Day 12, Part 4 Winter Olympics

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What a great day for this team.

And

there is Bishoo McNeill. -- Mica

McNeill.

They've been crowdfunded to get

to Pyeongchang and now Mica McNeill

and Mica Moore stand just 0.16

seconds away from a bronze

medal after two runs

of the women's bobsleigh.

It's an extraordinary

story because they are

the ultimate underdogs...

We will see their third round at

11:40am. That is all coming up live

this morning.

But it has been a

really interesting night in the

curling. My first question is, did

you sleep at all?

Not much last

night at all. Two very tense games

to watch.

And we will shake you the

highlights of those, in case you

haven't seen them yet, but this is

what's coming up on BBC One between

now and 1pm. As Rhona mentioned, the

great British men and women both

involved in crucial games last

night. We will show you how they got

on, battling for places in the

semifinals.

And in the team sprint, the

Norwegian is going for one more

medal to become the most decorated

Olympian of all time.

Up, up and away

with the event that's

got everyone talking -

it was qualification day

for the men in Big Air.

You've got to see it to believe it.

The Dutch can double up in the men's

and women's team skating.

Leading the way for them

will be superstars Ireen

Wust and Sven Kramer.

Flying down the mountain at full

force, Lindsay Vonn was trying

to regain the downhill title

she last won in Vancouver.

And in a couple of hours,

we'll be heading off

to the Sliding Track to see

if the two M's - Mica and Mica -

can bob up the order

in the final two runs.

Can they make their dream come true?

We will be doing curling next and

then we will catch up with the

women's downhill.

The men's team sprint hopefully

featuring the British Andrews.

Mainly, it is live sport all the

ways. Quite often, there is a gap at

this time of day and there's nothing

happening but today there is. Now,

Rhona has lived curling all her

life, she has been to the Olympics,

she is an Olympic champion, she is

at how many times world champion?

None.

OK, but she has been to a lot.

Check that one! Now, curling, a lot

of different things can happen. Just

explain it.

It's simple. They just

need to win.

That simple.

explain it.

It's simple. They just

need to win.

That simple. Here is

how the standings where for the

women going into their final game.

As you can see, South Korea have

already qualified. Sweden are in

second with five wins but also with

five wins we have got Great Britain

and Japan. So, they were up against

Canada. Now, Canada have had a bit

of a shocker. If they could beat

Canada, Canada would be out. This is

the end of end three and Rhona,

Canadians?

We have got the hammer at

this end so Great Britain are one

down and need to try to sport to you

at this end with a hammer. But

Canada are really putting the

pressure on Great Britain here. It

just comes up short. So, Canada do

light to but even has got room to

draw into that.

draw into that.

Anna Sloan standing

with the brush to mark the spot at

which she once Eve Muirhead to aim.

You have coached Eve Muirhead for

four years. She seems to be someone

who loves pressure.

She does. She

leaves herself big shots and it's

always in the latter half of the

game. She keeps things tight and

then goes for it. Just a wee bit

heavy there, Canada sweeping and

Canada steal one.

So, as we move

into the eighth end, the pressure is

on. And Canada, still with back to

stone advantage, so leading 4-2.

Yes, and British have tried every

end with the hammer and haven't

managed to score their two. They

have played a clinical end here to

try to score two. Eve going for a

really important hit and roll here

to put the pressure on Canada

because she has that second counter

on the head and she plays a

fantastic hit and roll. It means

Canada struggle to remove that and

keep their encounter in the house.

So she plays it to perfection. It

rolls right over on top and lies

short. So, it's not easy but Canada

to remove and keep your shooter in

the house. They tried to hold it,

but, no, so they roll out and leave

even with an open draw or two.

And

she had been waiting for a while to

get back, G?

Yes, it's about

constantly trying to force that

error from your opposition and the

great thing here is that as soon as

Canada made a mistake, Great Britain

capitalised. This is a lovely draw

for two there.

And not even having

to sweep too much. That meant that

Great Britain were back level again

as we head into the closing stages

of end nine and this is where we

will pick up commentary Jackie

Lockhart. She was an Olympic -- a

world champion but not an Olympic

champion, right?

Correct. Well done.

So, Eve Muirhead here, you can see

in terms of this shot, the draw, her

accuracy has been left wanting a

little bit in this match,

particularly early on. She was short

on a couple. That is heavy.

It is

high at the moment.

Heavy and hide.

This could be tricky, tricky,

tricky.

tricky. By Eve's standards, that

missed by a long way.

missed by a long way.

So, how long

is Rachel going to take to make the

decision here? They need to come and

sit right on it, the same as we

wanted to do that.

wanted to do that.

If she sits on

top of it, bought two, obviously,

does Eve then try to get rid of

them?

It depends how much she can

see of them.

That's why, if she

comes out on top and she's sitting a

little wide of it, if she get this

wrong, my point is that Eve could

take both stoned that?

Yes, but

there is not a lot of room for that.

Yes, but if she is white? If she

doesn't get this tucked in?

She

needs to be high across the centre

line to make it very difficult for

us. By the same token, if she is too

high, we still probably have the

draw in behind, say Canada need to

be right on top of the T-line here.

Stone placement is key.

Stone placement is key.

Yes, I would

play a different shot, but only

because of the way Rachel Homan is

playing.

No, this is what she has to

play, because if she doesn't get in

there... There still is an

opportunity with reds behind the

T-line for Britain to get there.

Just tucked in in the end. Eve might

be able to get to it.

She could have

afforded to take that two or three

inches more but they were just kind

of scared.

She is looking for a run

back of the two at the front.

I

can't see the angles from here.

They

are not completely lined up. They

are almost lined up. Eve is just

having a look. Got to be careful

here.

I think that is Mr Nichol,

head of British curling. I hope I

have got that right.

I hope so all

you have no chance of getting

selected for the world CBS.

Just

ruined my chances.

-- I hope so all

you have got no chance of getting

selected for the world seniors.

He

has been here all week and he and

his wife have really enjoyed this.

Eve Muirhead have to try to use

those front two yellows, run them

back onto the Canadian red. They

will still have a good chance for at

least one, maybe to you on how these

sit. Can she moved both of them?

That is a great shot from Eve

Muirhead. She might even be sitting

to hear. Eve Muirhead with a

cracker! What a shot. Well thought

out, well executed. That was a

peach. Got the angles right, got the

weight right and, to be fair, maybe

a bit of luck. That Canadian stone

just spinning away beyond the two

British stones.

British stones.

That really is

telling Rachel Homan I am here and

if you want to win this game, you

are going to have to beat me.

A jump

in the air for joy for Eve Muirhead

and why not. The best shot of the

match. And what has that done to the

situation for Rachel Homan? How are

your nerves, Rachel Homan?

your nerves, Rachel Homan? First

slip from Emma Miskew. Coming in for

the one.

They wouldn't be wanting

the one here. This will really knock

the wind out of her sales.

Let's

release.

It looks pretty good, so I

think she's not looking as

nervously, but it will be the one

shot ball Canada here and that's

exactly what Britain wanted to do,

force the 1-mac.

-- force the one. So, a wonderful

shot from Eve Muirhead means that

Canada just take the one. They are

leading after nine ends. One end

left, of course, Great Britain with

the hammer. Two to win, one to type.

Then we would be into an extra end

with Canada with the hammer. It is

all to play for here. She has no

other option here other than to move

these stones around and hope that

things fall nicely for her. Eve

Muirhead still has two to come.

Rachel Homan with real intent and

she needs to give this a bit of

welly. A technical term.

This is the

shot she likes though. And that is

out wide.

She has sprung two of

them. The point I was making, even

that top yellow for Britain, the

fact she has left back in there, you

could even tap that in if Eve has

got one, if she only has one in

there, it is still protecting those

two.

Canada are lying three.

What hands do you like throwing?

This hand?

It has gone very quiet in

the arena. They are all trying to

listen to the discussion.

What about

if you send it here?

You could play

the small bomb.

I think Eve is just

conscious that she doesn't want to

allow her a draw to get in there,

don't give her the chance of the

draw. If she wants to move some of

the stones around, fine, you have

plenty of yellows. Just don't allow

her to draw around the outside to

come in.

She would be really

struggling to sit shot, but she

could force the one. And the girls

have chosen not to come from the

right-hand side end, they have

chosen to come from the left-hand

side across the centre.

side across the centre.

I like this.

OK.

OK.

Hair less. The edge.

She will

want this to come, I believe, right

into the 8-foot. Which also takes

off the draw for Rachel Homan, and

probably forces her to play a triple

take-out.

Eve would still have this

one sitting over the other side. As

long as she gets this right. This

stone needs to come in as far as she

can. They are going to have to sweep

this very hard, it has not got much

on it. Really got to get into the

8-foot.

It has to be biting.

A bit

more, a bit more, bit more.

There is

a back red as well.

The chances if

she tries to do the triple takeout

of not hitting that red are slim.

She wants to draw in here.

A little extra weight out here, or

Watt?

Watt?

When she says she crashed, she

caught that guard on the way

through, but she obviously doesn't

want to catch that British yellow

that Eve has just played, she wants

to catch that on the way in, so she

is giving it plenty of ice, she will

have to come in and around. She has

still got to get very close with

this.

I think she should maybe have

played the triple. Everybody has got

their hands on their hat at the

moment!

This is it. No more chances.

Last stone for Canada. Last chance

for Rachel Homan. Eve Muirhead

watching.

I bet she has got sweaty

palms.

I bet you, heart rate high.

Just trying to stay calm, trying to

survive.

This is the shots to either

keep Canada in the game or put Great

Britain into a play-off place,

because we are sitting two right.

Here it comes, Rachel Homan

watching. She has given this plenty

of ice. She wants to at least lie

second stone.

She is pretty high on

the line.

It is starting to turn,

but has she got the weight? High and

hard, this is it, Great Britain are

going to win this. It is not going

to get there. The handshakes mean

that Great Britain have won this

match, a superb performance from Eve

Muirhead and her team, they

struggled all through that match but

finally in the last three ends they

all four of them came together, a

superb team performance, brilliantly

led by Eve Muirhead with some

stunning shots.

Congratulations, you are through to

the semifinal. Job done?

Delighted,

we knew it was going to be a tough

end against Canada, and we came out

and played a great game. And to book

our spot in semifinal was our first

goal, delighted with that.

How about

the jump in the air? We saw you

leaving the ice when you clear that

brilliant shot.

I can't actually

remember it. When you are in that

zone, you forget about the small

things. But I'm glad I landed safely

on my feet!

And, you were struggling

early on but got it together in the

last three or four ends.

Definitely

was, and kudos to the girls, they

stuck with me and they were really

patient, and I think that really was

the story of the game. We know that

we finish strong, and thank God I

turned up the last couple of ends.

Patience and just staying in the

moment, that is exactly what we did,

and we came through in the end.

How

tense was it out there, Vicki

and we came through in the end.

How

tense was it out there, Vicki? You

had the chance to put them out and

confirm your place in the

semifinals. It was getting a little

nervous at times.

It was a tight

game, but we expected that, we

talked about that in our pre-game,

and we focused on our shots one at a

time and they all came together

nicely.

Lauren, we have talked about

one game at a time, you have all

said that, that you are now into the

semifinals, so how do you prepare

for that now?

It is a new part of

the competition, and we will go away

and regroup for the semifinals and

trying commit as strong as we can,

see how we are playing and how we

frame that and try to build on that

last performance.

Just a comment,

Eve, on the Canadian colleagues next

to us here. It is a massive shock,

the women have never not made a

medal at the Winter Olympics, they

are one of your big rivals. How does

that make a difference of

accommodation now going forward?

We

knew coming in the field was strong,

all ten teams are capable of getting

a medal, and each team we went out

there and play our own game and

concentrate on ourselves. I

understand how you think that Canada

one of the top nations and haven't

missed a podium, but as a team we

concentrated on our own performance,

and we will take whoever we have in

the semifinals.

There was a pretty

good chance it might be swayed in

the way things are looking. How

would you fancy that?

As I say, we

are open to any team. We had a close

game against Sweden in the round

robin, we beat them in the European

final and we always have close games

when it comes to play-offs against

them. We look forward to the day off

tomorrow, and fight strong the next

day.

Good luck. No more jumping up

and down on the ice, OK?

CLARE BALDING: If she is jumping for

joy, we don't mind. These are the

qualifiers:

It will be either the Japan or the

USA to join those three at the

topping qualifying. The hog line

violation was right at the end of

that game, really tight until then,

so anything could happen. Rhona, I

know you didn't sleep last night

because you were watching both

matches. When Eve played that shot

in end nine, was that the turning

point?

Absolutely. It was Patience

the whole game, the British girls

played really well, and here at

nine, Eve really wants to force

Canada to take the one, not lose two

or blank, and this

Canada to take the one, not lose two

or blank, and this shot here was

phenomenal, the fact that it moved

both reds, and Great Britain that

two. So this was a huge game changer

at this point.

How difficult is that

shot?

Any shot in the ninth end, she

had to hit that absolutely spot on

in the right place to catch both

reds in the house, so yes, she had

to play the right weight, the right

line, it was a difficult shot, but

she played it perfectly.

And it

really was the turning point,

because that meant, going into the

tenth end...

That forced Canada to

draw for one, and Eve was more than

happy to play the tenth. There she

jumps, it wasn't jumping with joy,

it was more jumping at the sweepers,

to listen to her.

it was more jumping at the sweepers,

to listen to her. But that means

Great Britain go into the tenth end

with a hammer, much easier to score

their two, and they were happy with

that situation. So that shot in the

night turned the game around.

The

shot of the Olympic Games so far?

Not as in the degree of difficulty

of the shot, but shot under pressure

to absolutely turn a scoreline

around, because if you think they've

fought through that whole game, they

were always two down, always

fighting for their two got other the

only got that on the eighth end.

Friday will be the semifinal against

Sweden. Korea have been the most

consistent team. What do you predict

will be the gold medal match?

Put on

the spot, I would say it is a Korea

- Great Britain final.

That would be

exciting! Exciting for the host

nation as well. Let's take a look at

Great Britain's results so far and

how they have got an against the

teams that are still left. As we

know, the Sweden result was very

tight and could have gone the other

way.

But Great Britain have faced...

South Korea have beaten Great

Britain 7-4, and Sweden have beaten

them. But it is a different evening

now.

Yes, three quarters of the week

is done, and to get over that

finishing line to reach the

semifinals is a huge weight off

their shoulders. They have done it,

they have played there are nine

teams, so now it is a different

competition, straight knockout, you

have to win. So there is no room for

error, and Eve loves the pressure.

The team can play really well under

pressure, they are so patient. They

don't try and win the game early,

they wait because they know they can

play the shots in the last few ends,

so they love the play-off games.

And

as for the men, pretty simple, they

had to win. They were up against the

USA, and when they don't win, also

of things happen. It is very

complicated. But before the match

today they were in second place

joint with Canada, but you see the

USA, if they were going to win, up

to five wins, and then it all gets

tight. And I woke up early to start

watching this this morning, and it

seems to me that the USA play a

different style of curling, they

play a much more aggressive style,

maybe just because they sweep

intensely. Kyle Smith at the end of

the fourth end here, what is he

trying to do?

They have lost a two,

got back to 2-2, and they are trying

to steal, so they played a great

draw around, then the USA trying to

go further ease, and they just miss

it, so it was a great steel from

Britain to go 3-2 up after being 2-0

down.

The Americans look pretty cool

in their kit. They look like golfers

or baseball

in their kit. They look like golfers

or baseball players, they look

different to everyone else.

Obviously the Norwegians look really

different, but there is a lot of

confidence in this USA team, they

know they have to win as well.

And

that was a great tapped to get the

three. Having just lost one at the

last end, for them at that fifth end

to go in and get the three is a

massive boost for the USA. So now

the USA are two up, playing this

eighth end, so Great Britain trying

to build up their two here. And just

catches the corner guard. So USA can

really put the pressure on now.

Great Britain have got last stone,

but they don't want to be forced to

take the one. But after that shot,

USA now just trying to lie.

It seems slightly...

They are

shouting louder, that is why you

think they are more aggressive. So,

Great Britain forced to draw for one

against four. Which isn't a

disastrous situation to go into the

ninth end just one down, but the

sweepers are on this the whole way.

And unfortunately, it comes up

short, just too many half shots from

Great Britain today. Yesterday they

were so clinical, played so well,

but the loss of four, that is game

over, really, just too many half

shots for them.

The American fans

celebrate, and that is a huge result

for the USA. But this is what it

means the Great Britain. It means

they move down the order to fourth

equal, and they now have a play-off

against Switzerland, that is at

midnight tonight. If they win that,

they will go through to the

semifinals tomorrow at 11am, so

whoever wins that match gets two

games within a few hours.

They all

finished on the same rankings, but

because USA had beaten both

Switzerland and Great Britain, they

go above them, so that is why they

are automatically through, and

Switzerland and Great Britain

play-off.

And what do you predict

that?

I think it will be a

play-off.

And what do you predict

that?

I think it will be a close

one. I think our boys, having seen

them that their clinical performance

yesterday, if they come out and play

like that, can win. They had a

really close first game with

Switzerland, but that was days ago

now.

It seems like ages ago.

So I

think both teams are going to be

absolutely desperate for that

semifinal place.

And Kyle Smith

needs to pick himself up, because

that was a disappointing end but

they can do it and they have showed

in this Olympics they are absolutely

Olympic class.

Absolutely, and at

the Olympic Games, what is the best

way to go? Through tie-breakers.

That's the way I did it!

Quite

right.

Keeps you fighting and

motivated.

Excellent, love that.

Rhona, thank you very much.

We are going to focus on the women's

downhill, which took place very

early this morning in perfect

conditions, and the star of the

show, all eyes were on Lindsey Vonn,

trying to capture the title that she

last won in Vancouver. She had

injuries that kept her out of the

World Championship. Let's catch up

with Matt Chilton.

COMMENTATOR: She has had two World

Cup victories, and a couple of

podiums as well, Goggia. She is high

on the Dragon rage, the winner of

the Olympic test 12 months ago. She

had a massive mistake in the

Super-G, which cost her a chance to

push for a medal, but she has been

going well in the free training

runs, and represents a serious, real

threat to Lindsey Vonn's chance to

win gold today. But Three has left

herself work to do. And that is

dangerous. Lucky that the wind

didn't get under her skis there and

cause to crash, but that is a sign

of the commitment that she is

putting into this race. Suffering

with a knee problem, she says when

she gets up in the morning walks

around, the knee is sore, it takes

ten minutes just to be able to walk,

and climbing the stairs is an issue,

but when she gets to the start gate,

she forgets all about it. It full

focus. She has just flown 25 metres,

and that is a good job, and it has

put Goggia right back in the Chase

here. 94 kilometres per hour, Bencic

celebrates beyond the 100 mark,

towards 104 kilometres per hour.

Smooth, accurate terms for Sofia

Goggia, the 25 you rolled Italian,

she hits that control gate, and the

next split it has got slightly

better for her. Goggia could back up

the victory in the Olympic test

event a year ago by skiing into gold

medal position here. It's a

brilliant run from Goggia, she leads

the way. It is a big margin in

favour of the Italian, 0.63, that

might bring her a medal today.

Will it be gold? This was one of the

risky moves that Sofia Goggia

polled, straight down onto the tales

of her skis. Incredible strength.

Lindsay Vonn is already a ski racing

legend, whatever happens today, the

most successful female ski racer of

all time. 81 World Cup victories.

She is chasing victory as she looks

to hunt down the all-time record.

She could add another couple of

World Cup wins at the end of this

season, maybe return at the start of

next and beat the record of 86. The

focus this season has been all about

today, the Olympic downhill

competition that she last one in

Whistler, the Vancouver games, eight

years ago. She has trained really

well. She has had an army of

technicians working on her skis, she

is fully fit, she's fast, she's

focused and she's flying there,

standing on the right speed, great

term coming into paradise for

Lindsay Vonn. Vonn is now 33 years

old, one of the oldest competitors

in the competition. Is she in front

here? She is four tenths slower than

Sofia Goggia and she and Goggia have

gone toe to toe in so many World Cup

races so far this season, with Vonn

winning three of them, including the

last two. She is fastest through the

speed gun. Will that translate to a

green light here? Not quite. Vonn

has still got to find time. Half a

second off the pace of Goggia. The

top two separated by .6 three. Vonn

is slightly wide. A straight line

all the way to the finish now. Vonn

is across the line and it is a

silver. Goggia Olesen. No gold medal

in what will almost certainly be

have final Olympic games for Lindsay

Vonn. Let's see what Mowinckel can

produce today. Norway's best, number

19, Mowinckel. Silver medallist in

the Olympic giant slalom last week.

13th in the super-g. She has been

consistent in World Cup downhill

races this season. Five times in the

top ten but never better than sixth.

Two green light to start with.

Mowinckel has had an outstanding

season. She was always one of the

sort of middle order athletes until

the start of the new World Cup

season at the end of 2017 and she

started to show some fine form. That

was a huge tan therefore Mowinckel

of Norway. -- a huge ten there for.

Norway have had a fine programme

with gold, silver and bronze is so

far. Mowinckel contributed to that

with a silver in the giant slalom.

The speed is good therefore

Mowinckel. Three green lights and

then read, but not bar. One tenth a

second off the pace. Mowinckel is

bringing her a game to the biggest

race of this season. The top three

separated by so little. Mowinckel

picked an unusual line into that

time. Can she swim quicker than

Goggia? Mowinckel may well move in

amongst the medals. Can she ski

quickly enough to go into gold? Off

the final jump, Mowinckel has gone

into silver. 900th of a second.

into silver. 900th of a second. It

is a second Olympic medal, her

second silver.

second silver. What a day for Sofia

Goggia. She was the Olympic downhill

champion, the first Olympic -- the

best Italian woman ever to do so.

And it is the second silver for

Mowinckel in the downhill. And

Lindsay Vonn goes home with the

downhill bronze in 2018 after

winning eight years ago.

We saw had jumping for joy and look

at this, Sofia Goggia, giving the

snow in delight. Lindsay Vonn took

bronze and afterwards, her good

friend Jimmy Alcott caught up with

her. Suffice to say, emotions were

running high.

You overcame all of

the pressure, all the expectation

and you got a bronze today.

Yes, it

was intense and I think mostly it

was intense because I just wanted to

win for my grandpa. And it's hard to

process this is my last Olympic

downhill race. You know, I really

want to keep racing for ever but I

can't.

So, I'm... Lindsay, knowing

your family, your grandfather would

be so happy you went did your best,

you know?

I hope so.

So, I chatted with your dad earlier

and he was here to support cheap. He

didn't care about your time as long

as you knew you went out there and

did your best. He did that, the

super-g, this is how you came back

and that shows you are a super

champion.

Thanks. You know, I'm sure

my dad will find something that I

did wrong. He loves to be critical

but it meant a lot to me that he was

here. You know, we had some rough

times there and he wasn't in

Vancouver when I won, so it meant a

lot to me that he was here. I mean,

we've all been really emotional

because of my grandfather, so it

meant a lot to all of us to be here

altogether. It's just a really

emotional day. I'm really proud to

walk away with a medal. It may not

be gold and I'm sure a lot of people

will say that I should have gotten a

gold, but you know what, it's so

hard to win or to get a medal at the

Olympics and I'm proud of my

performance, so I'm walking away

very happy.

Shimmy Alcott joins us

live now from Pyeongchang, listening

to that live I'm sure it's making

you well up and not many people

would have got that access or that

reaction. It's amazing to see the

really human side of Lindsay Vonn.

Yes, I've noticed that really change

with her over the last year. I think

she's become a lot more accessible

to her emotions. She also -- she

always used to put up this guard of

what you call people wanted her to

be and now she's realised that she

the champion and when you're

champion, you can beat who you are,

to do those feelings. It's

incredible that you spoke about the

men in her life because she has gone

through the divorce with her

husband, she got really close to her

grandfather because her father

wasn't in the picture them, so

that's where all these raw emotions

are coming from. I'm not sure if

they are coming from the fact this

is her last Olympic downhill all the

whole scenario of grieving with him.

That bronze was like a gold for her

today. She just needed to get a

medal.

Amazing to see her on the

podium. She has made it clear that

although she won't be at another

Olympics committee is still going

for the World Cup world record,

isn't she?

Definitely. She is only

by the way, chasing history. She has

done everything out she can in the

sport in terms of achievements for

female alpine skiers. It definitely

an accessible goal for her. The next

Olympics is four years away, how her

body will hold up. She has gone

through so much adversity and

injuries over the years that I think

she's anticipating that for years is

too much, but who knows of Lindsay

Vonn. When she is riding high bill

of confidence, you can't write her

off.

Let's talk about Sofia Goggia,

the gold medallist. There are some

interesting testament to her

character.

She is a firecracker.

She's never called me by my name,

she has nicknames for everyone.

Whatever she wants to do, she does

it, whatever she wants to save.

She's the most exciting skier to

watch. Actually, her run was

probably the most controlled I've

seen have. It was a really solid

performance. She knew what she had

to do to win gold and she had a

nervous wait up the surprise in the

super-g with the snowboarder coming

down and

down and taking gold, with the

Norwegian coming down. She said he

didn't mind who was -- how far

behind someone was as long as they

were behind.

And the first time in

many years Italy have one, so a huge

moment for them?

It is huge and the

way Italians celebrate, they are the

most amazing team out there. Every

single athlete stays to watch their

team-mates race. They have such a

good connection, when Sofia Goggia,

when the race was eventually over,

her coaches, you could see how much

it meant to them as the United team.

She is an amazing firecracker. She

is great but the sport, Lindsay Vonn

actually men told her over the last

few years and she beat her very

slightly here last year in a test

event, but I'm sure she is more

frustrated to buy beaten -- to be

beaten by her today.

There is still

the team event to come for the

women. Could Lindsay Vonn be

involved in that?

There is still the

combined tomorrow. As of yet, I am

not sure whether she will be

starting it. With her emotions, I am

not sure she will start. Who knows.

With the slalom, it's quite

difficult tomorrow, it will suit the

technical skiers like shivering but

there is a spot on the American team

for Lindsay if she wants to take it.

In terms of the team parallel, I

don't think Lindsay will started.

So

focus switches to Michaela Shifrin

for the Americans. One of the many

reasons we sent you out there is

because we have got the slalom

coming up and Dom Parsons. How is he

looking?

looking?

I mean, cool, collected, he

is just keeping to his own. He's

trying to take it as another race.

He doesn't have a big team here. His

family are watching back home, they

became up because they are watching

you. His girlfriend is here working

for Dutch TV so I will be standing

with her tomorrow and feeling the

vibe because he genuinely has the

possibility. There is a place on the

podium, there are about three or

four years he could get it and Dave

is definitely one of those guys.

Good luck with all of that. Thanks

so much was going up to talk to us.

This view, friends.

We miss you too.

Now we are going to head live to

cross-country skiing. Rob Walker is

there to explain how this skiing

works and also who she will be

skiing with. Does a moment of

history back for the iron Lady

wearing number one on the left of

your picture?

This, arguably, one of the hardest

earned gold medals of any sport

hearing Pyeongchang. There is beer

can. 16 and a half minutes away from

something very, very special.

They are under way in this women's

teams per in to vinyl. Only two

athletes per nation, six circuits

skied in all, so it's three each and

the only rest each skier gets is the

length of time it takes their

team-mate to ski each of their

circuits. Marit Bjoergen in second

place here for Norway. At the

moment, she is tied in medals, 13 in

total. She has seven goals, three

silvers and the bronzes. A medal of

any colour would bring her 14 Winter

Olympic medals in total and no one

has done better. She would be the

greatest of all time. If you really

want to be a stickler for

statistics, if it was to be gold for

Marit Bjoergen, and she is in the

lead at the moment ahead of the

American, if it was to be gold,

there is no question whatsoever

because she would be ahead by virtue

of one single bronze. Marit Bjoergen

has been sensational at these games,

she really has. And how about this

for a potential omen? 16 years ago

on this very day, a skinny

inexperienced Norwegian led the

relay first leg and it was her first

medal, a silver. Well, Ollie

Williams alongside me, the omens are

good, it all sounds great, but she

has got to get over the line and

there is a world-class pair from

Russia just behind her and the

Swedes have a fantastic duo as well.

Yes, it is not just about Marit

Bjoergen, it is about the other

Norwegian in this team of two who

you see just waiting to handover

from Marit Bjoergen. You also have

the US, this week, everyone in this

mix, they will be looking less at

Marit Bjoergen, more her team-mate

and it's ridiculous to use the brave

the weak link, but it could be that

Neil said he would take over for

Sweden, you can see her entering

your picture there, it could be that

she will target her and try to bring

this bold home for Sweden instead of

Norway and just

The Norwegians are the defending

champions and reigning world

champions. This is a really, really

competitive race. They have already

skied a semifinal just to get to

this big showdown. Julia Bellerin

this big showdown. Julia Bellerin,

the camera focusing in now. This

Russian duo, for all the reasons

that have been well publicised, the

Olympic athletes of Russia have

brought a very young but talented

team, and Yulia Belorukova will be

determined to spoil the Marit

Bjoergen Norwegian party.

They all

get a couple of minutes to recover

as best they can. You saw a little

error at the back, that will cause

some time for Slovenia. They look

very good, at the front you can see

it is Stena Nielsen, and we take one

more look here, you can see that

little error, the trip for Slovenia

that just drops her a little bit

further back. This race looks to be

on paper a four way battle, Norway,

with Maiken Caspersen Fall out on

course at the moment. And those

young Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Here now you can see you have Maiken

Caspersen Falla on the right-hand

side, Stena Nielsen keeping pace

with Sweden, and so far this final

is bunched.

We are poised for

history here, but how will this go?

We have a whole host of world-class

women determined that the Norwegians

will not have this great celebration

all their own way. Vital work going

on by the wax technician is, it is a

big part of the science of

cross-country skiing, it is not just

a question of putting the skis on

and going for it, there is a lot of

work that goes on behind the scenes

to make these races so spectacular.

Sweden and Norway, little bit of

ground lost therefore the Olympic

athletes of Russia. Yulia Belorukova

not quite as impressive on this leg.

Marit Bjoergen contemplating the

second circuit. Remember it is three

each in total, so now both

team-mates have done a circuit each.

Marit Bjoergen will be going up

against Charlotte Callan, she is

wearing bib 12 of Sweden, just on

the right of the picture. The

Americans won the team sprint, the

men won it back in 1976, and no

American woman has ever won a winter

Olympic cross-country medal. Third

place at the moment with Randall, it

would be a huge day for American

cross-country skiing. It cannot be

underestimated.

This is the USA's

last chance, Randall's in

particular, 35 years old. She thinks

this is it in terms of her ability

to finally for the first time put

the US on an Olympic podium in this

sport, but also think about

Charlotte Kalla, she has never won

this in the Olympics, and I don't

think she will get better

opportunity than being paired up

with an out and out sprint queen

like Stina Nilsson. Marit Bjoergen,

as you see her surging up this hill

that form such a dominant part of

this short but punishing course.

Marit Bjoergen isn't always Norway's

go to girl for a team spread. She

wasn't in the last couple of team

sprints, but in this course, you do

a semifinal, so many little circuits

of this course, it demands sheer

endurance, and that is what it shows

she brings in this field.

It is

almost like the ultimate rap

session, rewarded with the gold,

silver and bronze medal. Here are

some of the all-time greats, let's

not underestimate Charlotte Kalla

and her team-mate, Stina Nilsson, up

against Maiken Caspersen Falla, and

it was Stina Nilsson and Maiken

Caspersen Falla who took the medals

in the individual sprint races.

Couple of gaps opening up.

Couple of gaps opening up.

This has

allowed a little bit of a deficit to

open up. It is Norway from Sweden.

The United States have never been on

a women's Winter Olympics

cross-country podium. They are in

third. Switzerland coming into the

mix as well. But it is the two great

nations of Norway and Sweden, side

by side, locked together in this

battle for global supremacy, a sport

that is absolutely worshipped in

both countries, and the Germans have

a little bit of ground to make up,

disappointing so far for them in

this final.

You mentioned the Swiss, you can see

her off the back there, you can see

her skiing for Switzerland, Laurien

van der Graaff, impressive to come

through the way they did, and they

are keeping themselves in touch.

Look at Jessica Diggins, her face

painted with glitter, the way it

always is and always has been, in

her unique style that she has

brought to this US team, and she has

tried to haul this sport into US

prime-time, and nothing would do

that better than getting on the

podium tonight, and Marit Bjoergen

and Norway, Maiken Caspersen Falla,

just tucked in behind Stina Nilsson

behind them as they head back up

this hill one more time, and the US

still lead.

A great effort here from

Jessica Diggins. Fifth in the ski

Avalon, the American, fifth in the

ten K, fifth in the relay, and she

made the sprint final. She is trying

to give herself and her team-mate

Kikkan Randall every opportunity.

There will be two complete circuits

left at the end of this one, this is

the second time we have seen Maiken

Falla of Norway coming up this

brutal hill. Stina Nilsson is

inferred. -- in third. They will

hope that history does beckon with a

gold, and Maiken Falla would already

be feeling this, they will be tired.

They have skied just to make this

final tonight. It is getting colder,

-5 out on the course, but they won't

be feeling that at the moment, they

will be getting a surge of

adrenaline. The noise from the

crowd. Most of them over on the far

side gathered by the finish. This is

a fascinating race at the moment,

the Olympic athletes of Russia are

out of it. This is sensational for

the Americans. It will be Jessica

Diggins to Randall, and as far as

the Norwegians and Swedes are

concerned, Maiken Falla will hand

over to Marit Bjoergen, and it will

be Stina Nilsson to Charlotte Kalla.

They are out on the tracks for the

last time, they can afford to give

it everything here. This is going to

be a fascinating circuit, and how

Kikkan Randall is going to come

under pressure here from Marit

Bjoergen and Charlotte Kalla, the

Olympic athletes of Russia

completely out of this now.

We were

worried that the US, having gone so

hard in the semifinal, might be the

ones to blow up in this final, but

instead it is those young athletes

from Russia who have just not been

able to keep any kind of pace, as

frankly neither has anyone else,

because these three are now well out

in front, and it would take quite

some effort. You can see the Swiss

still just about in touch, but it

looks like it might just be into a

sprint finish between these three,

but the Norwegians will still think

they have an ace up their sleeves to

move ahead. Equally, the Swedish

will be looking at Lizzy waiting for

Stina Nilsson -- Charlotte Kalla

waiting for Stina Nilsson, it is no

strategic of when you push ahead,

and it looks like Norway are try to

take this out now.

Marit Bjoergen

has won a medal in every event she

has contested here in Pyeongchang.

She is 37 years of age, she is a

mother now, she balances a life

outside cross-country skiing, she is

writing this final chapter in

glittering glory, but is it to be a

gold? Unless there is a problem with

the skis or a fall, you would almost

certain things that Norway and

Sweden will be on the podium, but

Marit Bjoergen has shied away from

the questions about becoming the

greatest of all time. She has

focused on each race at a time, but

her job here is almost done, and

what a responsibility for her

team-mate and good friend Maiken

Falla. She will have the

responsibility of trying to ensure

history is made with gold with a

title defence, and a real problem

here. That is disappointing for the

Olympic athlete of Russia. A snap

poll, and that may well be

contributing to why they are so far

behind. If Marit Bjoergen is to

become the greatest of all time, she

has given her compatriot Maiken

Falla every opportunity. But this

isn't just about Marit Bjoergen,

this is a great race between Norway,

Sweden and the United States, and

how about that from the Americans?

They are closing in on a medal that

for so many years seemed it would

never come. Norway, Sweden and the

United States with one circuit left

too long burst their way towards the

finish.

The Swedish newspapers

interviewed Charlotte Kalla before

this race, and she said, if Stina

Nilsson and Maiken Falla eyelevel

going into the final leg, we will

not be that worried. She essentially

said, she thinks Stina Nilsson can

take it for Sweden. It was a brave

thing to come out and say, it has

been all over the Scandinavian

media, and now Stina Nilsson has to

deliver, because there is nothing to

choose between Norway, Sweden and

the USA, currently out in front

thanks to Jessica Diggins going for

that podium at last.

This is a great

race for the Americans, it really

is. Jessica Diggins has missed out

on so many occasions. We knew she

was on form, she won the last World

Cup race coming into these games.

She leads from Maiken Falla in the

silver medal position for Norway at

the moment, which would surely make

Marit Bjoergen the greatest of all

time, but this just for a moment

isn't about Marit Bjoergen. It is

about Maiken Falla of Norway. It is

about Jessica Diggins of the United

States. Sweden looked like a couple

of meters are opening up between

themselves and the leading duo.

Having said that, Stina Nilsson

trying to close the gap on the

inside. Maybe we are still going to

have a 3-way battle for gold. Maiken

Falla for Norway. Jessica Diggins,

the weight of history and all those

disappointments on the American

shoulders, and what about Stina

Nilsson? She beat Maiken Falla in

the sprint final, they call her

silver Stina

the sprint final, they call her

silver Stina, always the bridesmaid,

never the bride. Nothing to choose

between the three of them as they

head down to the stadium. The medals

are short, but in which order? And

there is a tussle between Maiken

Falla and Stina Nilsson. Jessica

Diggins did not get involved.

the history books will be written

and they will show that tonight,

Marit Bjoergen became the greatest

of all time but with which colour

medal? Stena Nelson trying to pull

away hair and suddenly there's a gap

and the Norwegians are there. The

Americans will get their first ever

cross-country skiing medal in the

Olympics and it looks as though

Maiken Falla is beaten. It will be

history for Bjoergen but it looks

like it will be bronze. What a race,

Stena Nelson, Jess begins for a

piece of history. And the Americans

have done it. For the first time,

they are on the podium and they are

on the podium with gold. Sweden take

silver and Marit Bjoergen becomes

the greatest of all time but it is

bronze tonight. Let's focus on the

Americans. So many times they have

come up short, so many times they

have had questions to answer but not

tonight. Sloan well -- Bjoergen

tonight. Sloan well -- Bjoergen will

make the headlines, but the US are

there.

That is the raise that the US

have been waiting for decades to

deliver. They thought they were

almost out of time, they were given

50 places, fourth places, they have

done it at the World Championships,

they won the World Championship in

2013 together but they had never

done it at the Olympics until now

and it means more than the world for

them to beat Norway and Sweden at

their own game.

If you have never

watched a cross-country skiing race,

I really, really hope you enjoyed

that. This is a sport of Herculean

effort and hard. That is why they

collapse over the finish line. If

you prefer your racing on the roads

rather than on snow, I hope you have

been won over tonight. Marit

Bjoergen does become the greatest

Winter Olympian in history with 14

medals, but quite rightly, the

cameras are focusing in on the

Americans. That is an absolutely

phenomenal achievement. Yes, they

became team sprint champions, but

that was five years ago and people

were starting to doubt how many more

opportunities this great American

duo would have. And how about this?

Surely one of the principles of the

Winter Olympic Games and the summer

Olympic Games is to inspire the next

generation and how many young boys

and girls will be watching this in

the United States and will say to

their mums and dads, yes, I know

about Lindsay Vonn, but now I also

know about kicking Randall and just

begins and I'm going to have a go at

cross-country skiing. This is huge

for the sport in North America. It

takes an Olympic gold medal,

especially with the dominance that

America has across so many sports,

it takes Olympic gold and I said

that Sweden were expected to beat

the Norwegians, they were not

expecting the US to come at them and

win in that style. An absolutely

incredible moment in history but not

just for Marit Bjoergen, an amazing

finish from two American women who

have produced the race of their

lives against some of the all-time

greats. What a race and what a

privilege to witness this unfolding

in the commentary box. It has been

an absolutely wonderful 20 minutes

at the Alpensia Cross-Country Centre

centre and that was the moment be

America knew she had delivered gold.

What another sensational finish to a

cross-country race. America now have

a gold medal in the cross-country

team spin -- team sprint but Marit

Bjoergen now goes to the top of this

list of winter Olympic greats. These

are in terms of most medals won.

Marit Bjoergen top of that list with

14 of them.

Ireen Wust is the only one that list

who is a speed skater and she will

be in action later, so she could add

that.

Marit Bjoergen goes to the top

without bronze medal she took in the

team sprint.

Now, the last time a British women's

bob finished in the Olympics was

in...

Ninth place. And I was there.

It is about the whole team

contributing to the performance.

There's no way I could have done

what I did in my career without

amazing team-mates.

Amy Williams

with us as well, our skeleton

champion from 2010. This is a huge

moment for the women's bob sleigh

and for another sliding sport to

appeal to a new generation of girls.

I think that has been the joy of the

Winter Games this year, it has

inspired so many people. For these

two

two girls, for Mica to be driving

into third place, it is achievable

for her to achieve that which is so

exciting.

Before that, we will tell

you a bit more about the story of

Mica Moore and Mica McNeill. It has

been a real story for them to get

here, not just athletically but to

fund themselves, because this is a

team funded by the people.

All of

that hard years that we have worked

thinking, this is Olympic year, we

want to go into this year in the

best shape possible and then it just

gets stopped.

It was absolutely

heartbreaking. BBC sport understands

that bobsleigh is set to withdraw

funding from its women's team just

five months before the Olympics.

Mica McNeill said she was shocked

and gutted to discover there was no

money left to fund her team because

of an overspend.

It was my career

very, very low. As low as you can

get. You have worked hard and it is

crushed. You don't know if you can

turn from that.

turn from that.

We instantly came

together with a plan that we could

move forward swiftly with because

the season was coming round very

quickly and I think we did that very

well.

well.

I honestly didn't know if it

was going to work. I thought we

might get a terrible response, like

we might get a lot of criticism for

setting this up. But we set it up

and then it just sort of started

rolling.

Seeing people logging in to

support us that our boss and our

journey was just amazing. We want to

say thank you to all your

contributions for our campaign.

We

are so grateful. We have had a good

few days out on the Ivor Bell so

excited for our season.

Maybe those

of you watching at home centre view

quit their way. Nearly £50,000 was

raised for them. A good start. Let's

see the British girls on their way.

Terrific. Clean out of 15. Eyes on

seventh place. Six she goes. What a

good run that was from Mica and

Mica.

Mica is starting to become a

really good pilot. They just need a

little bit more horsepower at the

top and by that start. That is all

they are missing. This is the reason

they are flying because she has

nailed this trade every time she has

come through it.

History was made on

the ice today with the first African

and indeed the Nigerian bobsleigh

team. Their debut appearance showed

the inexperience of the pilot, but

the bands -- fans were enthusiastic

nonetheless and they were thrilled

that the hair, despite finishing

last. 30 years after call running --

cool running, the Jamaicans were

slightly off the pace with no coach

to fine tune their run. A I have

finished seems unlikely. So do the

key contenders, Canada set the early

finished seems unlikely. So do the

key contenders, Canada set the early

lead with a time of 50.70 two. Not

one of her finer runs, especially

with the Americans and Germans hot

on her tail. The pilot on the United

States have won everything except

Olympic girl and cheese set the

fastest time to knock the reigning

champion of her perch with a time of

50.50 two. That time proved

impassable despite a terrific time

from the German pair, who finished a

tantalising to hamper of a second

behind the leaders. US team-mates

Jamie Gribble Poser and partner Amy

Evans finished a close third. With

reigning champion Humphreys of

Canada lying in fifth with our crowd

funded duo Mica and Mica in six

going into heat two.

For Great Britain in sixth place,

Mica McNeill -- Mica McNeill and

Mica Moore. Mica is driving this

track really well. You can see the

gap is starting to close that this

is the part of the track she's been

doing so well, getting this straight

right. If she comes through here

clean, she gets a little bit of tap

but she's carrying enough speed at

this point... That's another

mistake. She needs to settle into

this run. She is clothing but is

there enough track the incoming of

the Canadians at the bottom?

It has

gone green. They are quicker. Can

they put pressure on Humphreys? They

are going to end run to no worse

than 60 with 50 point -- 52.9 five.

Now, work to do here for Humphreys

if she is to hold onto the gold

medal for a third time.

Great start.

I don't know if Mica will come in

front of her here but she is losing

speed to the British sled.

There are

real doubt say now that Humphreys

will be able to get another gold

medal.

Now, is this where Schneider

was stop pulling ahead of Kaillie

Humphries because she has started

losing speed? It certainly looks

like she is losing speed at the

bottom camp at the Kaillie

Humphries.

The German pair don't

normally lose speed, do they? And

the Germans go ahead? Yes, is the

answer. This is >> Jamanka -- this

yum anchor.

The best person to

pledge will miss the meadow. -- the

first person to flinch will miss the

medal today. She has got to keep a

good margin here as she comes down

to beat speed trap.

It is a growing

margin as well. The German has put

herself in a great position and is

currently in first place. Now, the

Americans. They have a 200th

advantage as Elana Meyers Taylor

goes in pursuit of the one prize

that has eluded her through her

career, an Olympic gold medal.

This

is why they are in the lead and that

is a big mistake. That will cost

out. That 23 hundredths, I don't

think she will have that at the

bottom. She has lost that into

corners.

She will struggle. Germany

and the United States, the two will

be the leaders and Elana Meyers

Taylor has just lost the lead. The

big message though is that those two

are now a comfortable margin ahead

of Schneider, Gribble Poser and

McNeill.

And down in sixth place is

the great British pair. Not far off

the medal.

Is it possible? It is.

This track has shown anything is

possible. The form book has been

torn up.

What do they need to do,

Amy?

They need to hold it together

and not do anything different. Don't

get freaked out by the fact they are

in a position they never thought

they would be.

We will head over

there in an hour's time but we are

going back to cross-country skiing

because we saw a vocational finish

to women's cross-country skiing,

with a photo finish and Bjoergen

going up to the top of the all-time

greats list. This is the men's team

final. We were hoping to maybe the

Andrew Musgrave and Andrew Young in

there for Great Britain but as Rob

Walker explained, that was

impossible.

Yes, thank you, Claire. This great

race is about to start. If it's half

as good as the women's final we have

just enjoyed, we are written for

another treat. Just a quick headline

on Andrew Young and Andrew Musgrave,

just missing out on a fastest loser

's spot in this final. But they

didn't finish the men's team sprint

in Sochi or Vancouver. Andrew Young

suffers from a condition called

tacky cardia which means that the

type of pressure being put on the

heart head when you are burning at

full space for three minutes and

then stopping while your team-mate

goes means he has had quite a lot of

races which he hasn't managed to

finish. The two Britons doing the

nation proud, a great effort, with

Andrew Musgrave 's thoughts turning

to his final on Saturday. So, no

British duo in here but we have a

world-class pair of very, very young

talented skiers from the Olympic

athletes of Russia. And it's Dennis

bits of on the lead leg for them. He

got a bronze in the 15 K, a silver

in the relay. He leads and the

question here surely is whether

these Olympic athletes of Russia can

put the Norwegians or the Swedes

under pressure? 16 is Marcus Helmer,

a legendary figure in Swedish

skiing, possibly a shade past his

best and coming up now, Ollie, the

familiar red script -- strip of

Norway. They will not like the fact

they got bronze in the women's

event, despite history being written

for Bjoergen.

Yes, watch out for

Norway when they handover in a

moment. Norway won't even on the

podium four years ago. They finished

fourth in this. Norway treat this

like football. This is their Super

Bowl, if you like. Same in Sweden,

so it is Norway versus Sweden,

Sweden looking a little more

impressive than we thought. Your

contenders here, the Olympic

Athletes from Russia wearing 15,

Norway in one, Sweden in 16. What is

two in particular as they can mount

the first leg of six.

Nicely bunched here, each of these

men will ski three times, so Martin

Johnsrud Sundby coming in behind,

the Olympic athlete of Russia

handing over to an incredible young

talent, Alexander Bolshunov. And

that young man with the pink poles

and the pink helmet, he is Johannes

Hoesflot Klaebo. He has made his own

piece of history here, the youngest

ever male cross-country skiing

winter Olympic champion, two goals,

one in the sprint and the other in

the relay, and the manner of his

victory as the cameras focusing on

Helguson of Sweden, he is so good,

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, wearing

bib and one, I think he is the

equivalent of Usain Bolt. He has

made it look ridiculously easy so

far.

And usually you mean that they

have won by a distance, but he went

out of his way to make those

victories look easy. In the relay

the other night, Johannes Hoesflot

Klaebo parked himself behind Dennis

Betts of and effectively at a mile

jog ended up passing him to win. It

was ridiculous how simple he made

that look. Will he do it again

tonight? He is up against a

different athlete, he is up against

Alexander

Alexander Bolshunov, not Denis

Spitsov this time, and you can see

him, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, on

the right-hand side, and Alexander

Bolshunov looked incredible and

relays, and what will be interested

tonight is whether he pushes

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo more than

Spitsov did in this final.

And watch

out as well for the Canadians can

Alex Harvey on the second leg for

them, will they have taken

inspiration from the North American

rivals? No Canadian men have ever

won skiing medal. Alex Harvey didn't

take part in the four by ten

kilometres relay. Remember if you

are just joining us, only two men

per nation, they ski three times

each, that is Johannes Hoesflot

Klaebo going for a hat-trick of

goals. There is his team-mate,

Martin Johnsrud Sundby. We have seen

the first piece of skiing from

Alexander Bolshunov, not the

fireworks we were expecting from the

Russian, who is level with the

German in a roundabout fourth place.

It is Sweden from the French, and

they have got a fine pair, that is

Richard Jouve coming across and

Maurice Manisa cat. A big group

coming together here, Martin

Johnsrud Sundby in third place, so

when will the big move,, and who

will it be from? This is a race that

unfolds very quickly. That fall is

Eric Bjornson of the United States,

a real shame for him. He will hand

off to Simeon Hamilton, they are

really going for this up an incline

that is steeper than it may one

appear. He is third from the left

hand side, and he just caught up on

the experienced Italian. That is a

savage blow to the Americans to get

into the mix.

That is pretty much

the end of that. Maurice Manificat

France wearing the number four, just

tucked in behind Sweden. He

scratched from the 50 kilometres

finale for the men on Saturday, and

this has been such a frustrating

Olympics for him, he has won bronze

medal but he finished fifth twice in

the individual races, and he will be

doing everything he can to get on

that podium as we watch them

frantically preparing the skis at

the bottom of the course. For the

relay, Dennis Betts off complained

bitterly that his wax did not look

as good as Norway's. Norway looked

supreme that time around, and here

comes Martin Johnsrud Sundby, moving

forward to join Sweden now. Marcus

Hellner leads the Sweden, and surely

in his last Winter Olympics, he was

33 years old, and he seemed to be

chasing a gold that seem to escape

him, not so after the relay. He has

had silver medals in the relay in

bronze and silver medals, and he is

in second place behind Marcus

Holness. Maurice Manificat, the

Frenchman in third, at the young duo

from the Olympic athletes of Russia.

Germany five, Italy six, and then

the Americans, Eric Bjornson trying

to make amends with that fall up the

first hill. We are at the halfway

stage here. Marcus Helmer, and son

be. They have skied two of their

three circuits, and now it is the

return of Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo.

He is arguably has more on paper

than Richard Jouve. The Finn is in

the seven. Alex Harvey heading out

onto the course, but it is Alexander

Bolshunov and Johannes Hoesflot

Klaebo, and we have Sweden still in

the mix. It is single file, they are

all in a line, and most of the big

names are in contention as they

embark on the fourth circuit. To

give you a bit of context, they will

be sitting at home in their tens of

millions watching this. This is a

huge sport for Norway. Their new

superstar, they have already had a

big day. They hit their target of 30

medals for Norway at these games,

and they have surpassed their

target. The men's ice

target. The men's ice hockey team

reach the quarterfinals at an

Olympic tournament for the first

time ever today, and they will be

expecting Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo

to cap it all off in supreme style

by brushing past Alexander

Bolshunov, but we have already seen

that Alexander Bolshunov has so much

to give, and age.

Both of them 21,

and it is that young Olympic Athlete

from Russia, wearing bib 15, bronze

in the spread, silver in the relay,

five times he has been on the World

Cup podium this year, but there is

the man streaking up the right-hand

side, he has his own distinct style

up the hills, and that was massive

from Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo. That

is why they refer to him as the

Usain Bolt of snow. In the last 40

metres of backline, he has just

shown why he is the new global star.

He has won nine of 12 World Cup

events so far this season, but it is

one thing winning here and there

around Europe, it is quite another

when you arrive here is one of the

favourites and you deliver not won

or two, but maybe three. We have

still got one complete circuit each

of the two team

of the two team members, but

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has shown

why so many people in this sport are

excited about what he is doing and

what he is capable of doing in the

future. Norway are in the lead with

two circuits remaining.

A complete

change could lead to a couple of

days ago, we Johannes Hoesflot

Klaebo sat behind Denis Spitsov of

Russia and only at the end gently

went past him to take that gold

medal. This time around, clearly

baulk is thinking to himself, let's

not leave this to chance, let's go

and put as much distance as we can,

as early as we can, and make these

four Chase, make them break

themselves of those hills pursuing

Martin Johnsrud Sundby. That is a

completely different strategy for

Norway, and you can see now Martin

Johnsrud Sundby trying to preserve

as much of that gap as he can. Three

seconds in almost any other race

wouldn't seem like that much, but in

team spread like this, three seconds

is a healthy gap for Norway to have

at this stage.

He will be feeling

it, they all will. They have skied a

semifinal, and here they are on the

third of their lung bursting

circuits. Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo's

acceleration of that very steep hill

has given Martin Johnsrud Sundby an

opportunity to extend the advantage,

and Marcus Hellner of Sweden is not

closing at the moment from second.

Neither is Denis Spitsov in third.

For the other

For the other fourth are the French,

and after this, it is down to their

team-mates to anchor them home. This

is superb from Martin Johnsrud

Sundby. He was given the lead from

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, he is

arguably past his best, but he has

been fantastic today in the semis

and here in the final, and so is

Maurice Manificat, the French man in

his last games, Izzy? And if he is,

is he finishing in style with a

medal. The French are right up

there, and the youngsters from

Russia are coming under some

pressure here ahead of the sixth and

final circuit. There is Martin

Johnsrud Sundby. He has been a

superb ambassador for Norwegian

cross-country skiing. He has been

beaten a few times by the man he is

about a tap on the back, and he says

he is so talented, Johannes Hoesflot

Klaebo, it is almost embarrassing to

be in the same race as him

sometimes. And that from a man who

has stood on the top of the Winter

Olympics podium. Martin Johnsrud

Sundby has built on the lead that

Klaebo delivered. Sweden in second,

the Olympic athletes of Russia in

fourth, and it is the French in the

battle for the podium as well,

Maurice Manificat has been

magnificent, as Klaebo embarks on

this bid for a hat-trick of golds,

all before his 22nd birthday. They

are in the driving seat here. What

can the best of the rest do to close

it down on this last circuit? Surely

this is Norway's and Klaebo's

Toulouse?

It seems almost impossible

to envisage circumstances that would

stop Batman from winning. They will

try anything. This has been so

impressive from Sweden. We maybe