04places, but there is one absolute monster when they get onto the
1:30:04 > 1:30:10skating half of the race -- climbs. But overall, in terms of the
1:30:10 > 1:30:15gradient, it isn't as hilly as Sochi.No, but what I would say is
1:30:15 > 1:30:19on the classic cause they have a big climb out of the stadium and then it
1:30:19 > 1:30:26is flat and undulating after that. It is in Paulson -- important to
1:30:26 > 1:30:29work on that. Sometimes you get a nice downhill afterwards, you can
1:30:29 > 1:30:35get your breath back in those ten seconds but I do think there is a
1:30:35 > 1:30:39potential breakaway spot over the top. If you keep pushing it can not
1:30:39 > 1:30:43a few people off the back of the pack.It is exposed in many places,
1:30:43 > 1:30:49we haven't talked much about amateur, we've said Pyeongchang is
1:30:49 > 1:30:53very cold, minus four degrees or -5, the snow is hard and greasy, but
1:30:53 > 1:30:58what does it mean? We haven't even mention that your brother will be
1:30:58 > 1:31:03going for Great Britain here, he sounds confident at getting a medal,
1:31:03 > 1:31:06what are the conditions mean for him?We will talk about a lot the
1:31:06 > 1:31:11next few days, it means that the moment that the snow is very fast
1:31:11 > 1:31:16and I see, because it has been called the snow packs down firm and
1:31:16 > 1:31:21is fairly stable. In terms of the waxing, it should make it fair
1:31:21 > 1:31:24because of the conditions are stable the smaller teams have a chance to
1:31:24 > 1:31:28find the best conditions with wax. But it means it will favour someone
1:31:28 > 1:31:33who can be quite powerful if the snow is very hard pack, you can push
1:31:33 > 1:31:39down with a lot of force whereas if it is a bit softer, you favour those
1:31:39 > 1:31:44with a last and five to -- faster tempo. Marit Bjorgen shouldn't worry
1:31:44 > 1:31:50in every condition.She isn't struggling.
1:31:50 > 1:31:54Look at this. It's not a definitive bid for gold but it looks like she
1:31:54 > 1:31:58is very confident, she was a little bit below form, she was only 15 her
1:31:58 > 1:32:03last World Cup race before coming here. This is a very confident bit
1:32:03 > 1:32:09of French skiing from Marit Bjorgen. Kalla right behind her, one of the
1:32:09 > 1:32:14jewels that we were looking forward to, Oestberg is in fourth, Heidi
1:32:14 > 1:32:25Weng is third. I wanted to meant -- mention Anderson, the Swede. Really
1:32:25 > 1:32:33young, she had her best ever placing in her senior World Cup race. She is
1:32:33 > 1:32:39wearing number 18. She has an -- she is an exciting prospect, she's in
1:32:39 > 1:32:45the right place to keep track the moves.Yes, she's nicely positioned
1:32:45 > 1:32:52at the front there. Kalla coming to the end of her career, Andersson can
1:32:52 > 1:33:03do it. She was meddling in the world Juniors, she went three times, very
1:33:03 > 1:33:08unusual because each year she gets a lot of development but she was still
1:33:08 > 1:33:14competing for the top slots.Posy, you mentioned Oestberg, to the end
1:33:14 > 1:33:21of her career, -- Kalla, how exceptional is it for someone to
1:33:21 > 1:33:29compete at the age that they are? Marit Bjorgen is 38. It's about
1:33:29 > 1:33:32endurance, like breath and running, people do get better as they get
1:33:32 > 1:33:40older. -- like marathon running. If you train and compete well, you can
1:33:40 > 1:33:45be competitive through your 30s. For me, it is motivation. If you are
1:33:45 > 1:33:50Bjorgen and Kalla and you have won everything, how much do you keep it
1:33:50 > 1:33:53up? Because you have to sacrifice a lot to be desktop yellow and she's
1:33:53 > 1:34:04now her mother,.-- she is now a mother. I went to a press conference
1:34:04 > 1:34:11that was in Norwegian, so I could only read the body language, I asked
1:34:11 > 1:34:16a question in English, frankly her in the she's very good. I get the
1:34:16 > 1:34:19feeling she is in quite a content place, the iron lady who was leading
1:34:19 > 1:34:23at the moment. When the next chapter comes, she will be ready for that
1:34:23 > 1:34:27and ready to close the door on this. That's the luxurious position you
1:34:27 > 1:34:31are in. She hopes that she wins a whole host of great medals over the
1:34:31 > 1:34:36coming 16 days but even if these games do not panel out exactly as
1:34:36 > 1:34:41she would have liked, she can draw towards the end of a glittering
1:34:41 > 1:34:47career before she focuses on the next phase of her life. That makes a
1:34:47 > 1:34:50quite dangerous and hard to beat because I didn't get the feeling
1:34:50 > 1:34:53from that press conference that she was coming here feeling that she was
1:34:53 > 1:34:57under a massive amount of pressure. I got the feeling she was relishing
1:34:57 > 1:35:03yet another challenge at SS games. It's such a unique position to be
1:35:03 > 1:35:07in, -- at another Olympic Games. She knows what it is like to be here,
1:35:07 > 1:35:10she has won everything, it would be de-icing on the cake to get a few
1:35:10 > 1:35:16more medals. I think she can still do it and those years of experience
1:35:16 > 1:35:20make a difference.Here is the transition line. Coming up to the
1:35:20 > 1:35:24end of the 7.5 kilometres, the athlete pile on and you can take as
1:35:24 > 1:35:28long as you need to get your classic skis off and get the skate skis on,
1:35:28 > 1:35:34just like the triathlon transition zone. Every second counts
1:35:34 > 1:35:37particularly when you have got someone like Marit Bjorgen, she took
1:35:37 > 1:35:41all the time in the world to switch skis at the bar champion, but if it
1:35:41 > 1:35:45goes wrong for everyone else, they lose time.We will get your
1:35:45 > 1:35:52impressions on the transition soon, but the cameras were focusing their
1:35:52 > 1:35:58on Haga, because she is struggling, she is a fraction off the pace as
1:35:58 > 1:36:03they headed towards the transition area. OK, Posy, do the cross-country
1:36:03 > 1:36:12skiers practice transition like the triathletes do? Their mantra is, you
1:36:12 > 1:36:16can never win a race with the transition but you could cause
1:36:16 > 1:36:20problems.Yes, people don't spend weeks or hours of practice on but
1:36:20 > 1:36:26when you have a big event like this coming up, you make sure you
1:36:26 > 1:36:32incorporate it into a session. You can do and interval session, you can
1:36:32 > 1:36:35do an interval in one technique and change over to another so you
1:36:35 > 1:36:39practice doing it out of breath as well which is important.In an ideal
1:36:39 > 1:36:43world, how long should these transitions take?They have already
1:36:43 > 1:36:46come past the line at the back there, they were able to start
1:36:46 > 1:36:51skating, also taking their poles. So they are just ready to unclip the
1:36:51 > 1:36:57skis, click into the other skis, pick the poles up, get out and put
1:36:57 > 1:37:05the poles on so they should be in the box no more ten seconds.Jessica
1:37:05 > 1:37:10Diggins wearing number three. Now the second half of the race.
1:37:10 > 1:37:14Classical finished for the first 15 or so of these cross-country skiers.
1:37:14 > 1:37:20And I wonder how long we will wait before the big move comes. A shame
1:37:20 > 1:37:26for Haga, a little bit of work to do to try and catch up. Her uncle
1:37:26 > 1:37:30represented Norway in cross-country in 1980. She will have to work to
1:37:30 > 1:37:34close the app.She does tend to be slightly stronger on the freestyle
1:37:34 > 1:37:39skiing that we have moved onto. She will have to work very hard to get
1:37:39 > 1:37:44back up to the front pack. The danger is that if you work too hard
1:37:44 > 1:37:48to get to the front pack, you have burned all your matches once you get
1:37:48 > 1:37:51there and if someone makes a move from the front group, you have
1:37:51 > 1:37:56nothing to go with them. So it's a dangerous position.One skier we
1:37:56 > 1:38:06have not mentioned on the
1:38:06 > 1:38:09have not mentioned on the farce side, but crucially is on the far
1:38:09 > 1:38:17side, the Olympic athletes representing Russia, Nepryaeva. We
1:38:17 > 1:38:23can already see a group of seven or eight beginning to pull away. I
1:38:23 > 1:38:28wonder at what stage we might start to see a big move.You feel like
1:38:28 > 1:38:30once people get into the skate and you do not have to worry about the
1:38:30 > 1:38:35transition any more, like those he was saying, you stay with the pack,
1:38:35 > 1:38:39you get to the transition. -- like Posy was saying. If you have a
1:38:39 > 1:38:43chance against someone like Marit Bjorgen, you have to go early. It's
1:38:43 > 1:38:48the same when you deal with someone like Chris Froome in cycling, how do
1:38:48 > 1:38:54you conquer that, someone who has seen it all and done everything.
1:38:54 > 1:38:58Maybe the best option is to go as hard as you can. If you see the pit
1:38:58 > 1:39:03stop there, roughly 30 seconds, Marit Bjorgen takes a little bit
1:39:03 > 1:39:07longer than most, she feels like she does not have to worry. As we get
1:39:07 > 1:39:12into the skiathlon, people will be cranking this up. How much does it
1:39:12 > 1:39:20matter that you don't have, let's see R Stena the Swedish coaching --
1:39:20 > 1:39:30let's say, Stena Nilsson, how much do you rely on the coach running
1:39:30 > 1:39:35alongside you?Most of your work is done now. It's more important in the
1:39:35 > 1:39:42time trails, women do ten kilometres, you go out in 32nd
1:39:42 > 1:39:45intervals so you can get more feedback on how your competitors are
1:39:45 > 1:39:50doing, that can be important if you are just a few seconds behind, you
1:39:50 > 1:39:54can work harder. You have the feedback of people being around you
1:39:54 > 1:40:00now. It's thinking about who is in this group, or I need to do and
1:40:00 > 1:40:07where I'm going to work hard.The gap is emerging, a group of nine
1:40:07 > 1:40:11with a couple hanging on to the coat-tails and it looks likely test
1:40:11 > 1:40:17starting to get this main pack which may be our winner will come from.
1:40:17 > 1:40:23Yes, the two Swedish athletes, then three, possibly four from Norway.
1:40:23 > 1:40:31Kalla followed by Andersson who is having a fantastic race. Heidi Weng
1:40:31 > 1:40:35is still there and at the moment Marit Bjorgen is this sixth, but
1:40:35 > 1:40:41nothing to read into that, I don't think. She is still there. At what
1:40:41 > 1:40:45stage do you expect a move to come, if they're going to give themselves
1:40:45 > 1:40:49the best possible chance of beating Bjorgen?Look at what's happening
1:40:49 > 1:40:54right now, no one wants to make a move. This place is crawling along.
1:40:54 > 1:40:59Really interesting to see this, we don't tend to see it very often,
1:40:59 > 1:41:03normally we see someone like Bjorgen Heidi Weng going as hard as fossil.
1:41:03 > 1:41:08Here she has gone to the front, she has had enough of this. They were
1:41:08 > 1:41:12crawling over the hill and I think someone will start to make a move
1:41:12 > 1:41:15soon.Is it the case of someone forcing themselves to be brave?
1:41:15 > 1:41:20Think so, and some people know they are not as strong when it comes to
1:41:20 > 1:41:24the sprint finishes, and they will have to push the pace. People like
1:41:24 > 1:41:31Teresa Stadlober, she is a good distance skier, she does not have a
1:41:31 > 1:41:35good sprint finish. If she wants to be near the top, she has to push it
1:41:35 > 1:41:41soon. I think some of the Norwegians will push it, Marit Bjorgen will get
1:41:41 > 1:41:46fed up of this playing around and show us who is boss soon.We are
1:41:46 > 1:41:51excited about Marit Bjorgen from the point of view that she could create
1:41:51 > 1:41:55a piece of history. To reiterate, if you are joining us, she is leading
1:41:55 > 1:41:59the race, she is known as the iron Lady. She is tied with two other
1:41:59 > 1:42:07cross-country skiers as the joint most decorated female Olympian in
1:42:07 > 1:42:15history with ten medals, so at medal of any colour, even though she wants
1:42:15 > 1:42:23the gold, will see her hold the greatest tag all on her own.
1:42:24 > 1:42:28greatest tag all on her own. The male athletes who has 13 medals from
1:42:28 > 1:42:36Norway, he's not competing in this championship, so Marit Bjorgen, if
1:42:36 > 1:42:41she has a great 16 days, could end up as the greatest male or female
1:42:41 > 1:42:47athlete in winter in a big history. We just saw the Swiss athlete, she
1:42:47 > 1:42:54is right up there at the front, she is an athlete who has not had that
1:42:54 > 1:42:58podium success and has been so close to it and has been saying for a long
1:42:58 > 1:43:04time but she is due, Van Siebenthal. She has now moved onto the front of
1:43:04 > 1:43:09this. Is that the brave move that we talk about that someone has to take?
1:43:09 > 1:43:16Absolutely, she is not the one who has had podium finishes so you would
1:43:16 > 1:43:21think she was not so confident but she knows that she has to break the
1:43:21 > 1:43:27pack apart. I think she has made that move, she's certainly starting
1:43:27 > 1:43:32to ramp it up.Everyone is working harder. She is a good athlete, Van
1:43:32 > 1:43:36Siebenthal, she just missed a medal last year in the World Championship
1:43:36 > 1:43:43last year, and in the under 23 championship three years ago.
1:43:43 > 1:43:48Although she has just missed out on the podiums this year in the World
1:43:48 > 1:43:53Cup, she has been pretty consistent. Four performances in top six. So one
1:43:53 > 1:44:01by one beginning to get whittled down.
1:44:01 > 1:44:04down. Von Siebenthal's injection of pace has just asked some questions
1:44:04 > 1:44:09and it's beginning to get interesting here.And Von Siebenthal
1:44:09 > 1:44:13had a bit of a dress rehearsal last year, because when she came forth at
1:44:13 > 1:44:17the World Championship is, she led home in a sprint pack of four or
1:44:17 > 1:44:24five skiers who were 30 seconds of the front but she has that
1:44:24 > 1:44:27experience of coming home in a sprint when you have got five skiers
1:44:27 > 1:44:32around you. Not for gold but still replicating that and it gives her
1:44:32 > 1:44:38that experience which she might need in about ten minutes.Absolutely and
1:44:38 > 1:44:42every cross-country skier out there is so hungry for success that he
1:44:42 > 1:44:44will fight for fourth place and seventh place, it's not just the top
1:44:44 > 1:44:48few across the line that really work.A little bit of a gap opening
1:44:48 > 1:44:55up potentially. Back to Jessica Diggins and perhaps Heidi Weng as
1:44:55 > 1:45:00well, Bjorgen now leads with Kalla in second, Von Siebenthal in third.
1:45:00 > 1:45:08And the other Norwegians, wearing number one and number two, you can
1:45:08 > 1:45:14just see Ingvild Oestberg disappearing on the far left frame,
1:45:14 > 1:45:20they need to pay attention. This is a brutal hill. I have jogged up with
1:45:20 > 1:45:24this and it is really very, very steep indeed. Coming into the
1:45:24 > 1:45:31stadium again. This particular hill, could be the decisive factor in a
1:45:31 > 1:45:37lot of the races we're going to enjoy watching.
1:45:37 > 1:45:43Absolutely, if we are still as packed as this as in 3.75
1:45:43 > 1:45:46parameters, they will be sprinting of that hill to make a gap before
1:45:46 > 1:45:51they get through the last stretch. And you had to hold back enough. All
1:45:51 > 1:45:55of this jockeying for position we are seeing, you have to think if you
1:45:55 > 1:46:01kilometres ahead the whole time, when will I turn this on? It is a
1:46:01 > 1:46:06great mass of unknowns at the moment.It is quite brave of Von
1:46:06 > 1:46:09Siebenthal to go earlier. If she uses all of her energy potentially
1:46:09 > 1:46:13she doesn't have anything left that if she does not do that and it comes
1:46:13 > 1:46:18to the sprint finish, maybe she can't manage that. What do you do?
1:46:18 > 1:46:23Questions being asked of Heidi Weng. The two leaders in the World Cup
1:46:23 > 1:46:33circuit this year, I have noticed the seven coming in, Kowalczyk,
1:46:33 > 1:46:36behind Marit Bjorgen by less than five seconds in the World
1:46:36 > 1:46:41Championships last year. It's gearing up to be a great last lap!
1:46:41 > 1:46:45Marit Bjorgen can taste history here but there are plenty of women still
1:46:45 > 1:46:49in touch wanting to deny her off this golden opportunity to become
1:46:49 > 1:46:54the greatest of all time.We still have Stadlober in the pack, and
1:46:54 > 1:47:01Heidi Weng off the back as well. There are five, six or seven people
1:47:01 > 1:47:04who have the pedigree to take these last few kilometres and make it
1:47:04 > 1:47:09their own. They are all up against it. Someone in Marit Bjorgen, who
1:47:09 > 1:47:16has done it time and again. The last two Olympic skiathlons, she has
1:47:16 > 1:47:19fended off everybody! It must play on the minds of the rest of the
1:47:19 > 1:47:26pack. What would Marit do, what should I do now?She will be hard to
1:47:26 > 1:47:31beat if it comes to the final sprint. She looks comfortable still,
1:47:31 > 1:47:36I think she still has something in the tank. She will be feeling very
1:47:36 > 1:47:41confident going into the last lap of the course.Von Siebenthal, leading
1:47:41 > 1:47:44on the right-hand side wearing the Number 10. Heidi Weng hanging onto
1:47:44 > 1:47:52the leading group. Jess Diggins is still there as well. Charlotte
1:47:52 > 1:47:55Kalla, Ebba Andersson, candy youngster from Sweden upstage her
1:47:55 > 1:48:05famous compatriot, Heidi Weng? Five seconds there, that could be a
1:48:05 > 1:48:10significant gap,
1:48:12 > 1:48:15significant gap, with Oestberg leading the second group. It is
1:48:15 > 1:48:18about to get interesting, Marit Bjorgen hasn't had the race all to
1:48:18 > 1:48:22herself. There are women here who can genuinely put her under pressure
1:48:22 > 1:48:26in the closing stages. How brave are they willing to be and how much will
1:48:26 > 1:48:30they have two push on that really steep hill coming into the stadium
1:48:30 > 1:48:35at the end of the loop?Ebba Andersson, what a story that would
1:48:35 > 1:48:40be for Sweden. It is impossible to overstate the rivalry between Sweden
1:48:40 > 1:48:45and Norway in cross-country skiing. This is football, three o'clock
1:48:45 > 1:48:49Saturday afternoon in Scandinavia right now. Clear the decks and sit
1:48:49 > 1:48:53down, watch this! There is so much. Charlotte Kalla, moving forward,
1:48:53 > 1:48:59Sweden would love to take the opening medal? They would. They have
1:48:59 > 1:49:04never won the combined pursuit, as it used to be called. Two silver
1:49:04 > 1:49:10medals, Charlotte Kalla came in fresh.Von Siebenthal is still in
1:49:10 > 1:49:15there. Marit Bjorgen in third. Also still right alongside the legendary
1:49:15 > 1:49:28Norwegian is Christa Palmer Kosky. In third place, just behind
1:49:28 > 1:49:31In third place, just behind her -- Parmakoski. A bold move from
1:49:31 > 1:49:35Charlotte Kalla, she can be a Winter Olympic champion, she's already won
1:49:35 > 1:49:40in the ten kilometre race. Can she do it today?It is a big move by
1:49:40 > 1:49:46Charlotte Kalla. Marit Bjorgen got stuck behind Von Siebenthal, she
1:49:46 > 1:49:50played it badly. Costing her valuable seconds. Can she make up
1:49:50 > 1:49:54the gap? I don't know. She will have to put her foot down towards the top
1:49:54 > 1:50:01of the hill.These hills are going to separate out the pack. As I said
1:50:01 > 1:50:05before, Charlotte Kalla, the Swedish fans have said is her time, if she
1:50:05 > 1:50:11is to win the gold medal, it is to be today. The snow is in her favour,
1:50:11 > 1:50:15snow underfoot, in terms of what conditions are like, it plays into
1:50:15 > 1:50:21what she likes. There is no dominant force this season. Charlotte Kalla
1:50:21 > 1:50:26with a sizeable gap. There is a long left in this at all.Marit Bjorgen
1:50:26 > 1:50:30will have two Douzable in specialty pick up the gap. Four seconds on the
1:50:30 > 1:50:36group. That could mean an awful lot here. -- do something special to
1:50:36 > 1:50:47pick up the gap.
1:50:48 > 1:50:51To resist our job is a classy performer but Charlotte Kalla has
1:50:51 > 1:50:58been brave, racing smart, she has the race at the moment. That was a
1:50:58 > 1:51:09dizzying short! The Swedish fans are getting excited. The youngster is
1:51:09 > 1:51:20still very much in the mix, with Andersson, momentum with the Swede.
1:51:21 > 1:51:28There is Marit Bjorgen. With the other Swede Andersson behind her. In
1:51:28 > 1:51:33fourth place, you have Parmakoski. As they climb up this hill, if
1:51:33 > 1:51:37Charlotte Kalla does this, she is loved in Sweden. People love her
1:51:37 > 1:51:41personality, she is emotional and says what she thinks. People really
1:51:41 > 1:51:46warmed to her in terms of how she reacts. As she surges uphill, not
1:51:46 > 1:51:50only will she potentially win the gold medal but she could become the
1:51:50 > 1:51:55first Swedish woman to become a three-time Olympic medallist in the
1:51:55 > 1:51:59cross-country skiing. She could put herself out even further as a
1:51:59 > 1:52:03national hero, if she takes the gold medal now.They are really working
1:52:03 > 1:52:08hard as they go uphill. Last time there were tactics and play. Taking
1:52:08 > 1:52:14it easy but now it is all out 100%. They put everything on the line. I
1:52:14 > 1:52:22don't think Marit Bjorgen has given up. She won't give up until the end.
1:52:22 > 1:52:26If she makes up the gap, and wins the gold medal, it will surely
1:52:26 > 1:52:30confirm her as the greatest female cross-country skier of all time to
1:52:30 > 1:52:35do that?It would be pretty special, she is no slouch on the ski! It
1:52:35 > 1:52:39would be incredible to do. She is an incredible competitor. I know her
1:52:39 > 1:52:43and I know she would give up. She still believes she can do it, even
1:52:43 > 1:52:49if no one else does.This is getting tied for second and third. We know
1:52:49 > 1:52:54Marit Bjorgen's class, but Parmakoski of Finland is right
1:52:54 > 1:52:59there. Andersson of Sweden is there. Von Siebenthal hasn't been
1:52:59 > 1:53:03completely detached from the Battle of silver and bronze. Surely with
1:53:03 > 1:53:09the gap as it is, if there's a huge move up that brutal hill coming into
1:53:09 > 1:53:14stadium from Marit Bjorgen, this looks very much as though it could
1:53:14 > 1:53:24be a winning lead. 37 years old, Father Time marching on, she has the
1:53:24 > 1:53:29class Berdych she is to close it, she to do it now. Charlotte Kalla
1:53:29 > 1:53:32was brave and bold, she will be hurting. She will be beginning to
1:53:32 > 1:53:40finish this. -- feel this. Marit Bjorgen is being pushed by the
1:53:40 > 1:53:46athlete that occur so close to the world title last year. Parmakoski,
1:53:46 > 1:53:49seven. Andersson, the other young Swedish athlete in fourth place,
1:53:49 > 1:53:56with Von Siebenthal in Number 10. Marit Bjorgen has to find something
1:53:56 > 1:54:01here. She can produce history. Any medal would make her the greatest
1:54:01 > 1:54:05alone of all time. He mentioned her history with Charlotte Kalla, if she
1:54:05 > 1:54:11wins a medal here, she will join Anya Pearson, the Alpine skier, as
1:54:11 > 1:54:15the greatest Swedish individual medallist with six Winter Olympic
1:54:15 > 1:54:22medals. That's the gap... Surely this is too much? Even for Marit
1:54:22 > 1:54:28Bjorgen?I think she might have let it go too much. This is too little,
1:54:28 > 1:54:33too late for her. This is phenomenal skiing by the ladies. I think
1:54:33 > 1:54:40Charlotte Kalla has braced the perfect race today. Parmakoski is
1:54:40 > 1:54:45hot on her heels. Marit Bjorgen has had to work hard for so long to
1:54:45 > 1:54:50close the gap to Charlotte Kalla.I still think that she can do it. But
1:54:50 > 1:54:54Parmakoski is definitely working hard to stay on her tales.You could
1:54:54 > 1:54:59see Parmakoski, I do think it shows that Parmakoski is finding it easy
1:54:59 > 1:55:01enough to stay in contention with Marit Bjorgen, if she could do
1:55:01 > 1:55:05something about it by now, surely Parmakoski couldn't stay as close as
1:55:05 > 1:55:13she is?Charlotte Kalla has raced superbly here. Now, Marit Bjorgen
1:55:13 > 1:55:18with a small gap over Parmakoski. Ebba Andersson out of the medals at
1:55:18 > 1:55:21the moment. But this will be a sweet, sweet moment for position
1:55:21 > 1:55:28like Charlotte Kalla. The grimace will turn to a smile. She is going
1:55:28 > 1:55:33to secure the first gold medal of the 2018 Winter Olympics here in
1:55:33 > 1:55:39Pyeongchang! A really big effort from Parmakoski to try to close down
1:55:39 > 1:55:44Marit Bjorgen. There will be history for the Norwegian today but it isn't
1:55:44 > 1:55:49in the position to which she has grown accustomed... Charlotte Kalla,
1:55:49 > 1:55:54Sweden's Golden girl, has delivered perhaps the performance of her life.
1:55:54 > 1:56:01So bold and so brave. It is she who becomes the skiathlon Winter Olympic
1:56:01 > 1:56:05champion. History secure for Marit Bjorgen. She is right to celebrate
1:56:05 > 1:56:09her silver medal. It makes her the most decorated female Winter
1:56:09 > 1:56:13Olympian in history, and she will have other chances for gold.
1:56:13 > 1:56:16Parmakoski did her very best to put the Norwegian and the Swede under
1:56:16 > 1:56:22pressure. She completes the podium after a silver last year, bronze
1:56:22 > 1:56:26this time. Well, Marit Bjorgen has created headlines and history here
1:56:26 > 1:56:31today. So too has Sweden's Charlotte Kalla. What a race, and what a
1:56:31 > 1:56:36performance!
1:56:36 > 1:56:43Charlotte Kalla has been phenomenal. We expected this to be a relatively
1:56:43 > 1:56:49close race, if not very, very close. We see skiathlons decided by a
1:56:49 > 1:56:52second or less but if you watch Charlotte Kalla, accelerating away
1:56:52 > 1:56:59in the second half of that. It was the perfect start to her Olympics,
1:56:59 > 1:57:08the Sweden's Olympics. Scandinavia will be going Postal over the event
1:57:08 > 1:57:13they had just seen, it was a dominant win?It was a perfect race
1:57:13 > 1:57:17by Charlotte Kalla. She stayed nice and comfortable on the classic, it
1:57:17 > 1:57:22was very sensible. When it came to the skate, that has been her
1:57:22 > 1:57:28strongest technique. She had a burst of speed when it counted. I think
1:57:28 > 1:57:33she had perfect tactics, a phenomenal race.Interesting to see
1:57:33 > 1:57:37that Marit Bjorgen put her arms up at the finish, perhaps she realises
1:57:37 > 1:57:42it was a fine performance and another great silver medal? Maybe
1:57:42 > 1:57:44she realises that actually she wasn't going to have it all her way
1:57:44 > 1:57:49this year. She's done well in the World Cup series, winning a couple
1:57:49 > 1:57:53of races but she has finished off the podium sometimes as well. I do
1:57:53 > 1:57:57think she is pleased with herself a medal. I don't think it is bitter
1:57:57 > 1:58:06disappointment. But elation that she has another medal.She's a great
1:58:06 > 1:58:10competitor. A real sportswoman. She will congratulate her competitors in
1:58:10 > 1:58:18this race. So many medals in the bag. Silver is still great.The
1:58:18 > 1:58:24first gold has been secured. It has gone to Charlotte Kalla. Her status
1:58:24 > 1:58:28as a golden goal in Sweden was already secured with the gold medals
1:58:28 > 1:58:34that she has enjoyed in Vancouver and in Sochi. But you suspect the
1:58:34 > 1:58:41manner of that victory puts the gold medal at the top of her collection.
1:58:41 > 1:58:48We have so many races in cost crunchy -- cross-country yet to
1:58:48 > 1:58:55come. What a superb day for Charlotte Kalla.
1:58:55 > 1:58:59An incredible race, the first gold of the games goes to Sweden and
1:58:59 > 1:59:03Charlotte Kalla. History made at the cross-country. The iron Lady Marit
1:59:03 > 1:59:09Bjorgen is officially the most decorated Winter female, female
1:59:09 > 1:59:15Winter Olympian of all time.
1:59:16 > 1:59:18Winter Olympian of all time. Quite incredible. We are now leaving the
1:59:18 > 1:59:22mountain cluster and we are heading to the coastal cluster, taking a
1:59:22 > 1:59:28visit to the grand dog ice Hockey Centre, where all of the women's
1:59:28 > 1:59:32hockey is taking place. The first match is underway, Japan play
1:59:32 > 1:59:37Sweden. In the first quarter, let's catch up with all of the action.
1:59:37 > 1:59:46Joining it live with our commentary team Ken Simpson and Steph Bennett.
1:59:46 > 1:59:50COMMENTATOR: Good points from the youngster as another long-range
1:59:50 > 1:59:59effort goes towards the goal... Ripping one, top shelf! Short
1:59:59 > 2:00:07side...
2:00:07 > 2:00:19side... Fujimoto beaten. Sweden winning 1-0.What do you do? Short
2:00:19 > 2:00:26side upstairs, what a shot! Passing Fujimoto, right under the crossbar.
2:00:26 > 2:00:30Fujimoto thinks she has the post covered. It goes right under.
2:00:30 > 2:00:35Postage stamp!
2:00:36 > 2:00:40She could be one of those energy players throughout this tournament.
2:00:40 > 2:00:42Massive smiles.
2:00:47 > 2:00:53Leading rests won 1-0. Japan have pushed back in the last couple of
2:00:53 > 2:00:57minutes. They are creating and they may have a chance as they break into
2:00:57 > 2:01:06the zone. The shooting opportunity goes wide. Japan create the turnover
2:01:06 > 2:01:11again. They are giving Sweden a run for their money. The shot was
2:01:11 > 2:01:15blocked in front. It should be cleared. The Swedish captain. She
2:01:15 > 2:01:16will get help.
2:01:25 > 2:01:31Japan continue to work hard. They are creating. Sweden were resolute
2:01:31 > 2:01:42defensively. They can break away with speed.
2:01:42 > 2:01:46with speed. Almost over the line. Japan will try and clear this away.
2:01:46 > 2:01:51Now they have space to clear.You get the feeling that Japan needs to
2:01:51 > 2:01:55capitalise on one of their opportunities. Boy, they have had
2:01:55 > 2:01:58some wonderful ones in the last few minutes of play, point-blank
2:01:58 > 2:02:04opportunities.
2:02:04 > 2:02:06opportunities. Those opportunities will not keep coming unless they
2:02:06 > 2:02:14find the back of the net.It is taken away. Looking for help on the
2:02:14 > 2:02:21blue line. She will get it. That is very close to a bodycheck on the
2:02:21 > 2:02:27boards. It is one of the differences in the rules between the men's and
2:02:27 > 2:02:32the women's game. You're not allowed to make bodychecked but you can make
2:02:32 > 2:02:35body contact. You will see them crashing to each other every once in
2:02:35 > 2:02:42awhile but it is when the referee judges are made -- they have made
2:02:42 > 2:02:45ahead, that is where they will get the penalty. This is the
2:02:45 > 2:02:49opportunity. Looking for the wraparound. This could be the
2:02:49 > 2:02:57opportunity. A good save again by the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper just
2:02:57 > 2:03:02seems to be doing enough right now. The Swedish defence are doing a
2:03:02 > 2:03:07wonderful job taking away the second and third opportunities. Japan are
2:03:07 > 2:03:12getting the shots, and the rebound is sitting there but Japan cannot
2:03:12 > 2:03:23seem to get it.The shooting chance from the goal-tender from Japan.
2:03:24 > 2:03:27from the goal-tender from Japan. -- saved by the goal-tender from Japan.
2:03:27 > 2:03:36They have it back in their own zone. Sweden seem to be on the back foot
2:03:36 > 2:03:41for the moment. Trying to work something deep in the zone.
2:03:45 > 2:03:53She has helped from the captain. It is brought away.
2:03:54 > 2:03:57is brought away. Two players check one another. They are both Swedish,
2:03:57 > 2:04:03though. It was almost the perfect play. Another opportunity, Japan
2:04:03 > 2:04:11moving the puck. It goes all the way across the crease. In the end it was
2:04:11 > 2:04:15neither a short nor a pass but it only needed a little deflection.
2:04:15 > 2:04:18That seems to be the theme of the last ten minutes of play. It has
2:04:18 > 2:04:28been all Japan.This is a problem. Sweden, against the run of play.
2:04:28 > 2:04:33They have it. She cannot find her defensive partner and they will have
2:04:33 > 2:04:40to retreat because everybody was offside. They do just that. So
2:04:40 > 2:04:46impressive, the way Japan have fought hard in this game.I really
2:04:46 > 2:04:50like their speed, the way they are flying. They have their legs under
2:04:50 > 2:04:55them, but they are moving the plot quickly. We are not seeing long 50
2:04:55 > 2:05:01foot passes, we are seeing ten feet passes, and did close support all
2:05:01 > 2:05:06over the ice.They just need to be clinical in the final third of the
2:05:06 > 2:05:12ice. The question is, will they be able to do that? That is strong
2:05:12 > 2:05:17play. Sweden are the much bigger, more physical team. Right now, they
2:05:17 > 2:05:22cannot clear their own zone. It does not matter, they are causing their
2:05:22 > 2:05:26own problems.Two minutes and 21 seconds in, Sweden took the lead and
2:05:26 > 2:05:33since then it has been all Japan. I think the Japan team has caught the
2:05:33 > 2:05:39eye of the Sweden team. There will be comments in the first intimation
2:05:39 > 2:05:46from the coach, saying, it is time, let's go.Two great opportunities.
2:05:46 > 2:05:51It has been unfortunate that Sweden were not able to clear that. If it
2:05:51 > 2:05:58comes off your skate it can go anywhere, but two great chances. She
2:05:58 > 2:06:03does not get enough of this.You cannot be in a better position to
2:06:03 > 2:06:10shoot. You are about six feet from the keeper. It is just rolling a
2:06:10 > 2:06:19little bit, it looks like it rolls off her stake and away the side. --
2:06:19 > 2:06:26her stick.Good defensive play, but Japan keep working so hard in the
2:06:26 > 2:06:33offensive zone to get the turnovers and rebounds. Maybe we would not
2:06:33 > 2:06:37have expected the Swedish goalkeeper to be the busier of the two, but she
2:06:37 > 2:06:43certainly has been. Make no mistakes about it, Sweden would have come
2:06:43 > 2:06:48into this game expecting to win handsomely. Now they will have a
2:06:48 > 2:06:52chance to break into the zone.
2:06:54 > 2:07:03Good possession. Sweden can relieve the pressure. Careless, sloppy play.
2:07:03 > 2:07:05They are forced back into their own zone.
2:07:16 > 2:07:22The shot on the angle goes well wide of the target. It was a bad shot. It
2:07:22 > 2:07:28did not give any opportunity for anything other than the one shot.
2:07:28 > 2:07:31No, when you're coming down the wing and you're going to take a shark,
2:07:31 > 2:07:37angled shot, you have to hit the net. If you do not, you're helping
2:07:37 > 2:07:41the other team break-out. Case in point. That shot misses and was all
2:07:41 > 2:07:45the way around the boards outside the blue line and gives Japan a
2:07:45 > 2:07:51little sigh of relief.
2:07:51 > 2:07:56Sweden will take this one into the zone. That sounded like a
2:07:56 > 2:08:03bodychecked. The referee has decided it was just a collision. Japan have
2:08:03 > 2:08:07got to be careful, having fought so hard for much of this period. They
2:08:07 > 2:08:13cannot afford to take a penalty or concede another goal at this point.
2:08:13 > 2:08:18At the very least, they deserve to go in trailing by one. Maybe they
2:08:18 > 2:08:25have other ideas as they break into the offensive zone. That shot was
2:08:25 > 2:08:31never going to cause major problems. It is never a bad idea to put the
2:08:31 > 2:08:35puck on the net, especially late in the period, you want to keep it in
2:08:35 > 2:08:43the offensive zone. Perhaps there is a rebound for the taking.Good times
2:08:43 > 2:08:52to come away from it. Into the body it goes.
2:08:52 > 2:08:55it goes. You just feel, when Japan break into the zone, they are not
2:08:55 > 2:08:59going to score from the first opportunity on the Swedish
2:08:59 > 2:09:06goalkeeper. This is such a good opportunity. The shot through the
2:09:06 > 2:09:10screen, but no problem for the goalkeeper.You're right. It was a
2:09:10 > 2:09:15nice play, using the screen, shooting, but not enough on the
2:09:15 > 2:09:21shot, and right into the body of the keeper for an easy start.That is
2:09:21 > 2:09:24Japan again, another shot that does not make its way through. It is
2:09:24 > 2:09:34blocked in front. She clears. Japan will look to go again. They have it.
2:09:34 > 2:09:38The Paz goes all the way across the zone. Sweden are allowed to
2:09:38 > 2:09:49intercept. That should have been a hand past. -- pass. It should have
2:09:49 > 2:09:51been neutralised. It was not given.
2:09:55 > 2:10:04The long outlet Paz goes all the way down the ice. With 53 seconds
2:10:04 > 2:10:09down the ice. With 53 seconds to go, the teams are separated by one goal.
2:10:09 > 2:10:13This is a superstar of women's cocky, in her fourth Olympic Games,
2:10:13 > 2:10:19but so far she has been very quiet, and that is largely down to the play
2:10:19 > 2:10:23of Japan.The Japanese head coach has got to be happy with what he is
2:10:23 > 2:10:28seen from his club, is specially in the last 15 minutes of play.The
2:10:28 > 2:10:35shot and save. We have a break at the other end. Sweden, so close.
2:10:35 > 2:10:41Second chance. Cleared on the line. Now the breakaway. Two golden
2:10:41 > 2:10:47opportunities. Japan come back the other way. This is some game. What
2:10:47 > 2:10:49an opening period to this tournament. Another long-range shot
2:10:49 > 2:10:59goes wide. There are still may be time for one last opportunity.
2:10:59 > 2:11:05Sweden through this one down the ice.
2:11:05 > 2:11:09ice. The long outlet Paz. Japan, seven seconds. Probably not enough
2:11:09 > 2:11:16to get another shot on goal. This could be a chance. Good defensive
2:11:16 > 2:11:23play in the end.What a first period. What an opportunity late in
2:11:23 > 2:11:31the period. You can see the defenceman, she blocked the shot.
2:11:31 > 2:11:36That set up the breakaway. She missed the first shot but had
2:11:36 > 2:11:41wonderful presence of mind to shoot back towards the net. She got behind
2:11:41 > 2:11:45the goalkeeper and sat in the crease, but Tim Japan was able to
2:11:45 > 2:11:49beat them to it.Without a doubt they will be the happier of the
2:11:49 > 2:11:53teams that the end of the period. The players having to put on there
2:11:53 > 2:11:56are skate guards as they wander back. They do not want to blunt the
2:11:56 > 2:12:04blades as they wander back. Back to the locker room. You can see one
2:12:04 > 2:12:10player hobbling, wincing with pain. She felt the full effect of that
2:12:10 > 2:12:14one. In Game one of the tournament, the last thing you need is a stinger
2:12:14 > 2:12:19like that. Over the next 24 hours that will only hurt more and get
2:12:19 > 2:12:24more swollen. The ice will be resurfaced. I think Sweden will
2:12:24 > 2:12:27reflect on a period which could have gone better. Japan will feel great
2:12:27 > 2:12:38despite the fact the trail in the opening game of the tournament, 1-0.
2:12:41 > 2:12:44Sweden with the slender lead at the end of the first quarter. We will be
2:12:44 > 2:12:49back for the second quarter but before that, let's head back to the
2:12:49 > 2:12:53cross country. Tomorrow it is the main's skiathlon and it features
2:12:53 > 2:12:59Great Britain's Andrew Musgrave, in his third Olympics. He has his
2:12:59 > 2:13:03sights set on a medal. Graham Bell went to meet him before it all kicks
2:13:03 > 2:13:04off.
2:13:13 > 2:13:18Pyeongchang, your third Winter Olympics. What have you learned from
2:13:18 > 2:13:23Vancouver and Sochi?When I went to Vancouver I was pretty young, still
2:13:23 > 2:13:26a junior, not that experienced. I was definitely going to find out
2:13:26 > 2:13:32what the Olympics was like. Sochi, I went there and I did slightly
2:13:32 > 2:13:35underperformed compared to what I thought I should be able to do, but
2:13:35 > 2:13:41I have learned a lot, especially after Sochi. Peak form, how to deal
2:13:41 > 2:13:44with pressure, things like that. A lot more experience going into this
2:13:44 > 2:13:50Games than last time.You on the Norwegian Championships ahead of
2:13:50 > 2:13:54Sochi, and that got you lots of press coverage. Did that put extra
2:13:54 > 2:14:00pressure on you ahead of Sochi?I was a little affected by it, I
2:14:00 > 2:14:05trained too hard, I did too much in the lead up. I did not do what I
2:14:05 > 2:14:10normally do. I let things go to my head. That is one of the things I
2:14:10 > 2:14:15have learned.In place to make you said you skied later tranquillised
2:14:15 > 2:14:29badger.Why badger? It is a very good question. I do not think I was
2:14:29 > 2:14:32going to be one of the favourites for a medal, but I should have done
2:14:32 > 2:14:35better.The guy you beat a few weeks before won the gold.Toogood on the
2:14:35 > 2:14:41day.What a spectacle. He did. I outperformed myself on that day. If
2:14:41 > 2:14:47I had done the same in the Olympics I could have been in the fight for
2:14:47 > 2:14:52the medals, but now I feel I should be able to be at that level without
2:14:52 > 2:14:57having to have a super exceptional day.What do the British team have
2:14:57 > 2:15:03that gives them an advantage say, or the Norwegians, the Swedes or the
2:15:03 > 2:15:09Russians?What gives you the edge? The fact that we are a small team.
2:15:09 > 2:15:14Sometimes it is a disadvantage, but it can be an advantage. We look at
2:15:14 > 2:15:17things differently, we have come from a different background but the
2:15:17 > 2:15:21big teams do the same things they have always done. They have this big
2:15:21 > 2:15:26structure
2:15:27 > 2:15:30structure that is hard to change.We can think of the things that we can
2:15:30 > 2:15:33do differently that may work that they have never thought of trying.
2:15:33 > 2:15:34Looking good for Pyeongchang. Which discipline, which event are you
2:15:34 > 2:15:39targeting?
2:15:41 > 2:15:47The 15 kilometres is my main event and the 30 kilometres, that is a
2:15:47 > 2:15:52combination of classic for the first 15 and then skating which is good
2:15:52 > 2:15:57for me as well. We finish in my best style. So those races I am really
2:15:57 > 2:16:06targeting.So what are your hopes and expectations from Pyeongchang.I
2:16:06 > 2:16:11was forth at the World Championship last year and I feel but I am a
2:16:11 > 2:16:16better skier at this year. So this year I think it is realistic for me
2:16:16 > 2:16:27to be fighting for a medal in 30 and 15 K. So that is the goal.
2:16:28 > 2:16:32For the Skiathlon it is getting underway tomorrow morning at a
2:16:32 > 2:16:41quarter past six. We will bring you that live right here on BBC Two.
2:16:41 > 2:16:45From the Huntly Nordic Centre to potential Olympic medallist, what a
2:16:45 > 2:16:49journey it could be for Andrew Musgrave. But we already had some
2:16:49 > 2:16:53medals from the cross-country. The headline act has been the Norwegian
2:16:53 > 2:17:00Marat Bergsson, the most decorated female Winter Olympian of all time,
2:17:00 > 2:17:06taking silver and taking her tally to an incredible 11 Olympic medals.
2:17:06 > 2:17:12Charlotte Kalla of Sweden took the first gold medal of the Games. Well
2:17:12 > 2:17:16disappointment for the GB trio in Slopestyle. They all failed to make
2:17:16 > 2:17:27it through to the final tomorrow. Max Parrot was the top qualifier.
2:17:28 > 2:17:33Well you might have heard is mentioning that it is a little bit
2:17:33 > 2:17:37cold here at Pyeongchang! Actually it is not so bad today, I believe
2:17:37 > 2:17:43the current temperature only around -9 in the wind chill. I only have
2:17:43 > 2:17:48five layers of clothing right now, believe me that is an improvement.
2:17:48 > 2:17:52So we went out to check out the cold weather is going to affect Team GB
2:17:52 > 2:17:59and these Winter Olympics. Jung Chang is situated in the
2:17:59 > 2:18:02mountains 700 metres above sea level and the locals claim it is perfect
2:18:02 > 2:18:07for healthy living. But alongside that is the weather. The very, very
2:18:07 > 2:18:20cold weather. The Pyeongchang area is the coldest
2:18:20 > 2:18:27place in Korea. Because of the mountainous area. The average
2:18:27 > 2:18:34February temperature is around -11 Celsius.It really is cold. Take a
2:18:34 > 2:18:41look at this. I know it is supposed to be cold, it is the Winter
2:18:41 > 2:18:46Olympics, but the coldest on record was in Lily hammer in 1994 and that
2:18:46 > 2:18:52year it went as low as -11 degrees. So if temperature stayed this low
2:18:52 > 2:19:05could that affect the 2018 Winter Olympics?We continue to ask the
2:19:05 > 2:19:08operators at which temperature it would be impossible to operate the
2:19:08 > 2:19:13Games.They say it depends on the situation. And that situation is
2:19:13 > 2:19:17largely determined by the amount of time that the athlete spends outside
2:19:17 > 2:19:21in the freezing climate. For an Alpine racer it is less than two
2:19:21 > 2:19:26minutes. But a cross country skier more like two hours. Whatever the
2:19:26 > 2:19:31amount of time, a crucial element is the kit that they wear it to cope
2:19:31 > 2:19:35with the frosty conditions. With around 60 Team GB athletes
2:19:35 > 2:19:41travelling out here that is a lot of sports and a lot of kit.Four years
2:19:41 > 2:19:47ago we had shorts and flip-flops in Sochi. So quite a shift. Great to be
2:19:47 > 2:19:51part of the Olympic Winter Games in which it is actually cold. We all
2:19:51 > 2:19:57have about 100 items of kit. Each sport has their own and we have
2:19:57 > 2:20:03village where as well. The goose down jackets, scarf and gloves, hand
2:20:03 > 2:20:12warmers.Do you think the cold could help or hinder Team GB?Help,
2:20:12 > 2:20:16cross-country is a great example, the preparations that they have done
2:20:16 > 2:20:24in the background is ideal. So they have a great time out on the track.
2:20:24 > 2:20:31So we are in great shape to cope with this to the benefit of Team GB.
2:20:31 > 2:20:35So for the first time ever I'm going to hope it stays cold!
2:20:35 > 2:20:41Will the build-up to the Games has been more difficult than usual. The
2:20:41 > 2:20:43North Korean, South Korean neighbours in the north and the fate
2:20:43 > 2:20:47of the Russian athletes have dominated the build-up to these
2:20:47 > 2:20:52Games. Matthew Pinsent has been out to assess Games caught up in
2:20:52 > 2:20:58controversy. Every edition of the Olympic Games
2:20:58 > 2:21:03is going to have its challenges. But it seems as if Pyeongchang is taking
2:21:03 > 2:21:11it to a whole new level. 50 miles across those hills is North Korea.
2:21:11 > 2:21:16And let's be honest, relations with them recently have been absolutely
2:21:16 > 2:21:19appalling. But in the last few weeks North Korea announced that they were
2:21:19 > 2:21:23sent a delegation to the Winter Games to compete. So are we on the
2:21:23 > 2:21:31eve of some chorion goodwill?I have been doing courier for 30 years and
2:21:31 > 2:21:35I cannot recall when the situation was as dangerous as the last year.
2:21:35 > 2:21:43The tension between South and is becoming more sophisticated and a
2:21:43 > 2:21:49little bit dangerous. Especially for our side of the Korean peninsula.
2:21:49 > 2:21:55All this reconciliation is not going to last for long. Because the United
2:21:55 > 2:21:59States would be deadly opposing any kind of economic interaction between
2:21:59 > 2:22:06North and South.Still the Korean citizens have the same history and
2:22:06 > 2:22:12we are one unit, one people and one nation. So we are rooting for both
2:22:12 > 2:22:18teams.Korea and North. Hopes in Korea itself may be high but in the
2:22:18 > 2:22:21rest of the world including the UK questions remained about attending
2:22:21 > 2:22:25the Games at all.We feel it is better to come rather than boycott
2:22:25 > 2:22:31or not turn up. It is the athletes, they do not choose, it is the
2:22:31 > 2:22:36pinnacle of their career and they want to be here. It is up to us to
2:22:36 > 2:22:39do our utmost as long as we can guarantee their safety.Another
2:22:39 > 2:22:45problem the Olympic authorities have to deal with is that of Russia and
2:22:45 > 2:22:50they doping. This began back of the last Winter Olympics. In Sochi in
2:22:50 > 2:22:542014. But just recently it has come to a head.Russia has been banned
2:22:54 > 2:22:59from competing at the Olympics in South Korea following an
2:22:59 > 2:23:04investigation into allegations of state-sponsored doping.The Court of
2:23:04 > 2:23:08Arbitration for Sport has upheld an appeal is in the last few days from
2:23:08 > 2:23:1328 of those banned Russian athletes. Which leaves a lot more questions.
2:23:13 > 2:23:17And the only person who can answer them is the president of the IOC,
2:23:17 > 2:23:25Thomas back.Can you go into any more detail?Do you have any regrets
2:23:25 > 2:23:31about the intervening four years and the way the IOC has handled this?
2:23:31 > 2:23:38No, we issued the toughest sanctions which we can issue on a national
2:23:38 > 2:23:42Olympic committee. This is the exclusion from the Olympic Games.
2:23:42 > 2:23:49But the IOC did clear 169 athletes, who they judged to be drug-free.
2:23:49 > 2:23:53They compete under Olympic flag with neutral kit and no Russian anthem if
2:23:53 > 2:24:00they win.We gave a new young generation of Russian athletes the
2:24:00 > 2:24:06opportunity to be invited to show the Russians that it pays off to be
2:24:06 > 2:24:12clean.In one final chapter to the Russians trying to get to
2:24:12 > 2:24:16Pyeongchang, a further 32 athletes this week challenge their ban from
2:24:16 > 2:24:21December. But just hours ahead of the opening ceremony, their appeals
2:24:21 > 2:24:27were dismissed. Stating that the IOC were within their rights to block
2:24:27 > 2:24:32them. No one is naive enough to think the Winter Olympics will solve
2:24:32 > 2:24:36all the sporting or political problems of the world. But with
2:24:36 > 2:24:44world-class event is about to begin, hopefully we can all take a 17 day
2:24:44 > 2:24:47break from them.Well the Korean women's hockey team are in action
2:24:47 > 2:24:52today, that is on the Red Button at 12:45pm. But heading back to the ice
2:24:52 > 2:24:56now for the second period of Japan against Sweden.
2:24:56 > 2:25:01now for the second period of Japan against Sweden.
2:25:01 > 2:25:04Swedish fans, some may be smiling but it is the Japanese fans who will
2:25:04 > 2:25:12feel better about their performance. I think many of the Koreans in the
2:25:12 > 2:25:22building are supporting the Europeans. You suspect they could
2:25:22 > 2:25:26have been a little rocket in that locker room going in the direction
2:25:26 > 2:25:31of the Swedish team. They were not great in the first period. I'm sure
2:25:31 > 2:25:37at the head coach had a few words for his team. What a wonderful start
2:25:37 > 2:25:40for Sweden, just a couple of minutes in getting on the board. Maybe that
2:25:40 > 2:25:44was the worst thing to get that early goal and then they think it is
2:25:44 > 2:25:48going to be an easy game the rest of the way. But Japan responded in a
2:25:48 > 2:25:52big way. They went to the power play, not able to convert but I
2:25:52 > 2:25:59think that was the difference. Just stemming the flow of the game was up
2:25:59 > 2:26:02from there we have Japan using their speed and they had a lot of
2:26:02 > 2:26:10wonderful opportunities. But I tell you what, scoring chances, they were
2:26:10 > 2:26:16even more in favour of Japan. There is Fanny Rask, the goal scorer
2:26:16 > 2:26:31there. Great goal from Fanny Rask, she really can cause some problems.
2:26:31 > 2:26:37Somebody who plays in the Swedish women's league. Could Fujimoto have
2:26:37 > 2:26:47done anything about that? I really do not think so.
2:26:47 > 2:26:50do not think so. So period number two, Japan with the white and red
2:26:50 > 2:26:55jerseys. They will want to build on that great work of the second half
2:26:55 > 2:27:01of the first session. And they will try to find their way back into this
2:27:01 > 2:27:10game. Japan now in the offensive zone. Going back to the blue line
2:27:10 > 2:27:19and following a similar theme, this first 30 seconds or so.
2:27:19 > 2:27:23first 30 seconds or so. Osawa opening things up and a chance
2:27:23 > 2:27:30there. Quite a weak shot, not having the power to cause big problems. And
2:27:30 > 2:27:38Sweden looking to go forward now. Japan have to go back. That is the
2:27:38 > 2:27:43fourth opportunity Japan have had from that high slot area. Really
2:27:43 > 2:27:51findings open ice. But just not able to get quality shots from that area.
2:27:51 > 2:27:57Intercepted.
2:27:57 > 2:28:01Intercepted. Chasing into the corner. Japan trying to create in
2:28:01 > 2:28:09the offensive zone.
2:28:09 > 2:28:13the offensive zone. Japan Sea is go back to the other end and they can
2:28:13 > 2:28:20create again.Going back to Sochi four
2:28:20 > 2:28:24four years ago,. Smile Japan was the nickname, very easy-going, the team
2:28:24 > 2:28:30having a lot of fun. A lot of the fans smitten by them but
2:28:30 > 2:28:33unfortunately they did not win a single game in the tournament. And
2:28:33 > 2:28:37they left a little bit ashamed. And now they're looking for redemption
2:28:37 > 2:28:44in South Korea.Another blocked shot from Sweden. The fifth or sixth of
2:28:44 > 2:28:51the game so far. It just tells you Japan have created a lot. That is a
2:28:51 > 2:28:59bad turnover. Now the opportunity to push this one.
2:29:04 > 2:29:17Fujimoto out to play it. That was a bit sloppy from Japan.
2:29:17 > 2:29:22bit sloppy from Japan. Stripped again. And in now, and Sweden
2:29:22 > 2:29:25starting to build momentum. Just causing some turnovers and they do
2:29:25 > 2:29:32exactly the same thing again. Pernilla Winnberg across the line.
2:29:32 > 2:29:39Wide of the target. Away they go again. Japan clearing all the way
2:29:39 > 2:29:44down the ice and Sweden going back to play this one.Well Japan cannot
2:29:44 > 2:29:52be afraid to do just that, dump it down. Just get it out of your own
2:29:52 > 2:30:04zone if you feel under pressure. Pressure coming. Sweden probably
2:30:04 > 2:30:10have had their best shift in ten minutes. Japan can relieve a bit of
2:30:10 > 2:30:15pressure finally. They can break with a little bit of speed as well.
2:30:15 > 2:30:21And it is Fanny Rask the goal scorer trying to clear away from her own
2:30:21 > 2:30:39end. Needed 34 bytes of that cherry. -- three or four.
2:30:39 > 2:30:43-- three or four. The foot movement has been exceptionally good through
2:30:43 > 2:30:49this game.
2:30:49 > 2:30:53Johannson echoes cause Sweden so many problems. Another shot is
2:30:53 > 2:31:00blocked again by Fanny Rask. Japan are cranking on the pressure.The
2:31:00 > 2:31:05shot goes wide of the target. This is new for Sweden. In your wildest
2:31:05 > 2:31:13dreams they did not expect to be hemmed in by Tim Japan. They need to
2:31:13 > 2:31:16find a little relief in racing the puck. The story of the game so far
2:31:16 > 2:31:21is all this wonderful work from Japan, but not resulting in any
2:31:21 > 2:31:30scoring opportunities. We see another block from Fanny Rask.
2:31:31 > 2:31:37another block from Fanny Rask.That was Grahm made the save.
2:31:38 > 2:31:43was Grahm made the save. It is end over end. It is causing problems.
2:31:43 > 2:31:51Yoneyama. More good work to keep possession going. Japan are creating
2:31:51 > 2:31:58everything they possibly can. Have they got to be on collision -- the
2:31:58 > 2:32:04one clinician who can find the Finnish? That is a question mark. Do
2:32:04 > 2:32:12they have enough goals. If they take one of these chances, what does it
2:32:12 > 2:32:17do to the mentality of Sweden?The Japan bench now they can play with
2:32:17 > 2:32:25Sweden. They have proved that. There are no doubters on the Japan bench,
2:32:25 > 2:32:31but they need a goal-scorer, someone who can even imagine bring them back
2:32:31 > 2:32:38into it.One player who could do that is Kubo. She is on the ice now.
2:32:38 > 2:32:44It will be the like of Fallman that is concerned at this stage.She
2:32:44 > 2:32:49plays in Sweden. Good to see Fallman back on the ice. We saw in a great
2:32:49 > 2:32:57deal of pain, limping. She blocked the shot that led to the breakaway
2:32:57 > 2:33:03by Stenberg.It is good to see her back. They shot into the body. The
2:33:03 > 2:33:09set play from the face-off. Almost on cue, Kubo almost pulled the
2:33:09 > 2:33:16trigger.What a wonderful face-off. Kubo, a little of the circle. Ready
2:33:16 > 2:33:22for it, and the puck went right onto her forehand. She stopped it for
2:33:22 > 2:33:27half a second, and then moved it on in a hurry.Grahn with a nice save.
2:33:27 > 2:33:32She had five goals in qualifying, Kubo, so she is maybe the one that
2:33:32 > 2:33:37Japan will be looking to. She actually had a break from ice
2:33:37 > 2:33:41hockey. She got very frustrated and decided she wanted to do other
2:33:41 > 2:33:46things. Eventually there was the lure of playing in an Olympic Games.
2:33:46 > 2:33:54We have a two on one. It was a good save by Fujimoto. Everybody in the
2:33:54 > 2:34:02building was playing the pass apart from Fujimoto. She was looking for
2:34:02 > 2:34:09the past, up until the last second, Winberg.Pernilla Winberg, the
2:34:09 > 2:34:15veteran, legendary hockey player in Sweden. Perhaps a little bit of
2:34:15 > 2:34:20indecision. She was thinking about the pass. At the last moment, she
2:34:20 > 2:34:24decided to shoot. She did not put that were she wanted to. Fujimoto
2:34:24 > 2:34:31made the same.So, penalty against Japan and the first opportunity to
2:34:31 > 2:34:37have a look at that power play. Let's have a look at it. It feels
2:34:37 > 2:34:44like a soft call. There is Winberg, or indeed to make on one. Could she
2:34:44 > 2:34:51have gone wider?Possibly. She tried to end up going short side. The
2:34:51 > 2:35:00glove of Fujimoto turned it aside. That penalty will see Kubo in the
2:35:00 > 2:35:03box and it will seize Sweden with the one played advantage for two
2:35:03 > 2:35:13minutes. -- will see Sweden. They will try to make things happen in
2:35:13 > 2:35:17the offensive zone. That is why Winberg is out on the ice. Good
2:35:17 > 2:35:22save.
2:35:25 > 2:35:31save. Fujimoto denies Emma Nordin. It was a great pass by Winberg. This
2:35:31 > 2:35:39is where Japan may struggle. Kicked aside.
2:35:39 > 2:35:43aside. Once again, it was a good power play. The face-off will be in
2:35:43 > 2:35:49the zone.Winberg is pulling the strings. When she moves the puck she
2:35:49 > 2:35:56puts real speed on it. What vision to hate Nordin in stride. Coming
2:35:56 > 2:36:03across the blue line. Fujimoto with the save. A good job by Japan to
2:36:03 > 2:36:11clear the rebound into the corner for no further harm.
2:36:12 > 2:36:15for no further harm.Sweden will try and work the outside. Japan get
2:36:15 > 2:36:24clean again. We spoke early on about the 17-year-old defender, Nylen
2:36:24 > 2:36:31Persson. We wondered how much time she would get but now look at her,
2:36:31 > 2:36:35quarterbacking the power play. 17 years of age. Sweden are trying to
2:36:35 > 2:36:40get something. It will be Nylen Persson who will go all the way back
2:36:40 > 2:36:46to our own zone. 30 seconds remaining with the one played
2:36:46 > 2:36:51advantage.
2:36:52 > 2:36:58advantage. Sweden sent this in. Japan will try and clean again.
2:36:58 > 2:37:02Eventually it is sent towards the net. A big deflection against the
2:37:02 > 2:37:08defender. That did not cause too many problems by Fujimoto. -- four
2:37:08 > 2:37:17Fujimoto. They have done some good penalty killing. That was good
2:37:17 > 2:37:21defending by Yoneyama, deep in her own zone. Now they can lead to
2:37:21 > 2:37:25build. Sweden lead by one goal. Japan will feel somewhat
2:37:25 > 2:37:33unfortunate. Kubo
2:37:33 > 2:37:35unfortunate. Kubo gets a stake on that. Japan have had more than
2:37:35 > 2:37:45enough chances to be level. -- a stick on that. Japan, under
2:37:45 > 2:37:50pressure. A good turnover in the offensive zone. The physical
2:37:50 > 2:37:58presence from the Swedish line could be the difference maker.
2:37:58 > 2:38:05be the difference maker. They scored, the combination of Rask,
2:38:07 > 2:38:12Kuller, Anton Karlsson.They are able to control the pace of the play
2:38:12 > 2:38:21down low.Japan growing in confidence in this game. They have a
2:38:21 > 2:38:27chance to move away, into the offensive zone.
2:38:29 > 2:38:34offensive zone. That was really good work by Taka.
2:38:36 > 2:38:48work by Taka. Working hard in that corner. Now an opportunity to skate.
2:38:48 > 2:38:51These are one of chances for Sweden, they are not getting sustained
2:38:51 > 2:38:56pressure.
2:39:00 > 2:39:03pressure. That was nearly tipped out in front. It should not have cause
2:39:03 > 2:39:09the problem.They say it is never a bad play to put the puck on the net.
2:39:09 > 2:39:14But you're right, we are seeing lots of shots from far out from Sweden
2:39:14 > 2:39:21and no rebound to speak of.
2:39:22 > 2:39:28Japan, under some pressure in their own zone. This is probably Sweden's
2:39:28 > 2:39:36best shift since the power play. The shot will come from range. It is not
2:39:36 > 2:39:43pipped on the way through. Again they will battle their way through.
2:39:43 > 2:39:47Stenberg was outmuscled in the end. It needed two players. It will be
2:39:47 > 2:39:54clear down the ice. This is a long shift for the Japanese five. You do
2:39:54 > 2:39:59wonder if the fatigue will start to cause a problem. That is a mistake.
2:39:59 > 2:40:07It could have been offside.It was given. This is too bad. This is not
2:40:07 > 2:40:14offside. The Swedish player put the puck back into her own zone. Even
2:40:14 > 2:40:18though Osawa was ahead, it Sweden puts it back into their own zone, it
2:40:18 > 2:40:24should not be blown by the lines person.That is a break for Sweden.
2:40:24 > 2:40:28Everything from Sweden has been tight, Donal, into the net. They
2:40:28 > 2:40:33could do with creating something further away from the neck, to give
2:40:33 > 2:40:42themselves space.That is a nice drive from Olsson. But it is one and
2:40:42 > 2:40:46done, the shot, and then cleared away into the corner by Japan. That
2:40:46 > 2:40:53was a nice job by Fujimoto, is stealing the puck out of harm's way.
2:40:53 > 2:40:57It is a little bit take and hold from Sweden. They are not playing
2:40:57 > 2:41:02with the confidence that they can move the puck around and create a
2:41:02 > 2:41:06great opportunity.Early on, a couple of minutes into this game,
2:41:06 > 2:41:15the line of Fanny Rask,
2:41:15 > 2:41:17the line of Fanny Rask, Kuller Anton Karlsson, they thought it was going
2:41:17 > 2:41:23to be like that in every attack. Now there is a whole team on the Japan
2:41:23 > 2:41:31side that thought, we can play against teams Sweden.Two in this
2:41:31 > 2:41:33group go through to the quarterfinals. You would suspect
2:41:33 > 2:41:41that all three of the teams will be the Korean team, the lowest seeded
2:41:41 > 2:41:45team, and they are in a state of flux with the arrivals of players
2:41:45 > 2:41:52from North Korea as well. Nobody knows what to expect from them other
2:41:52 > 2:41:55than they are unlikely to win a game. Then it comes to the
2:41:55 > 2:41:58head-to-head results and it means you need to get something out of one
2:41:58 > 2:42:04of the other games.That is why the first game is so massive. If you can
2:42:04 > 2:42:09take your team into overtime and get that bonus point, you never know. If
2:42:09 > 2:42:13you can take care of South Korea, and we do not want any team getting
2:42:13 > 2:42:17past other teams, you can take care of the game you are supposed to win,
2:42:17 > 2:42:22and you can salvage a point in another one, you could be moving on
2:42:22 > 2:42:28to the quarterfinals.Svedin with help from Hjalmarsson. That is where
2:42:28 > 2:42:40the puck goes. She cannot handle it. That was against Ono. It was a great
2:42:40 > 2:42:46forecheck from Tim Japan to cause the turnover. That was an
2:42:46 > 2:42:50opportunity lost. Ono had the puck on her stick and she could not pull
2:42:50 > 2:42:57the trigger.Great play offensively. Osawa gets it behind the back of the
2:42:57 > 2:43:03net. She is getting some help from Yoneyama. Sweden unable to clear.
2:43:03 > 2:43:11The shot comes in. Another attempt on goal. Emma Nordin getting in the
2:43:11 > 2:43:14way. Sweden, anywhere will do for them right now. That was immense
2:43:14 > 2:43:23from Japan. Now Sweden will try and have a go. Japan, much smaller in
2:43:23 > 2:43:27stature. They are winning the battle on the boards and in the middle of
2:43:27 > 2:43:31the ice. Can they find that finishing touch, to one of these
2:43:31 > 2:43:34chances?
2:43:39 > 2:43:50Ono. It is a really long shift out there for Ono. She was on the
2:43:50 > 2:43:55offence for 45 seconds and now she is hemmed in her own zone for 30.
2:43:55 > 2:43:59Explain what that is like. There are four macro lens for the players,
2:43:59 > 2:44:04four units of five on each team. The expectation is you're going to play
2:44:04 > 2:44:1035-45 seconds?Typically that is the average length of the ship, you're
2:44:10 > 2:44:16out there for 40 seconds. When you come off, you're tired. When you're
2:44:16 > 2:44:23down low, like this threesome in the offensive zone, if the puck comes
2:44:23 > 2:44:27back and you're in your defensive area, you cannot go for a line
2:44:27 > 2:44:29change because it will leave an opportunity for Sweden to get the
2:44:29 > 2:44:35chance. They've got to come back into their own zone. You can see 27,
2:44:35 > 2:44:41Ono, that was about a minute and 15 seconds. When you go back on the
2:44:41 > 2:44:44bench it takes the a few shifts to get your breath back. You do not
2:44:44 > 2:44:50want the lactic acid to build up.It is very much a sprint sport, the
2:44:50 > 2:44:55equivalent of running 400 metres every time you go out there. It is
2:44:55 > 2:45:00that kind of energy you would be expending.And Robbie, you're moving
2:45:00 > 2:45:07quake, you're getting a break and then you're right back at it.Sweden
2:45:07 > 2:45:14are leading 1- nil in this opening game.
2:45:15 > 2:45:20Japan deserved a little more than the scoreline weeds, they've played
2:45:20 > 2:45:30so well. Sweden potentially our medal contenders. They took bronze
2:45:30 > 2:45:34medal four years ago. You feel if anyone is going to break into the
2:45:34 > 2:45:40big two, USA and Canada, it will between Switzerland, Finland and
2:45:40 > 2:45:46Sweden.
2:45:46 > 2:45:49Sweden.Sweden will have to bring a bit more than they are showing here
2:45:49 > 2:45:54if they want to break into that top two or even top three. They have
2:45:54 > 2:46:00been forced in the last two Olympics. Open for a better result
2:46:00 > 2:46:08here of course.Sweden will create this all the way down the ice. This
2:46:08 > 2:46:15is a chance. Great block out in front. Right in the body. That will
2:46:15 > 2:46:22really hurt Suzuki. Japan coming all the way back the other way, putting
2:46:22 > 2:46:26their bodies on the line and doing everything they need to do in this
2:46:26 > 2:46:35game. Some great skating.
2:46:35 > 2:46:38game. Some great skating.You just love this play from team Japan. A
2:46:38 > 2:46:47huge block at one end from Suzaki. Three on one. She is getting to.
2:46:47 > 2:46:52Coming right back and the other way. And a sucker has a wonderful chance
2:46:52 > 2:46:57for the long range.
2:46:57 > 2:47:05-- Osaka.
2:47:05 > 2:47:12You do not get a lot of protection in the rib area.Exactly right. You
2:47:12 > 2:47:25have shoulder pads but just come down above the abdominal area. You
2:47:25 > 2:47:29can see Suzuki holding on to the side ribs. But she will tough it out
2:47:29 > 2:47:36and do everything she can to get back out there.
2:47:36 > 2:47:39back out there.Smile Japan looking a lot happier than the Swedish
2:47:39 > 2:47:44Rally. Even with the chance to be on the big screen not quite enough for
2:47:44 > 2:47:48them to be jumping up and down and partying. That tells you the way the
2:47:48 > 2:47:56play has gone. Just a bit too tight. Another opportunity, set play. We
2:47:56 > 2:48:03have seen this a couple of times. Japan again building this, quick
2:48:03 > 2:48:14turnover. This could be a real danger. Ian Hansen chasing after it.
2:48:14 > 2:48:23Now some speed the other way, a bit of anger there. You may have just
2:48:23 > 2:48:31caught that in the corner of your screen.
2:48:31 > 2:48:39screen.Well how about the play from Taka,
2:48:39 > 2:48:45Taka, leading Ford Japan going in the other direction.
2:48:48 > 2:48:54the other direction.Japan gaining possession again. They will keep
2:48:54 > 2:49:01putting the pressure on Sweden. Creating another turnover. All three
2:49:01 > 2:49:10players just overload on one of the ice. This could be a real danger.
2:49:10 > 2:49:18Sweden have it in front but no one able to force it home. Pernilla
2:49:18 > 2:49:24Winberg crossing wires.
2:49:24 > 2:49:27Winberg crossing wires. Into the zone it comes. The shot goes high
2:49:27 > 2:49:39and over the top.One thing Japan do very well, running around a little
2:49:39 > 2:49:46bit but they do not panic.And they are precise in their passing. Japan
2:49:46 > 2:49:53again with another opportunity on the goal.
2:49:53 > 2:49:58the goal. Just forcing all the way.
2:50:04 > 2:50:09The captain Osawa. Deflecting, so much time and space out there. And
2:50:09 > 2:50:18now a chance again for Japan. Going wide again.
2:50:18 > 2:50:23wide again. Japan are all over Sweden right now. Another shot,
2:50:23 > 2:50:29higher this time. Sweden exhausted out there. Another opportunity,
2:50:29 > 2:50:34deflected through.
2:50:34 > 2:50:43deflected through. Sara Grahn unable to take advantage. This is
2:50:43 > 2:50:50outstanding from Japan. The path to the side of the net does not find
2:50:50 > 2:50:58its destination.
2:50:58 > 2:51:03its destination. The captain behind her own net, backhand shot and good
2:51:03 > 2:51:07save again from Sara Grahn. Sweden all over the place. Japan have
2:51:07 > 2:51:19scored! Side of the net. Sweden, the masters of their own downfall.
2:51:21 > 2:51:23masters of their own downfall. The Japanese fans brought to their feet.
2:51:23 > 2:51:30Nothing less than may have deserved in this game.
2:51:33 > 2:51:39in this game.You could see this coming, what an
2:51:40 > 2:51:46coming, what an effort and Japan just staying with it. Able to jump
2:51:46 > 2:51:56on that with the backend. If that had been about two minutes of action
2:51:56 > 2:52:00in Sweden zone. And you can see those salutes as they bowed to each
2:52:00 > 2:52:06other. It was too much for team Sweden, they had nowhere to turn.
2:52:06 > 2:52:10Every time they looked up there was off-white jersey in their face. What
2:52:10 > 2:52:16an effort from team Japan and they are rewarded with that huge goal.It
2:52:16 > 2:52:22was outstanding from Japan, absolutely outstanding.
2:52:22 > 2:52:25absolutely outstanding. They must make sure now they do not concede a
2:52:25 > 2:52:37cheap one. The shot dealt with. Missed.
2:52:37 > 2:52:41Missed. Japan try to clear their zone away, they do not manage it. A
2:52:41 > 2:52:48big response from Sweden. Good presence of mind.
2:52:48 > 2:52:56presence of mind. The captain Osawa gets it across. Japan in deep again.
2:52:56 > 2:53:05And winding back just a few moments ago, clear possession behind the net
2:53:05 > 2:53:11and the chance just stolen.
2:53:13 > 2:53:16and the chance just stolen. Metallic sound is that went past the net.
2:53:16 > 2:53:19Another opportunity for Sweden as they continue to push in the
2:53:19 > 2:53:26offensive zone. The shot comes in, no deflection. Sweden have reacted
2:53:26 > 2:53:33well to conceding.Almost a sobering moment giving up that goal to even
2:53:33 > 2:53:41up the game. And a wonderful response from Sweden.
2:53:41 > 2:53:43response from Sweden. They have looked a bit out of it the entire
2:53:43 > 2:53:49second period.
2:53:49 > 2:53:57second period.The atmosphere is building. Everyone chanting, it
2:53:57 > 2:54:06almost touched home. Just in front of the net. There is nobody there.
2:54:06 > 2:54:10The Japanese/ line change with just over a minute remaining. It has been
2:54:10 > 2:54:21an enthralling game.
2:54:21 > 2:54:28Let's watch that goal again. Just too much work. Two Swedish players
2:54:28 > 2:54:35standing there in front of Sara Grahn. But it comes to the side. And
2:54:35 > 2:54:42great presence of mind to jump out from and put it past the net minder.
2:54:42 > 2:54:50A sharp angled shot and another good save.Amazing what a goal can do if
2:54:50 > 2:54:57your confidence. And this is a hard shot but she lets go. Right back,
2:54:57 > 2:55:06winning races to the puck. Her eyes following at the whole way.
2:55:06 > 2:55:23Different reaction from the Japan bench.A great opportunity.
2:55:25 > 2:55:31Hosoyamada seeing that taken away from her.Team Japan has been
2:55:31 > 2:55:35wonderful in finding those open areas in the offensive zone and
2:55:35 > 2:55:42jumping past defenders. That is what Hosoyamada is doing here, and a
2:55:42 > 2:55:51beautiful pass. Right on her stick. And Sara Grahn continuing to be busy
2:55:51 > 2:56:01here this afternoon.Japan are ninth in the world rankings. But tipping
2:56:01 > 2:56:06those rankings around right now. Only eight teams invited to the
2:56:06 > 2:56:14women's competition. And Japan had to qualified to go through. Coria
2:56:14 > 2:56:24arrived as tournament hosts.Just under 30 seconds left. You need to
2:56:24 > 2:56:32make sure to get into the dressing room tied up.
2:56:41 > 2:56:45Japan will try to tidy this one away. An opportunity to use that
2:56:45 > 2:56:50speed to create one last chance. With just four seconds to go. They
2:56:50 > 2:57:00go wide. Fujimoto has to make the save. What a period that was. Japan
2:57:00 > 2:57:05with the only goal. Fujimoto with very little to do. At the other end
2:57:05 > 2:57:11it was Sara Grahn who had to make them more quality saves. And Sweden
2:57:11 > 2:57:17finding themselves pegged back. It is Fujimoto and Japan who fight
2:57:17 > 2:57:25back. All level at the end of the second period with 20 minutes to go.
2:57:25 > 2:57:28Potentially there is overtime and potentially after that there may be
2:57:28 > 2:57:33penalty shots. But at the end of 40 minutes we are tied at one goal
2:57:33 > 2:57:34each.
2:57:34 > 2:57:38minutes we are tied at one goal each.
2:57:38 > 2:57:42Well finally poised in that match and we will head back for the third
2:57:42 > 2:57:46period. But while we have a bit of a break as you can see it is night
2:57:46 > 2:57:51falling behind me here in Pyeongchang. Earlier this morning we
2:57:51 > 2:57:57had the men's snowboard Slopestyle heats. Taking a quick look back,
2:57:57 > 2:58:01three British athletes in contention. Including Jamie
2:58:01 > 2:58:06Nicholls. Well we can find out how they got on.
2:58:06 > 2:58:10Nicholls. Well we can find out how they got on.
2:58:10 > 2:58:18Here we go.This will be the benchmark right here. Smiles all
2:58:18 > 2:58:26round, Marcus Kleveland. He burst onto the scene aged 11 or 12.
2:58:26 > 2:58:30Rumours of this kid who could do doubles as 11 but he was one of the
2:58:30 > 2:58:42first to do a triple 13.
2:58:42 > 2:58:47first to do a triple 13.Again another different line. That might
2:58:47 > 2:58:53have been a little mistake. But this kid can roll with the punches. Into
2:58:53 > 2:58:59the first of the jumps. Huge switchback.How did he stop that
2:58:59 > 2:59:13rotation!Now this is the Marcus Kleveland we know. He had so much
2:59:13 > 2:59:19time to spare. Finished the full spins and still three or four feet
2:59:19 > 2:59:28in the air.83.71, we have a new leader. Carlos Garcia night. The
2:59:28 > 2:59:3720-year-old Kiwi. From Christchurch in New Zealand. Switch up on the
2:59:37 > 2:59:46rail.Huge gap, looked like he lost a bit of control. Very technical,
2:59:46 > 2:59:57the judges will like to see that.
3:00:01 > 3:00:09Front side double Cork ten. Roast beef grab through the legs. Lovely,
3:00:09 > 3:00:16this is looking really good.
3:00:16 > 3:00:18this is looking really good. Three and a half rotations. He is happy
3:00:18 > 3:00:25with that and so he should be.What a solid run. We saw him warming that
3:00:25 > 3:00:31up in practice yesterday and it is a very solid run. The rails I think
3:00:31 > 3:00:38might be a tiny bit light. Moving into second place just behind Marcus
3:00:38 > 3:00:43Kleveland.
3:00:45 > 3:00:55Jamie Nicholls, the first Briton. There are three. Really nice. 271.
3:00:55 > 3:01:06270. He made that look easy. Very nice, the switch 181.Tucked in for
3:01:06 > 3:01:14speed. The best real section we have seen so far. Frontside ten. His
3:01:14 > 3:01:20adrenaline will be peaking at the moment. Backside 1260. It is looking
3:01:20 > 3:01:27good for Jamie Nicholls.
3:01:27 > 3:01:31good for Jamie Nicholls. Just in cab ten.Very nice. Very smart. The
3:01:31 > 3:01:35score on the board. He can open up on the last jump if he wants to.
3:01:35 > 3:01:41Let's look at the real section. The 100 naked. The 50-50 when you line
3:01:41 > 3:01:50up the board parallel with the rail. Then the clock.
3:01:50 > 3:01:55Then the clock. -- the tuck. That is lower than I thought we were going
3:01:55 > 3:02:04to see. No surprises to see who is first.
3:02:08 > 3:02:12Settle yourselves. Jamie Nicholls, currently in seventh, just outside
3:02:12 > 3:02:18the top six qualifying spot. He needs this run. Hamish Macdonell it
3:02:18 > 3:02:25seen him off, the head coach of the British team.The boy from Bradford,
3:02:25 > 3:02:30the goofy-footed rider, coming into the first jump. He needs the grab on
3:02:30 > 3:02:35that.
3:02:36 > 3:02:45that. 270, 270. Making it look so easy. 181, 360.Into the saddle.
3:02:45 > 3:02:49Muscle memory starting to kick in for Jamie Nicholls. He comes into
3:02:49 > 3:02:55the kickers.
3:02:55 > 3:03:00the kickers.Frontside 1080.He needs to put this town.Massive.It
3:03:00 > 3:03:08was huge. He had seen everyone else coming up short.He sensed it. He
3:03:08 > 3:03:16really did.I am going to dwell on this point. We are not going to get
3:03:16 > 3:03:20another chance having not seen him make it.I genuinely think he has
3:03:20 > 3:03:27been robbed. I think he has been robbed.
3:03:27 > 3:03:30robbed. If you could bottle disappointment, it would look like
3:03:30 > 3:03:38that. What a shame.Let's get confirmation of the result. The top
3:03:38 > 3:03:45six will qualify directly for the finals.
3:03:48 > 3:03:53I was gutted to see 71, genuinely gutted. I felt like I was clean
3:03:53 > 3:03:58through the rails. I was doing something different from everyone
3:03:58 > 3:04:07else on the housing and the third section. 71, I was not happy with.
3:04:07 > 3:04:12The man who has the most interesting story and snowboarding preparing for
3:04:12 > 3:04:17this. Two career ending injuries he has come back from in the last two
3:04:17 > 3:04:22years, consecutively, and he is back in an Olympic final.For him,
3:04:22 > 3:04:29relatively safe through the rail section, 271, 270. That is a big gap
3:04:29 > 3:04:33to get to the Darren Barr.He landed it beautifully, square between his
3:04:33 > 3:04:42bindings. Switch backside.1260. He made it look like a 1080.It snapped
3:04:42 > 3:04:47on the landing. Going upside down twice through that. Into the third
3:04:47 > 3:04:54and final jump.
3:04:54 > 3:05:03and final jump. Backside treble clock. He absolutely nailed it.
3:05:03 > 3:05:05clock. He absolutely nailed it.A little knowing smile from Mark
3:05:05 > 3:05:15McMorris. This kid is the real deal. Redmond Gerard, out of Colorado. He
3:05:15 > 3:05:20was born in Cleveland, Ohio. One of seven kids, he is the sixth. They
3:05:20 > 3:05:27moved to Denver and he has grown up snowboarding. Gerard going in with a
3:05:27 > 3:05:32similar line to Jamie Nicholls. Nice. The first person we have seen
3:05:32 > 3:05:38up and over the goal posts. 50-50, riding the whole thing. So are to
3:05:38 > 3:05:45stay on the rails.Side 360 Mellon grant. He needs to pick up the
3:05:45 > 3:05:49speed. He is a slight little thing and he might struggle with speed on
3:05:49 > 3:05:58these jumps.It is purely a case of inertia for Gerard. Switch backside.
3:05:58 > 3:06:04A massive double.Well held. Your trajectory coming into the landing,
3:06:04 > 3:06:11you're dropping much faster.Treble clock, 1440.How did he get that
3:06:11 > 3:06:18around? I thought he was going to land on his head. Phenomenal. He
3:06:18 > 3:06:22landed with his head between his legs.Phenomenal strength to stand
3:06:22 > 3:06:33up from mad.-- from that. We are joined in the box by Jamie Nicholls.
3:06:33 > 3:06:37I am happy to say. Mark McMorris, the first place qualified at the
3:06:37 > 3:06:47moment. The most dominant rider of the last eight years in slopestyle.
3:06:47 > 3:06:53He is the consummate rider. Yes, every time he lands. That is why in
3:06:53 > 3:07:00first place right now.
3:07:00 > 3:07:04first place right now.270. On the rail. Now backside 360, locking in
3:07:04 > 3:07:10the grind.Landing boards like, you have a foot each way. He is so
3:07:10 > 3:07:17consistent.50-50.
3:07:17 > 3:07:20consistent.50-50. Backside 1260.So perfect. The landing was like laying
3:07:20 > 3:07:29down an appeal. Look out easy these landings are.The ground came up to
3:07:29 > 3:07:34meet him. He did not have to do a thing. He waited for the Earth to
3:07:34 > 3:07:44rise to his McMorris.
3:07:44 > 3:07:47rise to his McMorris. -- to his feet. Mark McMorris. He made that
3:07:47 > 3:07:54look deceptively easy. Max Parrot, currently in second place. Known as
3:07:54 > 3:07:58a big air rider who has struggled to keep pace in the rails. Lots of
3:07:58 > 3:08:03people thought he would struggle in this enormous rails setup.Proving
3:08:03 > 3:08:09them all wrong.That is so hard. 270, so high and the risk of
3:08:09 > 3:08:15catching your snowboard on it.He wants to qualify first. Does he?
3:08:15 > 3:08:21Yes.He definitely wants to. He has lots of work to do to overhaul
3:08:21 > 3:08:28McMorris. Backside Rodionova scrap. I really like that.He could go
3:08:28 > 3:08:41front treble. He is going to go big. No, front-end. Something big.
3:08:41 > 3:08:54Backside treble. Playing it safe. When you're talking about Parrot,
3:08:54 > 3:08:57yes, it is playing it safe.
3:09:00 > 3:09:13All wrong.Billy Morgan.That picture. The fantastic moustache.
3:09:13 > 3:09:20The second run. Come on. He had all the ingredients in the first run. He
3:09:20 > 3:09:24had to make it into the finals. It is a question of putting it all
3:09:24 > 3:09:36together.The big 271, 270. Very clean, fast through the top section.
3:09:36 > 3:09:42It is light years dabbling.He got onto that double really nicely. He
3:09:42 > 3:09:50made sure he had plenty of the rail. Judged his speed really well. Here
3:09:50 > 3:10:02we go, a cab treble.He knew he was not going to get it rained. No. The
3:10:02 > 3:10:11disappointment tells. It was his big worry.He knew all along it would be
3:10:11 > 3:10:17a question of getting the size out of these jumps. Helix gutted. The
3:10:17 > 3:10:22journey has been how hard he worked to get back from his knee injury.
3:10:22 > 3:10:31OK, so confirmation of the result in the second qualification heat.
3:10:33 > 3:10:41You can see the qualifiers for the finals.
3:10:43 > 3:10:48That final gets under way tomorrow at one o'clock in the morning on BBC
3:10:48 > 3:10:53One. No British involvement, but those three boys will all go again
3:10:53 > 3:10:59in the big air in a few days' time. There will be more slopestyle action
3:10:59 > 3:11:04tomorrow. Aimee Fuller going for Team GB in the women's heats. For
3:11:04 > 3:11:09now, let's get back to the ice hockey and join Japan and Sweden. It
3:11:09 > 3:11:15is 1-1 in the third period.
3:11:30 > 3:11:34Victory could send one of these teams on their way. For Japan, what
3:11:34 > 3:11:45an amazing leap forward.
3:11:48 > 3:11:53They have never won an Olympic match, Japan. This could be their
3:11:53 > 3:11:59chance. Fanny Rask opened the scoring. The reply was pretty swift,
3:11:59 > 3:12:03lots of pressure coming from Japan. Eventually they levelled things. How
3:12:03 > 3:12:04will it go?
3:12:04 > 3:12:07Eventually they levelled things. How will it go? Team Japan has to play
3:12:07 > 3:12:14the exact same way. That will be the biggest issue for them. It is 1-1.
3:12:14 > 3:12:18You mentioned how important the third period is. It is human nature
3:12:18 > 3:12:24to make sure you play defence first. Sometimes you let your guard down.
3:12:24 > 3:12:26Japan has been so good because they have been using their pace and
3:12:26 > 3:12:33speed. Winning the race to pucks. That is why they have had Sweden on
3:12:33 > 3:12:38their heels for most of the game. A pretty good start, 14 seconds in,
3:12:38 > 3:12:44getting the puck deed.A penny for his thoughts. The head coach of
3:12:44 > 3:12:51Sweden. He would certainly feel very disappointed if his side were to
3:12:51 > 3:12:57come away without a victory. He will have plenty to work on back in
3:12:57 > 3:13:04training. Right now, Sweden are fighting for their Olympic lives.
3:13:04 > 3:13:13This is only the opening game of the tournament. There we go. The top two
3:13:13 > 3:13:19from this group go through to the quarterfinals. The bottom two going
3:13:19 > 3:13:23to the play-offs. Offside is called. They will go to the classification
3:13:23 > 3:13:29play-offs. Nobody is expecting Korea to win any of their game and they
3:13:29 > 3:13:33are ranked well below everybody else. And with the transition of
3:13:33 > 3:13:37their squad, the addition of the North Korean players, it throws them
3:13:37 > 3:13:41into a state of flux. It means that two victories will guarantee you
3:13:41 > 3:13:48going through, pretty much.Two victories will guarantee. There is
3:13:48 > 3:13:52the chants, depending on tie-break rules, which comes down to goals for
3:13:52 > 3:13:58and against, you could go on, on and on, meaning a win, loss and an
3:13:58 > 3:14:01overtime loss, and you still might have an opportunity to move on to
3:14:01 > 3:14:07the next round.Japan trying to do what they did so well for the first
3:14:07 > 3:14:1840 minutes of this game. Kubo leaves it for the goal-scorer, Ukita. Good
3:14:18 > 3:14:25strong play on the boards coming from Toko. Now the shot will go wide
3:14:25 > 3:14:29of the target.Not lots of conviction in it. You just see the
3:14:29 > 3:14:35amount of time that Japan has in the offence. It is remarkable. Sweden
3:14:35 > 3:14:40not being aggressive at all.More time for Japan to make a play.
3:14:40 > 3:14:44Another turnover and blocked shot. The way it goes. Japan back in
3:14:44 > 3:14:49possession again. Nearly a big giveaway. It is capitalised on
3:14:49 > 3:14:54immediately.
3:14:54 > 3:14:59immediately. Sara Hjalmarsson. Sweden retake the lead. Japan cars
3:14:59 > 3:15:04themselves massive problems in their own zone having dominated 20 minutes
3:15:04 > 3:15:10of this game. They find themselves ban, 2-1.It was Erika Grahm with
3:15:10 > 3:15:16the great heads up play, getting up the ice. If very active stick. She
3:15:16 > 3:15:21forces the defence and creates the turnover, then a backhand pass,
3:15:21 > 3:15:26right out front to Hjalmarsson. What a finish. That may be the difference
3:15:26 > 3:15:31right there. We talked about Japan and like to finish on the
3:15:31 > 3:15:37opportunities they have had. Sweden has not had many, but this was one,
3:15:37 > 3:15:42point Blank. Hjalmarsson was able to shovel it past Fujimoto. Sweden have
3:15:42 > 3:15:50a little bit of breathing room and a 2-1 lead.Sara Hjalmarsson plays in
3:15:50 > 3:15:55Sweden. She is the second top scorer on her team. That was a high-quality
3:15:55 > 3:16:02finish. Japan will try and answer straightaway. In own goal very
3:16:02 > 3:16:07quickly. Turned aside.
3:16:09 > 3:16:20Good defence to get back.
3:16:20 > 3:16:24That could be the shot in the armed that Sweden needed to get back in
3:16:24 > 3:16:32the game.Japan have done such a wonderful job controlling the puck.
3:16:32 > 3:16:41Just one turnover, really nice play from Grahn.Nice play to try to cut
3:16:41 > 3:16:48to the inside. But the Japanese reading it well. That has got to be
3:16:48 > 3:16:53a penalty. That has to be interference. Nothing given by
3:16:53 > 3:16:57either official. Of course we have two referees, one in front of the
3:16:57 > 3:17:01player and the other behind the play. That has got to be
3:17:01 > 3:17:10interference.I thought it was the Japan player that might have been
3:17:10 > 3:17:20guilty. A terrific replay. Sara Hjalmarsson in the blink of an eye.
3:17:20 > 3:17:26A big goal early in the third period. Suzuki the Japanese defender
3:17:26 > 3:17:39there. She got her pocket picked by Grahn.Pernilla Winberg in the
3:17:39 > 3:17:51circle. All a bit sloppy.
3:17:51 > 3:17:59circle. All a bit sloppy. Great skating to get away from trouble.
3:17:59 > 3:18:08This is much better from Sweden. Coming out in front again and chance
3:18:08 > 3:18:22here. Good hold on the blue line by Nylen-Persson.
3:18:22 > 3:18:26Nylen-Persson. Sweden looking to break away again. This could be an
3:18:26 > 3:18:36opportunity. Japan just had enough players to snuff things out. Coming
3:18:36 > 3:18:52back the other way now. Wide to sour.
3:18:52 > 3:18:59-- Osawa.
3:18:59 > 3:19:07A great save, wonderful stop by Grahn. This was the
3:19:08 > 3:19:13Grahn. This was the deflection and what a great job after winning that
3:19:13 > 3:19:19battle to go to the net.
3:19:24 > 3:19:28And Grahn had to follow that puck straight across and then did a
3:19:28 > 3:19:42wonderful job holding on. You can hear the referees, move your
3:19:42 > 3:19:48feet, move the park. Giving the instructions out there.Really
3:19:48 > 3:19:54important that they do that. It is. Sweden now they have been a lot of
3:19:54 > 3:19:58times in trouble in their own zone so they are content just to leave it
3:19:58 > 3:20:03in the corner. You could hear the referee from United States of
3:20:03 > 3:20:08America tanning the players to keep the play going.I think a penalty is
3:20:08 > 3:20:13coming.
3:20:17 > 3:20:22coming.The repeated message was, move it. It could just be the shot
3:20:22 > 3:20:29from behind. That will be the penalty.So in discipline. You know
3:20:29 > 3:20:33you're not playing well as a team and then you give a soft penalty
3:20:33 > 3:20:41like that.That is the one to make the coach shake his head. No danger
3:20:41 > 3:20:49anywhere, no scoring opportunity against.
3:20:50 > 3:20:54against. And Fallman just a bit too aggressive. And opportunity now for
3:20:54 > 3:21:05a team Japan to once again square this up.One power play apiece.
3:21:05 > 3:21:10Neither have produced as yet. Good skating by Pernilla Winberg,
3:21:10 > 3:21:26clearing all the way down. Fujimoto probably should have played that.
3:21:28 > 3:21:34Great from Sweden. Fanny Rask. She opened the scoring it seems like a
3:21:34 > 3:21:39lifetime ago!
3:21:41 > 3:21:45lifetime ago!Terrific work, close to six feet tall and towering over
3:21:45 > 3:21:51the Japanese defenders. Able to kill off a good 30 seconds of the power
3:21:51 > 3:22:04play.Shot into the body.
3:22:06 > 3:22:12I do not mind this shot whatsoever, within about 15 feet of the net.
3:22:12 > 3:22:16Unfortunately when you are that close you have got to start picking
3:22:16 > 3:22:26some holes. And not put it right onto the net minder.Grahn coming
3:22:26 > 3:22:34on. The shot coming back to the blue line. No one knows where it is for a
3:22:34 > 3:22:42second. Sweden clearing down the ice again.Japan very good at the
3:22:42 > 3:22:47face-off situation and they are winning a lot of them in the
3:22:47 > 3:22:52offensive zone.
3:22:52 > 3:22:59offensive zone.25 seconds remaining with the player advantage. Could
3:22:59 > 3:23:06there be that one chance for Japan. They have it behind the net. Looking
3:23:06 > 3:23:15to exchange passes again. Space at the top. The shot deflects wide. The
3:23:15 > 3:23:23battle goes again. There could be a breakaway now for Sweden. Shipped to
3:23:23 > 3:23:32the left, a breakaway.Player coming out of the
3:23:32 > 3:23:41out of the penalty box.Here is Fanny Rask. Fanny Rask again. This
3:23:41 > 3:23:52line has been so effective. Just wide. This line has been the one
3:23:52 > 3:24:01that physically has dominated.We have seen many examples, a little
3:24:01 > 3:24:08bit too far in between. The opening shift for Fanny Rask and that unit,
3:24:08 > 3:24:14a couple of big shifts since then but nothing to show for it.Japan
3:24:14 > 3:24:21trying to dig this one out and send it away.
3:24:22 > 3:24:30it away. Plenty of time and space. It should clear. That is a check.
3:24:30 > 3:24:36Checking not allowed in the women's game. That is worth a two-minute
3:24:36 > 3:24:50penalty. And caught in the act. There you go.Anna Nordqvist.
3:24:50 > 3:24:52There you go.Anna Nordqvist. They will always let somebody contact
3:24:52 > 3:24:57goal but that was a bit more blatant, really a shoulder to
3:24:57 > 3:25:02shoulder contact.
3:25:02 > 3:25:04shoulder contact. And the discipline from Sweden falling apart a little
3:25:04 > 3:25:09bit. Too undisciplined penalties. And you can see that replay,
3:25:09 > 3:25:15shoulder to shoulder.If they just collide it is one thing but when you
3:25:15 > 3:25:18start to move the shoulder into the body that is when they have to call
3:25:18 > 3:25:27it.It is a pretty easy call for the referee. You can see the bend of the
3:25:27 > 3:25:34Leas, the shoulder made contact. The arm going up. And Japan right back
3:25:34 > 3:25:41to the power play. They did not have much going for them, a couple of
3:25:41 > 3:25:49chances moving the puck around. They have the look of that goal baseboard
3:25:49 > 3:25:54and get as many players as you can. I think it will be a rebound that
3:25:54 > 3:25:58will tie the game up.The shot coming all the way through and
3:25:58 > 3:26:05Sweden clear away again. They will try to use Sternberg. Working really
3:26:05 > 3:26:14hard. Really good penalty killing from her.
3:26:15 > 3:26:19from her. Held again at the blue line and Japan now will settle
3:26:19 > 3:26:24things down. For the first 30 seconds, already ticking off the
3:26:24 > 3:26:38clock.Causing a little bit of havoc for Japan, Rebecca Stenberg.At
3:26:38 > 3:26:42times they pass the puck so well and then other times they just crowd
3:26:42 > 3:26:48their own work a little bit.Team Japan just have that killer instinct
3:26:48 > 3:26:54to finish. Once they get into that offensive zone, just do not seem as
3:26:54 > 3:26:59comfortable with the park as we have maybe seen in their defensive play
3:26:59 > 3:27:08and in the neutral zone.Eventually they sneak over the line.
3:27:08 > 3:27:14they sneak over the line. Behind the back of the net and
3:27:15 > 3:27:19back of the net and here is Kubo with the shot. Sweden did a great
3:27:19 > 3:27:27job of shutting the door.Again how many times this afternoon have we
3:27:27 > 3:27:30seen Japan in that prime shooting range and not able to get the shot
3:27:30 > 3:27:36through.
3:27:36 > 3:27:43through. Kubo could not get it on net.Who is going to win the race?
3:27:43 > 3:27:52It is Sweden. Kubo back to the blue line. Kubo again. The shot
3:27:52 > 3:27:57deflecting
3:27:58 > 3:28:04deflecting again off Fallman. She has been in the wars.It took the
3:28:04 > 3:28:10referee a minute to realise. And that was the opportunity right there
3:28:10 > 3:28:18Japan needed. An opportunity to walk right to the tops of the circles.
3:28:18 > 3:28:24And you mentioned it, again Fallman seem to be the defender who got in
3:28:24 > 3:28:33the way of it.Deflecting it up and over. High stick as well. But a
3:28:33 > 3:28:39decent shot, good traffic out in front.
3:28:41 > 3:28:46front. They need composure on that ranch right now. They have a moment
3:28:46 > 3:28:50to try to gather their thoughts. What has been impressive about
3:28:50 > 3:28:54Japan, despite the fact that they have been pegged back, they just
3:28:54 > 3:28:58kept playing the same way.Exactly right, that is something we talked
3:28:58 > 3:29:04about in the opening period. Winless team are playing they played same
3:29:04 > 3:29:11way every time. They could be down a few, up a couple, they are efficient
3:29:11 > 3:29:14and steady and we are seeing that here halfway through the third
3:29:14 > 3:29:21period.This is the first game of the day, the second will attract
3:29:21 > 3:29:30more attention, the combined team. Physical play here after the whistle
3:29:30 > 3:29:38blows. It is the combined Korean team who will play against the
3:29:38 > 3:29:43bronze medallist, Switzerland. Such an exciting team, Switzerland,
3:29:43 > 3:29:47really looking forward to seeing them.So many eyes of course on the
3:29:47 > 3:29:54unified Korean team. A little bit of extra pressure on the opening game
3:29:54 > 3:30:00tonight. Team Switzerland do not want to get caught up in that a
3:30:00 > 3:30:08whole lot. Just get ready to play some hockey.
3:30:08 > 3:30:18some hockey.That is an offside call.Your down a shot, now is the
3:30:18 > 3:30:24time just to start to throw everything you can at the net. Not
3:30:24 > 3:30:27taking too many chances because there's still time here for Sweden
3:30:27 > 3:30:32and it could go the other way. You do not want to take chances,
3:30:32 > 3:30:40breakaways.Here is the chance, opportunity is there but they cannot
3:30:40 > 3:30:45finish it off.
3:30:49 > 3:30:52Kubo did so well. Fujimoto has to hang on. What a great chance that
3:30:52 > 3:31:01was.The teams Sweden netminder Sara Grahn goes to stop the puck and then
3:31:01 > 3:31:07she leaves it for Fallman. She thinks Fallman is going to come get
3:31:07 > 3:31:12it, but Kubo jumps on it.The puck is right on the stick. That kick
3:31:12 > 3:31:19save, the extension to tick it away, that was outstanding. Another shot
3:31:19 > 3:31:24will come in. Fujimoto has to fight it off. It was Nylen Persson, the
3:31:24 > 3:31:3117-year-old.Nylen Persson has been very good tonight. Talk about
3:31:31 > 3:31:36jumping right into the fire as a 17-year-old, getting lots of ice
3:31:36 > 3:31:42time, the power play, out here late in the game.It is a one goal game.
3:31:42 > 3:31:46I tell you what, if the rest of the games are anything like this, we are
3:31:46 > 3:31:51in for an absolute treat over the next fortnight.Are we ever? What
3:31:51 > 3:31:57the start from Japan. Sweden holding court, but they have given
3:31:57 > 3:32:03everything that they can handle so far.Two conceded on 21 shots for
3:32:03 > 3:32:12Fujimoto. A great design on her helmet as well. Celebrating Japan.
3:32:12 > 3:32:17Fujimoto played a
3:32:18 > 3:32:21Fujimoto played a little bit in the American women's league. She played
3:32:21 > 3:32:29for New York.
3:32:29 > 3:32:33for New York.Yoneyama takes it into the zone. Yoneyama bombs her way
3:32:33 > 3:32:38into possession. It will be cleared by Fallman. Fallman without many
3:32:38 > 3:32:49other options. Smart play. Japan will try and clear this away. Good
3:32:49 > 3:32:57poise. That was Kubo. Kubo gets it back again. Trying to slicer with
3:32:57 > 3:33:10her. Kubo, nearly something special. -- to slice her way through. Here
3:33:10 > 3:33:14she is again but the pass was too weak. The cancer is going to go the
3:33:14 > 3:33:24other way. It was a great save. Johansson decided she was the best
3:33:24 > 3:33:32option. It is like basketball, you have a go, we will have a go.Japan
3:33:32 > 3:33:36went to get the equaliser. I do not know if Sweden want to trade chances
3:33:36 > 3:33:45like that. A great transfer Fujimoto -- a great save by Fujimoto on the
3:33:45 > 3:33:50break for Sweden.That is a bodycheck, but nothing given at this
3:33:50 > 3:33:58stage. Japan will bring this one away. A massive turnover as Emma
3:33:58 > 3:34:04Nordin was in the right place at the right time. Japan causing themselves
3:34:04 > 3:34:10problems in their own zone. Time running out for them in this game. A
3:34:10 > 3:34:16little over 6.5 minutes remaining. Sweden leading, 2-1. This is a very
3:34:16 > 3:34:23tired Japanese unit.They cannot get the puck lied. They are taking a
3:34:23 > 3:34:34deep with their captain. Osawa, then it goes to the side of the net.
3:34:34 > 3:34:41Nearly a chance. Sweden will try and clear way. It is straight to
3:34:41 > 3:34:47Japanese stick. Japan are battling hard. Again, they nearly give it
3:34:47 > 3:34:52away. Sweden will come clear, into the offensive zone. It is Stenberg,
3:34:52 > 3:34:58to the front of the net. It comes Japanese skate. Japan will try and
3:34:58 > 3:35:04break away. They're trying to get to the bench for a change. There cannot
3:35:04 > 3:35:08be many worse feelings than being absolutely shattered and the puck
3:35:08 > 3:35:16chooses you down.Get that puck away from me I need to get off the ice.
3:35:16 > 3:35:21There is Fanny Rask. The snapshot rebound, and Fujimoto hangs on.
3:35:21 > 3:35:24Every time she is in the ice, you sense there might be something
3:35:24 > 3:35:30there.You can see her poise than the offensive zone. She had her head
3:35:30 > 3:35:37up. When the puck is a stick, she tries to make things happen. Before
3:35:37 > 3:35:42that, it was Stenberg with a great opportunity. Whenever Sweden need a
3:35:42 > 3:35:47spark, Stenberg has done that. The effort from Kubo the other way,
3:35:47 > 3:35:52trying to create magic of her own. We said there were chances. It is
3:35:52 > 3:35:58coming back the other way. This is Lisa Johansson. She looked back and
3:35:58 > 3:36:03wanted the pass.It very nearly went through. That went through the
3:36:03 > 3:36:08armpit of Fujimoto and trickled out the other side.Then Rask finishing
3:36:08 > 3:36:13of that passage of play with another shot.We could not have asked for
3:36:13 > 3:36:19much more to open this women's tournament. Tim Japan definitely
3:36:19 > 3:36:29raising some eyebrows in this group. Great for kids from Sara Grahn. 27
3:36:29 > 3:36:34shots she has had, just one has had, just one is creative. It was a tough
3:36:34 > 3:36:39one, it was a rebound, from escape, off of this and that.It will have
3:36:39 > 3:36:42to be another goal just like that for Japan if they want to level
3:36:42 > 3:36:48this. Shots from 20 feet out have not been able to make their way
3:36:48 > 3:36:51through. They have got to get traffic in front of the goalkeeper
3:36:51 > 3:36:57to make it harder for her, so she cannot see.Japan, trying to use the
3:36:57 > 3:37:08middle of the ice. Well held by stretching Anna Borgqvist.Sweden do
3:37:08 > 3:37:15not own to get caught deep with offensive players to give Japan and
3:37:15 > 3:37:20the transfer rush the other way. There is the opportunity. Toko, the
3:37:20 > 3:37:30snapshot. Grahn will chalk another one up on the short list.
3:37:30 > 3:37:34one up on the short list. -- the shots list. There was shouting from
3:37:34 > 3:37:42somebody on the ice. Now it is flipped down the ice. This is a
3:37:42 > 3:37:50chance to draw breath. At what point do the Japanese coaching staff think
3:37:50 > 3:37:54about removing the netminder for an extra attacker?It is definitely in
3:37:54 > 3:37:59their minds right now, but with four and a half minutes left, it is too
3:37:59 > 3:38:04early. You've got to be looking at about one and a half minutes, one 40
3:38:04 > 3:38:19seconds. That was a great replay, from Toko.
3:38:21 > 3:38:25from Toko. -- they're trying to set this one going in front of the net.
3:38:25 > 3:38:31It is a long chase back.
3:38:32 > 3:38:35It is a long chase back. Ramboldt. A nice interception. Japan will bring
3:38:35 > 3:38:40it back the other way. The shot will come in. The puck is somewhere
3:38:40 > 3:38:45underneath Grahn. Grahn closes everything up and hangs on once
3:38:45 > 3:38:52again. More good
3:38:52 > 3:38:55again. More good skating from Hosoyamada.Strange decision making
3:38:55 > 3:38:57from the Swedish captain. She turned the puck over that led to the
3:38:57 > 3:39:02Japanese goal. She has time and space with the puck when she throws
3:39:02 > 3:39:08it up the middle of the ice, creating a turnover.And Japan comes
3:39:08 > 3:39:13the other way. The shot is wide of the target. Can they create that one
3:39:13 > 3:39:18golden opportunity?
3:39:19 > 3:39:23golden opportunity? Yoneyama, looking for somebody to pass too.
3:39:23 > 3:39:29She has Toko at the top. Toko has over 25 minutes on the ice. She will
3:39:29 > 3:39:33be shattered having played half the game at the end of it. A real
3:39:33 > 3:39:39athlete, superfit.A lot of times you will see a defender up there at
3:39:39 > 3:39:4730 minutes, but not a foreword. Japan are moving the puck well. Can
3:39:47 > 3:39:54they create? Not enough to beat Grahn. Japan keep it again. It is
3:39:54 > 3:40:00like a power play. Around the net they have time and space. Back to
3:40:00 > 3:40:06Yoneyama. Toko on the blue line. This is Kubo, fresh from the bench.
3:40:06 > 3:40:15Kubo has that magic in her stick. That was wasted. A little around the
3:40:15 > 3:40:20net plated Kubo would've been better. Sweden on to hold this one
3:40:20 > 3:40:27in. They want a change. Japan want to go. Oh, dear. A bad moment to
3:40:27 > 3:40:36fall over. This is a good moment to bring it into the zone. A transfer
3:40:36 > 3:40:44Kubo at the side of the net. Ukita will send it in again, third time
3:40:44 > 3:40:52lucky.
3:40:52 > 3:40:55lucky. Toko in the corner cannot find a blue line. It goes down the
3:40:55 > 3:41:01ice.Tim Japan have been dangerous. They just about connect again to tie
3:41:01 > 3:41:08the game up very late.There is maybe time for one more shift. That
3:41:08 > 3:41:14was heavy contact on the boards.
3:41:16 > 3:41:18was heavy contact on the boards. Ono kick the ice. Sweden must let out of
3:41:18 > 3:41:25the zone. Borgqvist is working in there. They are trying to work out
3:41:25 > 3:41:30where the puck is. This is killing of vital seconds for Sweden.If
3:41:30 > 3:41:35you're Japan, you went to get the puck deep.They have some defending
3:41:35 > 3:41:40to do first. Great defending as well. Sweden into the zone again.
3:41:40 > 3:41:44One minute and 20 seconds to go and Japan are at the wrong end of the
3:41:44 > 3:41:53ice. Maybe they can finish this one. Chances driving to the net.
3:41:55 > 3:41:59Chances driving to the net. Winberg, out there, really good for Sweden.
3:41:59 > 3:42:04Nice stick work to get this moving forward from Osawa. The offside is
3:42:04 > 3:42:12called with 63 seconds remaining. Stemming the tide. Is it time to
3:42:12 > 3:42:16take a moment for the Japanese coaching staff?If there is ever a
3:42:16 > 3:42:21time to call a time-out, it will happen right now. Set up your play.
3:42:21 > 3:42:27The face-off will be outside the blue line so we will have to see
3:42:27 > 3:42:33what the head coach decides to do. Will he pool Fujimoto wait till the
3:42:33 > 3:42:42puck gets deep? What an opportunity for Kubo. Kubo, Toko, Ukita, they
3:42:42 > 3:42:46have been dangerous for our Japan. If there is an equaliser it could
3:42:46 > 3:42:51come from one of those three.We talk about face-offs being outside
3:42:51 > 3:42:55the offensive zone. Toko has been running about 65%, which is very
3:42:55 > 3:43:02good. She is winning about 6.5 out of ten. She has to be the one that
3:43:02 > 3:43:09takes the face-off. Then you're looking for your big players, Osawa,
3:43:09 > 3:43:14Kubo, and I guess they will wait and see whether they win the face of
3:43:14 > 3:43:18before they remove the netminder. That is probably the right play.
3:43:18 > 3:43:22Fujimoto will be watching the bench, waiting for the wave from the head
3:43:22 > 3:43:29coach. It is a big face-off that is won by Yoneyama.Yoneyama stretching
3:43:29 > 3:43:34again. Can they get quality possession? Sweden will know they
3:43:34 > 3:43:41have a chance to go to an empty net. The whistle goes. Everybody is
3:43:41 > 3:43:45looking at one another. Not entirely sure of what is going on. The
3:43:45 > 3:43:50Swedish players will know they have been in a really tough game. A bit
3:43:50 > 3:43:59of equipment retrieval for Svedin. Tim Sweden are 45 seconds away from
3:43:59 > 3:44:05coming away with three crucial points in this group.It looks like
3:44:05 > 3:44:10they may have called a penalty. It could be a holding call on Svedin.
3:44:10 > 3:44:16There you go. That is why she lost the stick, she had to use both hands
3:44:16 > 3:44:22to bring the player down.An interesting call. There is no doubt
3:44:22 > 3:44:27that the freehand of Svedin him over the top.The puck was in no danger
3:44:27 > 3:44:31of going to work Sweden at all. Crucially it means the face-off goes
3:44:31 > 3:44:37into words the offensive zone.That gives an opportunity to pull the
3:44:37 > 3:44:44netminder, Fujimoto.Six against four. Great drama in the opening
3:44:44 > 3:44:48game of the women's tournament. The face-off was won by Japan. They are
3:44:48 > 3:44:56looking for something. It deflects wide from Ukita. Sweden will go
3:44:56 > 3:45:02towards the empty net. It did not miss by much. 30 seconds remain.
3:45:02 > 3:45:08This has been a grandstand finish for a grandstand opener. It has been
3:45:08 > 3:45:16good stuff. Is there one last press? It is offside.
3:45:24 > 3:45:37Just having trouble corralling it before going over the blue line.
3:45:37 > 3:45:39before going over the blue line.The coach for the team Japan there. 20
3:45:39 > 3:45:50seconds to go. Japan need quality possession. That is behind and that
3:45:50 > 3:45:56may well be enough. Japan may be with one last chance. Sweden to
3:45:56 > 3:46:00clear it and it is going to be Sweden who take this first game but
3:46:00 > 3:46:09they have been pushed every step of the way.
3:46:09 > 3:46:12the way. Grahn a big reason for that but if Sweden are going to win a
3:46:12 > 3:46:16medal that man will have a lot of thinking to do. They will have to
3:46:16 > 3:46:22play an awful lot better than that but credit to the Japanese team,
3:46:22 > 3:46:29they were absolutely outstanding. Their energy, their effort levels,
3:46:29 > 3:46:38just terrific.And you can see that joy or maybe relief for team Sweden.
3:46:38 > 3:46:42As you said, team Japan gave them everything they had. What a terrific
3:46:42 > 3:46:49opening game.Sweden did just enough. They made the most of their
3:46:49 > 3:46:57opportunities and this was the goal that got them the win. It finishes
3:46:57 > 3:46:58opportunities and this was the goal that got them the win. It finishes
3:46:58 > 3:47:032-1 to Sweden. So Sweden get their first win under
3:47:03 > 3:47:09their belt and the ice hockey and I am turning into iced out here, the
3:47:09 > 3:47:13sunshine has vanished and the temperature has just plummeted. So
3:47:13 > 3:47:19we're back to the ice Arena where curling is taking place. One of the
3:47:19 > 3:47:24new offence is the team curling at this Winter Olympics. One man and
3:47:24 > 3:47:29one woman per team. And Switzerland currently the world champions are
3:47:29 > 3:47:34taking on a powerhouse in curling, Canada. Just entering the sixth end
3:47:34 > 3:47:40and Canada leading 6-2. Let's join our commentators.
3:47:40 > 3:47:43and Canada leading 6-2. Let's join our commentators.
3:47:43 > 3:47:51We have had Switzerland playing the power play and one of the strategic
3:47:51 > 3:47:54discussions would have been talking about is how you defend against
3:47:54 > 3:47:58that. That was perhaps one of the most compelling approaches I've seen
3:47:58 > 3:48:03so far.
3:48:09 > 3:48:14I'm not convinced about the power play. Looking at the statistics, the
3:48:14 > 3:48:19average
3:48:19 > 3:48:25average score is just one. So it is not offering the teams much of an
3:48:25 > 3:48:33advantage, the power play.
3:48:33 > 3:48:35advantage, the power play. The only ones who have done it particularly
3:48:35 > 3:48:41well have been Korea.I do not know if it is the change up in the format
3:48:41 > 3:48:47that disrupts their rhythm, but often when they take time out the
3:48:47 > 3:48:51shot following the time-out is missed. I just wonder if it is the
3:48:51 > 3:48:58same kind of principle.That idea of the power play, the Stones off to
3:48:58 > 3:49:02the side, on a couple of occasions you have seen the team is completely
3:49:02 > 3:49:12ignoring that. And just plain to the centre of the house.
3:49:20 > 3:49:24Another feature is when to use that power play. So far it has been
3:49:24 > 3:49:27prevalent when the teams are down and things not going particularly
3:49:27 > 3:49:34well. Why not use it when you're leading comic easy to say. But try
3:49:34 > 3:49:39to build a lead or hold your lead rather than waiting until you have
3:49:39 > 3:49:48are down.
3:49:50 > 3:49:54It is interesting, I think the jury is out a bit still on the ruling.
3:49:54 > 3:50:00But it is creating a lot of discussion.
3:50:07 > 3:50:16You notice that all sports call them power play 's, answers on a
3:50:16 > 3:50:24postcard! You have any creative ideas? Not yet!
3:50:24 > 3:50:33Well played.
3:50:36 > 3:50:44You can hear Jenny just shouting, go harder. There he goes, the man at
3:50:44 > 3:50:52work. I'm a bit worried about the angle and the force he is putting
3:50:52 > 3:50:56through the brush that it could snap at some point. Have you ever seen
3:50:56 > 3:51:04that happen?Probably more so when they are made of wood but nowadays
3:51:04 > 3:51:09they are very strong, made of carbon fibre. But no doubt he is putting a
3:51:09 > 3:51:23lot of pressure through that rush. Which is what you're trying to do.
3:51:30 > 3:51:35The frustrating thing for Switzerland, they want to be
3:51:35 > 3:51:41aggressive and take the game on and get a lot of stones in play. But
3:51:41 > 3:51:45Canada just outplaying them at the moment in every department. That is
3:51:45 > 3:51:50forcing Switzerland into making defensive decisions. They're
3:51:50 > 3:51:58trailing by four. But there is no space to get anything else in there.
3:51:58 > 3:52:04Canada have just clocked it up. It would be rare in the team game to
3:52:04 > 3:52:10see this kind of situation where you have been team trailing by four and
3:52:10 > 3:52:18being defensive.A better chance here. Only moves one of them. If
3:52:18 > 3:52:28that had worked perfectly... Partial success for Martin.A pretty good
3:52:28 > 3:52:36shot. That yellow at the front of the house. The one closest to Martin
3:52:36 > 3:52:47is in a good position. That will be a concern for Canada.
3:52:49 > 3:52:55So that is their concern and they will throw out guard on it to stop
3:52:55 > 3:53:02Switzerland making a direct play on to that yellow stone.
3:53:13 > 3:53:19Talking about top 12 and what colour would you turn it -- would you call
3:53:19 > 3:53:31that. A kind
3:53:31 > 3:53:40that. A kind of blue.I'm going to go with teal.
3:53:44 > 3:53:50go with teal.Just coming in, this is pretty strong.
3:53:59 > 3:54:16Maurice continuing, both of them playing well, working together.
3:54:23 > 3:54:30Switzerland still have a chance to play onto that yellow stone for the
3:54:30 > 3:54:36and raise it into those red stones. This will have to be really
3:54:36 > 3:54:47accurate.Not playing it softly either.It is going to be very
3:54:47 > 3:55:01tight.I think it is good. Almost. Almost.
3:55:04 > 3:55:10Just checking.
3:55:16 > 3:55:32That is the juiciest.So the back yellow is their target.I think they
3:55:32 > 3:55:40want to get rid of it, just working out the best way to do that.
3:55:41 > 3:55:47out the best way to do that.The glory shot. What they're going to
3:55:47 > 3:55:55do, nothing too fancy. There are four shots ahead. Just going to pick
3:55:55 > 3:56:03that stone at the bottom.They know they will leave Switzerland a chance
3:56:03 > 3:56:13but that would limit the damage.The pick is the terminology, just
3:56:13 > 3:56:19removing the stone and running your own stone away at the same time.
3:56:19 > 3:56:26They throw them at Max Power. You do not need to be that accurate but
3:56:26 > 3:56:32just to make contact. A bit like that.
3:56:35 > 3:56:43that.Nicely done and Jenny has got to be pretty accurate.
3:56:47 > 3:56:54to be pretty accurate. To leave Switzerland
3:56:56 > 3:57:01Switzerland with two. The best they're going to get.Not an easy
3:57:01 > 3:57:10shot. The difficulty of this, they need to steer it past their own
3:57:10 > 3:57:19yellow. If they touch it at all it is not going to work out for them.
3:57:19 > 3:57:24That is
3:57:24 > 3:57:32That is starting to curl. Trying to hang onto it. Very close. Reaching a
3:57:32 > 3:57:38situation pretty quickly, Switzerland will have no chance of
3:57:38 > 3:57:44drawing back. So then Canada. There is the handshake happening. I wonder
3:57:44 > 3:57:51if it was going to.
3:57:51 > 3:57:57if it was going to. Rios decided enough is enough. So Canada get the
3:57:57 > 3:58:02chance for an early cup of coffee again. And they moved to the top of
3:58:02 > 3:58:06the rankings now with four victories and just one loss in their match
3:58:06 > 3:58:14against Norway. John Morris will be absolutely delighted with that. Well
3:58:14 > 3:58:20played, the two of them. A very good example of mixed doubles curling.
3:58:20 > 3:58:23And Martin Rios and Jenny Perry still have a good chance of
3:58:23 > 3:58:28qualifying. They now have three wins and two losses.
3:58:28 > 3:58:31qualifying. They now have three wins and two losses. So Canada winning
3:58:31 > 3:58:34this 17-2. A big win for Canada in the team
3:58:34 > 3:58:37trailing and we are coming to the end of our broadcast here on BBC
3:58:37 > 3:58:41Two. We're going to have to say goodbye from our balcony which
3:58:41 > 3:58:44perhaps is a good thing because really it is getting pretty cold.
3:58:44 > 3:58:48We're going from the cold to the warmth of the studio with Clare
3:58:48 > 3:58:53Balding over on BBC One. Lots to come including Elise Christie
3:58:53 > 3:58:59getting her Olympic campaign underway. We had over now to BBC One
3:58:59 > 3:59:02to join Clare Balding.