Day 5, Part 1 - 6.45am to 9.30am Winter Olympics

Good morning. I hope you are in go mode at a time, we are here. I'm

going to start with a quote from Chemmy Alcott. "Imagine driving

along a motorway at 70mph and sticking your head out of the

window. Then add to that weaving past the cars in front and

occasionally jumping over a few. It's that fast, that exhilarating

and you need that much focus." She is describing what it is like to

compete in the women's downhill, and that is the event we are focusing on

this morning. Because in Sochi, we are going to be crowning the Queen

of speed today. Favourite to ascend the throne is

once again Maria Hoefl Reisch. The German took the Super Combined title

on Monday and alpine skiing history beckons if she can turn on the

burners today. Chemmy Alcott's overcome injury and

raised thousands of pounds herself to fund a fourth Olympic campaign.

She deserves another shot at this and would love to crack the top ten

in the ultimate speed event on skis. It's hurry, hurry, hurry as well in

the Ice Cube, where Great Britain's curlers tackle the most dominant

women's team so far, the Canadians. This is a big moment for Eve and co.

All of Russia is poised to watch every move of the pairs event. Can

they win back the title their skaters owned for decades tonight?

We'll talk it over with Robin Cousins.

And there's a 15-year-old Swiss whizz kid right in the thick of

things today as her team takes on the Finns on a key day in women's

ice hockey. Well, it does feel a bit like a

spring day here in Sochi, temperatures are certainly rising.

It is a beautiful day, those birdsong in the air. Snowboarders

were getting a little hot under the collar about the warm temperatures

compromising the state of the halfpipe. Going up Rosa Khutor, we

are hearing that the organisers have been using some of the snow they

have stockpiled since last year in giant refrigerating since last year.

They are using it to patch up the pistes in the resorts around

Krasnaya Polyana in the mountains. Let's hope the conditions are

race-worthy of the blue riband event in women's alpine skiing - their

downhill. This is where it's happening, at the Rhosa Khutor, The

women have already raced on the downhill course as part of the

combined event on Monday, but that was from a lower start.

So it's the full-length version they'll tackle today. And in the

absence of the injured American Lindsey Vonn, the gold medallist in

Vancouver, we're going to have new champion today. That's about the

only certainty. So how are conditions up on the mountain this

morning? Graham Bell was on a very early chairlift for course

inspection. This is the forest drop. This is the

toughest part of the women's downhill. The gradient is about 38

degrees. Just to stand on the slope, you have to stand with your legs

well apart and the weight on your outside ski. It is the same way you

are racing. You come through Deauville's spine cover stand apart

and have the dive forward on this really steep slope and put the

weight on that right ski as you go down the three terms. From here on,

it is mostly guiding on the lower part of the course and it is

possible to make a time. Hoefl-Riesch made a big mistake in

the combined downhill but made a time lower down. This part of the

course should suit skiers like Anna Fenninger, Lara Gut. Let's have a

look at it. Chemmy Alcott just going through her

mental visualisation before the start. The snow conditions are

absolutely perfect. It has been very warm over the last couple of days

but a clear night last night has frozen it, absolutely bullet-proof

hard. It will mean the course is lightning fast and it should be a

real test. HAZEL IRVINE: Emma and Graham join

us this morning. You have seen the course, what sort of race are these

conditions going to allow for us today? Well, it froze overnight, the

skies cleared up and the thermal blanket of climates disappeared.

--clouds. The piste is hard, whether it will stay hard is not sure, the

sun is very strong. We are not the most southern of Winter Olympics, I

think that was Californian or Nagano in Japan, but Emma, what is the son

going to do to the piste? It is absolutely baking here, boiling

hot, very much spring conditions. If you look behind us, the bottom third

of the course is directly in the sun, so it was soft up. -- soft

about private elite --. Adult. -- it will soften up. Yes, I would like to

start at number one this. Hoefl-Riesch is the favourite for

this, she could make history as an alpine skiing. Remind everybody what

at stake for her? Maria Hoefl-Riesch, she will equal the

record of four gold medals in Winter Olympics if she wins this. She is

starting at 20. If the core softens up, which are think it will, we are

one -- going to be looking at early numbers. Julia Mancuso is going 12.

I think 20 is a bit late to start. Mancuso has a really good chance,

she is coming in with so much confidence and she had a storming

combined downhill, so she is a favourite but number one, Sutter,

normally it is not good to be number one but conditions today, it is a

good one. OK, enjoy it, we will speak to you both later on. I should

tell everybody that Chemmy Alcott of Great Britain is skiing number 35,

so that is quite late in a field of 42. She is 31. These are her fourth

and most likely final Olympics. She produced her best in Turin, 11th in

the downhill and after coming back from another major injury, another

leg break, she would love to crack the top ten this time.

This is the scar where the kneecap was pulled out and then you can see

all of the scholars here, there are a few here from surgeries -- the

scars. I have a metal nail running from the kneecap to down here. If

you touch it, you can feel it is not a real bone. Do you set scanners

off? Yes. Can I just say I haven't shaved my legs because I have been

working hard at skiing. How many bones is it you have

broken? This is my least favourite question because I want to promote

the sport skiing, but I have never broken ?45. How much does it mean to

be here when up to a month ago, it looked like you wouldn't make it.

Speaking I think because it is my fourth Games, people will think I'm

not excited. That I'm so excited. Five months before they announced

Team GB, I was in hospital having surgery and I was a wreck before

they announced my name and it was just a fantastic feeling.

It is a very late different look women's downhill this year, no

Lindsey Vonn. Who is the favourite? It is tragic that Vonn is not here,

because whoever wins it will say they wanted when she did not

compete, because she is the star of women's skiing. Skis for the gold

medal, she has got it. She has driven us all to be harder and

faster and go out and break personal boundaries. And I think because

there are so many people that are bubbling under the surface, thinking

it could be the Olympics. You have a feel of the mountain, what do you

think about the course? I'm really excited. I was the first girl in the

start gate today who hadn't skied the course. They have had warm up

events over the years and I have been injured every time, and that

was refreshing. I felt really young again. I remember going to Salt Lake

City in my first Olympics and I was thinking, how'd you do this? And now

I have the experience. So talk me through your brain in the start gate

before the women's downhill? Do you want to go there? I don't think you

will ever understand it. Try me. Chemmy Alcott pushes out at the

start. It is knowing how to put yourself in the best environment to

cut your limit. The last nine months, it is getting to start gate.

It is a challenge, another thing I'm putting myself through. So the best

way of judging it is not by position but by what you say? You will be

able to tell by how I hold my body on the finish.

I will be looking out for that. She really is one of the most positive,

life affirming people you could wish to meet and she has been a fantastic

ski race of the Great Britain. Graham, four top 14s, six top 20 is

at the Olympic Games. How much credited does she deserve? If you

care about medals for mental toughness, she would have won so

many binder -- if you gave out. She has come back from injury on so many

occasions and she always used to ski best on courses that were tougher.

She is a real racer's racer and that is why she is so well liked on the

tour. A fantastic, positive attitude as well, and it is great to have her

here at the Olympic Games and she thoroughly deserves her spot in the

start gate. She certainly does. We saw her put down a good run in the

super combined, top 16 in the downhill section. We wonder what is

possible for her and everyone else as we see the course run. It is time

for the women's downhill. Who is going to join the likes of the

previous winners? Emma Carrick-Anderson and Matt Chilton,

let's find out. MATT CHILTON: Thank you, it is a

beautiful day in the Russian mountains, barely a

MATT CHILTON: Thank you, it is a beautiful day in the Russian breath

of wind. We will look at the vital statistics of this women's downhill

course. There are lots of chances for the Swiss today, with

Kaufmann-Abderhalden... These other scenes at the top, with final

preparations are underway. Very nervous moments for the races. Yes,

absolutely, and it is going to be an interesting race. We have incredibly

warm temperatures at the bottom. I have been out in the sun and it is

eight, nine, 10 degrees already, so the bottom section of the courses

really directly in the sunlight, so taking hit. We have just been

discussing the best number to have today and this woman in the start

gate next we reckon has the best number. Yes, racer no-one, Fabienne

Suter. -- number one. The moment has arrived for the fastest women onto

skis to ride this Russian roller-coaster in their quest for

the ultimate prize in alpine skiing. It is time for the 2014

Olympic women's downhill. In a suit or get the Fabienne Suter.

Number one could be a good number today. She gets into the groove of

this wrath and tough downhill course. -- wrath and tough. It is

very shiny out of the start gate. That was a good quick change. She

was not dropped low in this section. -- she must not drop low. Getting

bounced around. Pretty firm underfoot. It is pretty bone shaking

at the top of the course. She has had a pretty solid season so far.

She seems to have peaked with her form right in time. A big jump off

that tunnel jumper. Carrying good speed. She is driving those hands

forward. It is very bumpy. It is Rowley and bumpy. This is the

section we fear makes often. You can see the snow spraying up a little

bit. This last section is where the sun is beating down. The crowd

responding as she races down the final page. She set the pace. It is

1:41.94. That is the target. Not a bad run. Slightly slower than the

fastest training run. That stand her in good stead. Great slow motion.

See how steep it is. The angles they have to get. Some fantastic names on

this course. Sounds evil. Jacqueline Wiles, the first of the Americans.

She is a youngster. She is a rookie. You can hear her growling on the

effects mikes. She is very late in this section. Carrying speed. You

must be clean. It is such a long traverse and it falls away massively

to the left. The left leg is absolutely screaming by the end of

it. Too many mistakes. Plenty of prerace nerves -- prerace nerves.

Not expected to feature among the medals. Excellent experience. The

girls would definitely have been looking for the warmer weather,

warmer snow skis. It is tricky. This bottom section will soft and up.

Jacqueline Wiles in her first ever Olympic race, skied well. She will

not be challenging for the medals. Fabienne Suter leads the way for

Switzerland. The Swiss have plenty of hot razors on the start list

today. They have got Lara Gut and Dominik gazing. -- Dominique Gisin.

Good crowd today soaking up the sunshine. This is Vicki Regensburg,

the first of the Germans. She won an Olympic gold in Vancouver four years

ago as giant slalom champion. Not a great start. She has an unusual

style. She stands quite told and has a high arm carriage. That very top

gate, where she sort of slipped, I think the ice called her. It is

super slick up there. It almost looks like they have just thrown

lots of water on that first gate. She should enjoy the technical

section. Carrying great speed. The mistake that she made has caught up

with her. Still in touch. The deficit is now up to have a second.

It maybe too much for her to make up. She will come into her own next

week for the super-g and the giant slalom.

Vicky Regensburg comes through. The first of the Germans. Good enough

for second at the moment. Beautiful slow motion. Her hands are

a bit close. She needs to get them in front. It is all about keeping

aerodynamic in the gliding sections of the downhill. The first and only

French racer in the competition today.

Marie Marshall RVA is France's only competitor here today. -- Marie

Marchand-Arvier. Completely helpless as she tried to control the mistake

of the job. Then she had to brace herself as she hid the safety

netting. The net is designed to bounce the skiers back onto her

slope. She is moving gingerly. I am happy to see she is moving very

slightly as we await the arrival of the medics. Upper body twisted. That

was a big mistake. There was nothing she could do. It looked like she was

going to recover. At the last minute she caught the edge. A concerned

look on the face of the French coach. She felt pretty hard on her

back. They do wear back protection but hopefully it is not a back

injury. If she stands up from that, it shows how amazingly athletic

these racers are. To be a good ski racers, you have to do it all, you

have to be able to recover from these positions going at 70 mph. She

almost crushes the skis. I think she catches the edge. There was nothing

she could do. She is staring at the safety netting. That is a horrible

moment for her. She hits her head as well. Shocking scenes for everybody.

I am absolutely delighted to say, and are very relieved to say, that

Marie Marchand-Arvier has somehow bounced back of the safety netting,

has picked herself up and hopefully will be OK. And remarkably she is

back on her skis. What a recovery. They build them tough in the

Chamonix valley, where she is from. There is a great cheer and flags

flying down here. The spectators so happy to see standing on her feet.

Difficult for this lady at the start gate. A hugely confident racer with

massive experience. It is a little unnerving when you know that

somebody in front of you has taken a big crash. Words of instruction from

the American coach. Fabienne Suter is still the leader. A very nervous

atmosphere at the bottom of the hill now after that crashed to Marie

Marchand-Arvier. This is the slow model for Fabienne Suter. Next to go

is Nicole Hosp. It has frozen overnight. It won frozen overnight.

The afternoon. The top part of the course is running a little faster

than it has been in training. The bottom section will be slower. That

is the scene at the top. Everybody is kind of warm and comfortable up

there. They still need to seek a log fire in a mountain restaurant. It is

very alpine, this part of the Western Caucasus. The mountains are

absolutely stunning. Some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. We

may get a view of some of the girls with their boots in the snow. It is

important to keep the boots at the right temperature. Nicole Hosp.

These silver medallist from the super combined gets the start in the

downhill following that excellent performance in the super combined.

Solid times in training. She was fastest in training number four. She

knows there has been an accident in front. She has been asked to delay.

She has to put that out of her mind and attack this Olympic downhill

course. She has got work to do. Nicole Hosp a little bit ragged on

the steep section, bouncing sideways. Not quite as committed as

she could be. She is skiing a good line. She is making by little bit of

time. Good work so far for a Nicole Hosp.

She likes gliding sections. See needs to stay low. This is where I

think today will come down to the skis. It would be interesting as she

comes up to the must next split. -- this next split. A tricky gate

coming up. Not bad. Long, fast, sweeping turns. Ride and glided

towards the finishing line. -- glide. Good enough for a second. She

is not celebrating or celebrating yet, Fabienne Suter. But she holds

on to gold at the moment. Not a bad run. She got twisted up at the top.

The back of the ski came out. That is not ideal.

Fiery competitor next. Quick changes. A huge flight. As soon as

they land, the inside edge of the left ski hat to crank into the snow

to make that turn. There's not time to react. That is not the ideal

line. They did talk about it many times. You do not need to be too

high on this part. You can let it drop down. If you are high, it is

slow. The chance Merkel has already gone for Marusa Ferk. Slovenian's

with good chances today, especially with Tina Maze, who starts at 21.

Then the solitary jump, massive flight, twice as well as we saw from

Nicole Hosp. I don't think Marusa Ferk has been fully in control since

she left the start gate. She is 1.3 seconds off the pace, into fourth

position. Very disappointing bottom section, she will be furious. She

has skied discourse for times and she knows the mistake over the last

jump will have cost her. She was far too low and then took a massive

flight. Fabienne Suter leads, Nicole Hosp is second, Rebensburg is third

for the moment. Laurenne Ross is ready to go at the top of the

course. Pushes out of the start, makes the first left footed term.

Smooth at the top. Ross is also a very talented musician, so when

she's not spending time on skis and training, playing various

instruments. We have had a few nasty crashes through Devil's Spine. This

is good. Laurenne Ross had that horrendous crash in the World Cup

downhill a couple of seasons ago which caused her to have 40 stitches

in her forehead. She had a collision between the back of the top of her

helmet and the top of her goggles. Living dangerously, good recovery!

There might be a greater gap at the next intermediate following that

mistake. It is not bad, though, very much in touch. And doesn't it just

show what huge mental strength these athletes have, to be able to come

back from crashes like that, put it behind them and put pedal to the

metal. Flying down the last section where it is bubbly and soft. Took

the solitary jump well. The chance to get in among the top three here.

Laurenne Ross is in bronze for the moment. Some Suter holding goal,

Nicole Hosp is in silver-medal position and now Laurenne Ross is in

bronze-medal position. What a beautiful slow motion. She is happy

with that run, delighted. Next to go, the second Swiss racer to tackle

the Olympic downhill, Dominique Gisin, from ankle Burke, who has had

solid results all season. Seventh in Valdez area, eighth in Cortina in

the most recent World Cup race -- second in Val d'Isere. She is just

back. Her team-mate Suter will have given her a great support, we should

hope, so she will know exactly how the courses running. A little bit

late in the line, it may have cost her another tent. She has the green

light, good work in the middle part of the course from Dominique Gisin,

gliding nicely. Adjusting her eyesight as she changes and moves

from shade to sunshine, and it is getting better. Two tenths in

friend. Watch those legs pumping as she goes up and over the bumps.

Getting that heap inside the term. She takes it well. -- her hip inside

the term. Lots of noise from the Swiss fans as the cow bells ring.

They already had the lead in the shape of Fabienne Suter, can they

make it one, too. They can. Dominique Gisin is in gold. Suter

slips to second. Switzerland are one, two in the women's Olympic

downhill. This was her out of the start. The

important thing at the start is it the shins that go through that one

blast. A power through. The arms are low, aerodynamic, pumping her hands.

She is delighted. Next up, Daniela Merighetti, the

first of the Italians to go this morning. It has been a tough week

for Merighetti, she had a nasty crash of that last solitary jump on

the first run and she has had only one training run, so she will be

playing around still with the line and, hopefully, yes, she is, she is

up, say she is really putting her foot down. Great skiing. You must

take the speed through this section. A little twitch sideways. She had an

advantage but then a couple of mistakes. It didn't seem to affect

her speed. She is drifting up and down away from Gisin's time. Still

in the hunt for a place in amongst the medal positions. She did hurt

her knee on that first training run but it is not holding her back and

what a great run so far. A little bit upright of that jump. Merighetti

has thrown everything at the women's Olympic downhill course. She

drifted so wide of the racing line. She seems to be out of steam. It

might have cost her her chance. It has, she has gone into silver. She

made a mistake on a final pitch, and huge relief for Dominique Gisin.

Well, after the tough week she has had, she will be pretty happy with

that run. It was a shame, a couple of uncharacteristic errors at the

end. A little bit of a lack of focus, just getting tired, maybe the

soft snow throwing her. Dominique Gisin leads, Merighetti second,

Fabienne Suter, who was first down the hill, is third. The next race at

ago is Stacey Cook from California. -- the next racer to go. 11th in

Vancouver, she will be looking to build on that. That was a very gutsy

edge change. She has to make a good move here. Over the tales of her

skis, did well to recover on landing. A sign of the commitment to

the cause. And then she was almost horizontal. Yes, the outside ski was

flapping around, she did really well to control that. It is a good line

out of here but not as quick as it should be. The mistakes have caught

up with her, then to three quarters of a second, now exactly a second

off the pace. So the medal chances have already vanished. Clocking 99

point -- 99. Stacey Cook's run has been littered

with mistakes. In the end, she is the seventh fastest. The Americans

with plenty of chances to come. Julia Mancuso starts at number 12,

she was fastest in the super combined downhill. That was the big

error. It is difficult it folds away, you have to stretch the right

leg out and stand on that ski so early and a lot of the girls are

doing the turn on the inside ski. Hoefl-Riesch smiling, she will be a

ball of notes at the moment. Already an Olympic champion, this is the one

she really wants. Next ago, Fanchini. Both of the sisters racing

today, Nvidia is -- Nadia is racing later. A double edge check, not a

great start. She has to stay forward. She needs to throw herself

into the front. Three top five finishes in World Cup downhill races

this year. She has started nicely. Into the Bolshoy reverse, Highline,

needs to let it go. She has to focus in and out of the bumps, but those

mistakes have caught up with her. Her sister Nadia possibly has the

secret ingredient to do well today, coming later. She was the silver

medallist at the world championships last year. You know you will get

full attack from Nadia. Elena has made too many mistakes and looks a

little bit cautious. Had to put them sideways in that tricky turn before

the last jump. Dominique Gisin's leading time is

next to go, Julia Mancuso, already a medallist from Championships. All

eyes will be on Mancuso as she makes her preparation. She is about to

step forward in the start gate. Lara Gut is going through her

preparations, 18 is her start number, a big favourite. Mancuso is

already prepped and set to start. She set the fastest time in the

super combined downhill, she likes this course. She has proved she is

able to conquer this cause. It matters most today, it is downhill

Day. Mancuso charging at the top. Mancuso really knows how to turn it

on at this big event, she loves the big stage and if anyone can do it,

she well. Practice huge! What a landing, and what a start.

Horizontal, fully engaged with the Olympic downhill course. Silver

medallist four years ago behind Lindsey Vonn, she has come for the

gold in 2014. A beautiful top section, through the Bolshoy

Traverse, just lost a tenth, but it is great skiing. Low, dynamic and

aggressive. She was fantastic on this flat section the other day, can

she turn it on again today? A quarter of a second slower as she

approaches the bottom third of the course. Stepping a little wide,

seemed to be flapping slightly with her hands, looking for the ideal

tuck position. She is taking on an early line in the last two terms.

Has she been able to claw back the last time -- turns. Nearly a full

second down, too many errors. Mancuso possibly pushing too hard at

the top. She will be furious with that last section, she fell into the

hole. She let it slip away and then the jump, she hardly took off. These

top terms were sensational, look at the angle she gets, the casually

drops the hip cashback lookout she drops. Medal today, so Gisin of

Switzerland has gold. This is Kajsa Kling, she could be a surprise

package. She has had a surprise season where she has scored top ten

results in the giant slalom on the World Cup tour. She had a third and

fourth in training, she could be one to look at. Good top section, not a

huge flight, managed to stay low. She needs to stand on the right ski

and she does it. Kajsa Kling fighting her way through the icy

section. It is dark and dingy in places but she will burst back into

the bright Russian sunshine in a moment and will get better

visibility. It is probably too far away to get in amongst the medals.

She is more upright than she should be. She came into Bolshoy traverse

more tentative than she should be. She needs to be lower, the chest is

upright. The top three are separated by less than four tenths of a

second. Not much room in the medal places. It needs to be faultless

from top to bottom. Kajsa Kling sets up her skis for the final role and

glides towards the line. She is a long way behind in the end. No luck

today for the young Swede. More chances to come, her best

potentially in the Olympic super G. That long outside leg, she changes

over and gets the ski to bite. And she was close to beating out. The

boot clips nearly hit the snow. Dominique Gisin leads the way for

Switzerland. In the start gate, wearing number 14 for Austria, this

Cornelia Huetter. Austria's best chance of success comes with Anna

Fenninger. Putting those hands forward. A little compression.

Straight into the job. -- jump. She needs to push harder. This is the

important bit. Stay low. Bumpy through this section. Last time we

got a check on the time, nor .32. -- 0.32. Her chance has slipped away.

Not looking comfortable on this course at all. It may be just

softening up. The last of the gates for Cornelia Huetter of Austria. Her

first Olympic experience. No danger to the provision -- provisional

medallists. Switzerland, Italy, Switzerland, the

one, the one, two, three at the moment. Some of the fastest skiers

in the world yet to come. Julia Mancuso in conversation with

Dominique Gisin. Carolina Ruiz Castillo for Spain. She had her

first ever World Cup downhill after years of coming close last spring in

France. She finally won a World Cup race. She is coached by my fellow

Scot, Mark Tilson. A pretty good start. She is taking the course on.

She was late there. That will have cost her. May just cost her the

chance of getting near the leaders. Great top quarter. Then it started

to fall away for the Spanish skier. Very unforgiving, the Forest drop.

It is in the shade. She is out. She managed to slow herself right then

before she hit the nets. I hope she is OK. It is a tricky turn. She

didn't stand on the left ski. There was nothing she could do. If she had

stood on it from there, she would have been very slow. It has been

full of drama so far. The skiers that have fallen have stood up and

walked away. Dominique Gisin is fastest. Daniela Merighetti is in

silver position and Fabienne Suter in bronze.

We have got the fastest races in terms of form coming up next, as

they try to untangle Carolina Ruiz Castillo from that first line of

netting. They have three lines of netting. Just in case. Things really

hotting up now. We have got some exceptional races at the top. We

have Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden coming up next. Lara Gut. Elizabeth

gurgle. -- Elizabeth gurgle. Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden had a

terrific breakthrough season. She won in Valdez air just before

Christmas. Some salt being put down on the course.

Trying to keep the course firm. These delays will not help. The

longer the sunshine hits the course, the softer it will get. We are ready

to resume. Tina Weirather is not racing today.

We move on to Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden. The winner of

the World Cup downhill before Christmas. Her debut World Cup win.

On form. She went well in training. See is a very tall, powerful

athlete. I said without the other day and she above May. -- I sat with

her. Nice and high. Diving down. She has to be quick.

Going well so far. A good racing line. Well within the blue racing

corridor. She drifted too far. Another one comes to a stop

prematurely. No finish today for Marianne Kaufmann-Abderhalden. Goss,

they have really got was sitting on the edge of our seats today. She

went inside and she does so well to stand up from that. Athleticism at

its best. Abbot of slopestyle action. Dominique Gisin happy to see

there was no contact. She stays in gold medal position. I think she is

recovering there. That is such a shock. You come through there with

such speed. For that to happen, the pulse will be racing. The queue

continues to form. Tina Maze looking composed at the top. All eyes will

be on Lara Gut, the pin-up girl of Swiss sport. Ready to risk the

Olympic downhill. Anna Fenninger, the best of the Austrians today,

potentially. She runs at 22. Switzerland with gold and bronze

abysmally. -- provisionally. Can their golden girl turn things

around. -- you Mac --? Lara Gut for Switzerland. Big push. Couple of

skates. First turn approaches rapidly. She has had a cracking

season. She has had World Cup went in downhill. She has had three wins

in super-g and one in giant slalom. Can she make it happen today?

Downhill day in Sochi. Nice landing. Smooth and effortless so far. In

touch. 17 hundredths of a second off the pace of team-mate Dominique

Gisin. With her team-mates in first and third, it will have spurred her

on even more. It may be that you are in the team, but on the course you

are on your own. She has got the green light. She is pushing hard.

She does not want to be forth. She wants to be first. Seven hundredths

ahead at the last intermediate. Now she is nine hundredths behind. She

keeps herself in the hunt. Pushing hard. Travelling beautifully across

the snow in the drive. She switches on the green light again. 12

hundredths of a second in front. It has been effortless, it has been

faultless, it has been fast for a Lara Gut so far. Easy over her skis.

Fast movement. Note she can set up and write and glide for the line.

Lara Gut is second for Switzerland! Silver medal position. Dominique

Gisin clings onto gold. Switzerland first, second and fourth. Dominique

Gisin has gold. Lara Gut has skied into silver medal position. Holding

her head. She skied that so well. It is difficult to see where she lost

it. Maybe just the last turn. Maybe she wanted to make contact with the

snow a little bit earlier. That was close. Gold medal position for

Dominique Gisin. Lara Gut in silver. She will throw everything at this

hill. Double world champion in 2011. She won the downhill and the

super-g. She gave that control gave a massive cloud. Her face said it

all in the start gate. She means business. But sometimes she pushes

too hard. Hitting those two gates was not the ideal line. Doing that

at 70 mph is not good. She had a good Olympics last time around.

Taking the bronze medal in this, the downhill, and in the giant slalom.

Her mother was an Olympic bronze medallist in 1964 in Innsbruck and

four years before that. She comes from a great racing pedigree. This

is still pretty solid. With just over a quarter of a second between

gold, silver and bronze, she may be too far away to get amongst them.

The next split will tell us. Just under half a second down. She is

clawing the time back. Not bad. A little bit low in the line. She

needs to be soft. Soft skiing. The Austrians already have the men's

Olympic downhill champion with Matthias Mayer taking the gold on

Sunday. She has missed her chance. She is ten. -- 10th. All eyes as far

as Austria is concerned will be fixed on Anna Fenninger. Different

position from the girls before. Standing well on the outside ski.

Chemmy Alcott racing today. She will start with baby number 35. There is

the leader. The two Swiss racer 's embrace. They are in gold and silver

medal positions at the moment. Dominique Gisin, a nervous wait for

her. She will be watching the big screen carefully. It is the turn of

the Olympics super combined champion, Maria Hoefl-Riesch from

Germany. This is the one she really wants. She won the slalom and super

combined last time. She has already won the Sochi super combined in

2014. See is disappointed that the course has slowed down. She likes

it's fast. -- she likes it fast. She was a second behind in the combined

downhill. She did all the good work in the slalom. She has to let it

run. She is low and late. She is letting it slip away. That may have

cost her a medal. Have a second down. Her deficit has doubled from

0.24 to 0.50. It may be too much to ask. She will be mad with herself.

She knows she has made those mistakes. This is the party has to

keep the skis flat, let them swim on the snow. Just glide on the bass

section. The time is slipping away. She has found a couple of tenths of

a second between split point number three and intermediate number four.

The time is having right direction. Off the final jump. Then she can see

the finishing line. The black and strikes of the German sitcom into

view at the foot of the Olympic downhill course. The time to beat,

one minute, is close. It is ninth. relief for Dominique Gisin, she's

starting to believe now. Still to come, Tina gaz and Fenninger. --

Tina maze. Those little mistakes will start to come back and haunt

her. Gisin in gold at the moment, then Suter and Merighetti. Tina Maze

to come, she is away for Slovenia. She has changed her coach after a

mediocre start of the season and when she switched coaches,

immediately saw success, with victory in the Cortina. Mays did so

well in the downhill combined -- Tina Maze. She is really going to

want to make the podium today. It is great skiing, it is smooth. And she

is throwing caution to the win. The line is perfect. So far, so good.

And Maze is faster by nine hundredths of a second, green lights

all the way so far for the Slovenia. I am loving the language

never delete body language from Maze. She is making a great move,

hardly add up the tuck. And it shows in the time. -- head of the tuck.

Aiming to become the most successful Slovenian Olympian of all time. She

needs to be ahead at the next split and she is getting quicker and

quicker. I have goose pimples watching this, it is incredible

skiing. Not a bad line, a small mistake as maybe cost her one tenth.

The flight not as big as she could have made it. Trainer Mays, onto the

final pitch -- Tina Maze, onto the final pitch, hoping to break Swiss

hearts. Skiing for the gold medal. She is dead level with Gisin!

Equal. 1:41.57. If it stays like that, they will have to find an

extra gold medal. Belied for the Slovenian supporters. Tina Maze and

Dominique Gisin share gold-medal position -- relief for. Merighetti

off the podium. She needed that result, such a brilliant run. Just a

small mistake on the tricky last turn before solitary jump, but what

a cracker. Anna Fenninger is ready to go at the top. Celebrations going

on at the foot of the cause but Fenninger is fast, she is focused --

the course. The Austrians are off to a good start, having the men's

downhill Olympic title. We'll Fenninger have the women's? I like

to watch her ski. She will commit to the outside ski. A good start. She

has all of the Austrian resources behind her... She has ground to a

halt and it is over. She will go no further. And Gisin smiles from

behind her skis. She will be sharing the limelight shortly with Tina

Maze, who is not yet off her knees. Anna Fenninger's race ends

prematurely. Disappointment. So in all of the drama that has been

unfolding, let's remind you. Dominique Gisin set the early pace,

held it until Tina Maze came through with exactly the same time,

1:42.57. Those two are sharing the gold medal at this stage. And Lana

Gude is in cons -- bronze-medal position. Someone. -- for

Switzerland. Fenninger just failing to stand on that left a ski. It is

so difficult in that steep section. You don't see on TV how difficult

that parties. Smiles all round for Maze and Gisin. That change of coach

and a return to form timed perfectly for Tina Maze. I just had a funny

feeling about Maze today. Just had a feeling. Fenninger finding her way

down, a lonely ski down for Anna Fenninger. Mancuso there to

congratulate Tina Maze. Let's check on the standings. You cannot split

them, they are tied for the gold. Just to keep you up-to-date with

what is happening, we have British interest in the women's downhill

today, Chemmy Alcott will be starting at number 35.

She was just saying there, basically, that it is an incredible

feeling, what a great race, she said it was amazing. You speak Swiss

German as well? Yes. Great scenes, as Maze bent down to embrace the

Russian snow. She is on course to become the first-ever Olympic

downhill gold medallist for Slovenia. And the tears are already

flowing for Dominique Gisin. It is a long wait for the girls at the

finish, but two great runs, it is going to be difficult to beat. It is

nice to be able to listen into their post race thoughts. Others with

prerace thoughts. This is Verena Stuffer. Ready to go, she has had

some pretty good results this season but this would be a big surprise, if

she was too upset the standings here. She will have heard about

Maze's amazing run and it will give her confidence. Everybody knew the

conditions would slow down and soften up at the bottom. This is a

promising start. The difference between the top three is one tenth

of a second, which I think is exactly as it was for the men's

downhill. Very tight at the top here at the men's and women's Olympic

downhill. A lot of a lot of cutting out the final turn.

She is a bit more open than she could be. In this flat section, you

have got to stay low, hands near the face, aerodynamic. Still good for

Verena Stuffer, she could get in the top ten places here. She has skied

solidly. Through the section, smoothly, the middle line. Then to

the spectacular conclusion of this course, coming into the stadium. The

slalom in the middle, the men's downhill to the left. And she has

just missed the top ten, she is 11. A lot of great scenes there, a lot

of camaraderie between the races. At the end of the day, you are in it

for yourself, but when you are off the hill, it is a nice atmosphere.

Back to the start, still plenty of racers to come and number 24 is Mo

Winkle of Norway, who had a good super combined, finishing sixth

overall -- Ragnhild Mowinckel. She is one of the rising Starts within

the Norwegian team. -- rising stars. Taking good speed into this

section. Really diving down the hill. But she is late, and a little

bit more time will have stepped away. A couple of tenths lost and

now it is three quarters of a second, it is a big difference.

Getting worst for my Winkle. -- Mowinckel. Trouble for Mowinckel she

drifts way off into the soft snow and has to start all over again. So

Maze's name showing against number one but it should be with Gisin,

because we have a tie for first. Mowinckel in 19th. We just see her

landing of the tunnel jump -- off the tunnel jump. It is a very

straight section after that. Mixed emotions. Huge disappointment for

many, delight for many, the light of the sun. The racing continues with

the Hungarian Edit Miklos, on her way at the top of the course. Yes,

mixed emotions, it is the Olympic Games, it doesn't get bigger than

that and there is so much emotion, so much sweat that has gone into the

four years prior to this event and if it goes wrong, it is just

devastating. If it goes well, there is not a better feeling. Stivoting,

not very controlled as she dives into that section. She had a good

downhill leg on the super combined, 16th overall. Her hand in the snow

as she comes into Bolshoy Traverse. Not bad at all. She needs to stay

low, strong on the left ski, hands up in front of her face. Comes into

the flat section, in and out of the shade and son. Realistically, top-10

result would be something to celebrate for Edit Miklos. It is not

much of a difference between first and 10th, 1.17 seconds, so there is

a chance for them to alter the top ten. Medal may be out of the

question. Miklos has done well, exceptionally well. The hon Mary and

has skied into sixth position and as far as she is concerned, that is as

good as a gold. What a great run. She is delighted with that. This was

the stivoting. She got thrown around, she has a hand in the snow,

but she really went through it and let the skis run. That will give

encouragement to the later starters, including number 35, Great

Britain's Chemmy Alcott. What a run from Miklos. Sturgis dead the next

to go -- Sejersted the next to go the Norway, world junior champion in

2011. Some solid results this season, including a fifth place in

Val d'Isere. Starting late today. We have seen it is possible for some of

the lower starters to make a difference, let's see if Sejersted

can. She is going beautifully, a tenth of a second in front. A

cracking start. What an aggressive side. The changes on those first few

gates were so quick, going 60 mph. And she is up again. This is one of

the best runs we have ever seen from this young woman. 800s -- eight

hundredths behind. She could get in amongst the medals. The top three

are separated by exactly one tenth of a second. The course is still

running quickly as Sejersted stands tall and loses a fraction of her

time. The gold-medal position is 1:41.57. She is sixth. Sejersted,

once again, putting down a run to remember. Another cracking run. The

later starters having an impact on the overall running here. See this

hill, I it just pulls you down to the left. It is so steep. Ilka

Stuhec is next to go for Slovenia. Just a little bit of the ideal run.

It just goes to show, the last two girls skiing into sixth position.

This course is holding up brilliantly. A little mistake at the

top has cost her. She will be one second behind at the next split, I

would imagine. We saw Marcus Maher coming down with his bucket of salt.

It may have made a difference and helped the course to stay firm for

the later starters. We have certainly seen some shock results.

They are certainly using the salt on the bottom section. It is holding up

much better than we thought it would do. The Slovenian supporters already

celebrating Tina Maze's provisional gold medal position, sharing it with

Dominique Gisin. And Ilka Stuhec is ten. Top ten again.

Numbers 25, 26 and 27 all making the top ten. This next Canadian racer, a

lovely story. Injured itself in 2009. Was kicked off the team. It

spurred her run to do better things. Her goal was to make it to Sochi.

And here she is. Her name is Larisa Yurkiw. She comes from a place in

Winnipeg were racers are trained and bread. Injuries have hampered

progress. Just of the ideal line. If you are off that line and you go

into the uphill section, you cannot claw it back. That is a real shame.

I would love to have seen her do something special. There is nothing

better than somebody who funds their own programme and works so hard. We

have Nadia Fanchini starting at number 30. She is an exciting, at

times explosive racer. She could do some damage. She did do some damage

to the top positions or she could do some damage to herself. She quite

often crashes, Nadia Fanchini. She will give it everything today,

starting at number 30. Chemmy Alcott starts at number 35. There are the

medallists the way things stand at the moment. Two gold medallists and

a bronze medallist as the gold medallists embrace. Tina Maze with

exactly the same time as Dominique Gisin. This is Klara Krizova of the

Czech Republic. Starting late in the day at number 29. That was not the

ideal start. She pumped the hands to get out of the start gate, looked

confident and let the outside ski drift away. I don't think she will

be fast into the first split. Not too bad. Quick changes here. This is

the important gate. A little bit along on the AIDS. Very quickly gets

down into the aerodynamic tog. Has to get the legs pumping stopped --.

So important to get the line right on the final section. A little bit

open at the end. A few little bombs forming there but they are not

really playing havoc. The last couple of gates Klara Stover --

Klara Krizova over. 20th position. Nadia Fanchini, the unpredictable

Italian, will be next. There is one of our leaders on the phone. I

wonder if she is speaking to her mum. It looks like a mum face!

Lovely scenes. Great to see. So much effort has gone into it. She can

hardly talk. , lovely. It is what every athlete dreams of. Next is

Nadia Fanchini of Italy. What can she do today? She has a bit of a

history in the big races. Silver in the world championship downhill in

2013. She took bronze in the world championship. You know that she will

throw everything at this hill. This is a good-looking start. A 10th of a

second behind. We are on the edge of our seats. These are great turns.

She has got to stay low. A great top section. Is looking good Fernandinho

French Uni. Not looking so good now. She lost some speed in the forest.

It is not fast enough to trouble the medallists at this stage. May be the

skis not running as quick as she would like. Downhill is all about

the skills and the gliding part. -- skis. Nadia Fanchini is unable to

make an impact. They really are tightly bunched, and they? What a

tight race today. It was the same for the men. Lara Gut struggling to

force a smile in the bronze medal position. The gold shade between

Tina Maze and Dominique Gisin. What a result Edit Miklos. Great skiing

today. Chemmy Alcott's turn is approaching fast. 35 is her start

number. We have a couple of Russians to go. Then Alexandra Coletti from

Monaco and Zara Hector from Sweden. Chemmy Alcott likes the course. She

has done four runs on it. She has got faster release time. Now she is

ready to go into the Olympic Games, put the injuries behind her and put

her foot down. Wonderful scenes between the gold medallists. Tina

Maze with her mum. What a time to appoint a new coach. Tears of joy

for Dominique Gisin. Part of a ski racing family. Her brother, Mark, is

one of the Swiss team members in slalom. Her sister racers slalom for

the Swiss team as well. A nervous wait at the top for Maria the Dara

of, next to go for Russia. -- Maria Bedareva. They know that some of the

later starters have made an impact, with some of them breaking the top

ten. They will hope for something similar from Maria Bedareva. The

first of the two Russians on her way. What a great feeling it is, not

that I would know, unfortunately, a great feeling for these athletes to

ski on home soil. The crowd going crazy. It is such a joy to race in

front of your home crowd. Arms flailing, trying to keep the snow

contact. The anticipation mounting at the bottom of the course. Elena

Yakovishina, who goes next, maybe the better of the two. She is

getting thrown around, unfortunately. Losing the grip on

the outside ski. Not looking that comfortable. She has got to push

hard. She will enjoy the final section. She is in the gliding

section. It is important to get a good line here. We have seen a few

of them lose time on this glide. She is drifting further from the target

time. Comes into the final section. She nearly got an edge. Did well to

stay on her feet. No speed at all but the crowd are going wild and

cheering on as he reaches the finish. The Russian supporters

rising at the foot of the hill as Maria Bedareva comes over the last

roller and finishes the Olympic downhill. 3.72 seconds slower than

the joint leaders, Tina Maze and Dominique Gisin. Happy to have raced

and happy to have made it down safely. She really opened up over

this job. -- jump. The second Russian is Elena Yakovishina. She

raced in the super combined and went OK in the downhill stage. Let's see

how she does here. The first split, 1:12.03. She is 2.29 seconds down.

Not seeing the whole of the run of the later starters. They are

shortening the starter intervals now. She looks a little bit

tentative. Again the crowd starts to go mad. A good crowd out today for

this Wednesday Olympic downhill. Beautiful conditions. What a gate of

the ad watching ski racing in the mountains. Elena Yakovishina is 26.

Slightly better than her compatriot. I think it will be interesting in a

few years, with this fabulous resort the Russians have now, I think they

could produce some really top ski racers. Next to go will be Alexandra

Coletti from Monaco, then Sara Hector from Sweden and 35 will

follow. That is Chemmy Alcott. From Monaco, Alexandra Coletti. She has

been racing for quite a while. One of the oldest racers on the tour. We

will see her out of the start and we will find her further down the hill.

From that clip that we saw there, you see how quickly they pick up

speed. The start gate, you look like you are just falling off a

precipice. Not a bad first section. Pushing hard. She is in trouble. She

slides out of contention. She has lost her ski. She jams into the

safety net. I don't think she has come away unscathed. I think this

may be trouble for Alexandra Coletti. I can hear some piercing

screams. I think she may have hurt herself. That is nasty. You can see

how steep it is to the left. She literally went falling off to the

left very sharply and into the nets. That does not sound good. Oh,

goodness me. The medics are there and they are tending to Alexandra

Coletti. Clearly in distress. That is a happier scene from Tina

Maze. Bearing in mind the position of Coletti's fall, I don't know if

the helicopter will be required to evacuate her from there. We will try

and get an update from the scene of the crash. Meanwhile, there is a

nervous wait for Sara Hector, who starts next and for Chemmy Alcott,

who is behind her in the queue. I think we just heard five minutes.

Which is very, very difficult for the athletes now, because they know

it has been a bad crash. They have mentally rehearsed these sorts of

situations many times but they have to back off now, they have to relax

and go to almost peaceful place that every athlete has when they go to --

where they go to win a situation like this arises, you just try to

relax. So we have a hold while Alexandra Colletti is evacuated. It

looks like they will use the sledge to take her off the hill.

We will go back to Hazel. HAZEL IRVINE: You never, ever like

to see that in ski racing and ten years on Ski Sunday with Matt and

the boys, it was always a horrible experience watching people being

evacuated from the mountains. We will go back, obviously, to see

Chemmy Alcott's run shortly, but we will be talking very soon about the

pairs figure skating event, and that will be taking place later this

evening. The Russians, all 130 million of them, bonkers about this,

they love this event, and have good reason to do so, because they have

an absolute stellar history in it. Let's show you why in the company of

one of their greatest legends of the sport.

That was a performance of genuine quality. Certainly without doubt the

best programme we have seen in the championship. Superb performance

from the Russians. A standing ovation and rightly so. The title is

going to Russia. That was brilliant, in the true style of

Soviet pairs skating. I think we will be the best in figure skating.

It is a tradition. Interpretation was brilliant, in perfect unison. It

is not like sport, it is like a style of life. They have won the

gold medal in the pairs skating championship.

We have a very good school not only for skaters but for coaches. We have

a school from Saint Petersburg, Moscow, every city has a different

school for skating. All the world loves a great champion, and this

crowd is giving a champion's reception to Irina Rodnina. I

remember getting the gold medals. Ten times world champions, 11 times

European champions and now Irina Rodnina is a triple Olympic gold

medallist. That was very well done. The crowd in the building are giving

them a standing ovation and well they deserve it. A very neat

combination, look how the timing is so perfect. When I was young, I

listened on the radio station. Then we would go on the rink and enjoy

figure skating. Everything was beautifully together. They are in a

class of their own for me. And it won't come much better than that. In

Turin, when we had three gold medals, I don't remember another

country that had three gold medals in figure skating. Quite delightful,

a superb performance. SUE BARKER: They have dominated

this, from 1964 through two 2006, winning gold medals in the pairs and

it looks destined to come back to Russia again. I think we will be the

best in pairs skating, we have all of this tradition.

Yes, I spoke to Irina Rodnina a few months ago in Moscow about the pairs

competition and, of course, she then went on to light the Olympic

Cauldron herself. So there it is burning brightly behind us. But we

are going back to the women's downhill. We will be discussing more

about the figure skating, Robin Cousins is on his way to discuss

that, but we can go back to events there. Matt, what is the latest?

The latest is that Alexandra Colletti has been evacuated from the

course via the sledge, the helicopter wasn't required. We will

try to bring you an update at some point, probably via the website, as

to her condition. I think we are just a few seconds away from the

restart of the race. Next to go will be Sara Hector from Sweden, number

34. She will be followed by Chemmy Alcott. I wonder if the break might

have helped the course. I have seen workers come down, I have seen some

more salt being spread onto the top part of the surface to firm it up a

bit. These are the scenes at the foot of the course. The gold medal

has been shared so far. Those are the scenes further up, with

Alexandra Colletti from Monaco being stretchered off. It could be that

the helicopter will pick her up. In fact, I can hear the chopper

arriving to complete the evacuation, so obviously the fall

didn't happen in a place where the helicopter was able to arrive so

they had to move her away to a safe point. So, the gold-medal is shared

at the moment between Tina Maze of Slovenia, who came down number 21,

and Dominique Gisin of Switzerland, who started number eight. Lara Gut

is the other medallist, she has the bronze-medal position from bib

number 18. I think she is saying, " over the

jump and bam, bam!". You speak Swedish as well? I'm just guessing.

You did train with the Finns for awhile. That is a tricky language, I

can do one to ten. There are differences, she was lapping with

her coaches wire Chemmy was being very quiet -- she was laughing with

her coaches while Chemmy was being very quiet. So this is Tina Maze in

the blue, and Lara Gut in the red. The bronze medal at the moment for

Lara Gut, gold-medal for Maze, and there is next to nothing between

them. A tenth of a second separating the top three, and that was the same

for the men's downhill. It is not even a metre as they crossed the

line. There is nothing in it at all. So, it looks as if we are ready to

resume the Olympic women's downhill. Sara Hector has at last been called

forward, following a lengthy delay after the crash to Alexandra

Colletti of Monica so one made until the restart and we will probably see

her banging her feet and doing some knee bends. They are trying to stop

that lactic acid building up in the legs, trying to keep it all moving

through the system. But the last thing you want is for it to pool in

your legs and then for them to stiffen up. A last look at what lies

ahead. We have 42 in total to race, few of the outsiders still waiting

for the chance to race the downhill. For most of them, the first time.

Chemmy Alcott is racing in her fourth. Sara Hector is the first to

go after the injury delay. She get the ten -- gets the ten second

count. When she has a five second count, she can go at any time. And

she is away. Starter number 34. Good turns in the top section, no

problems so far. Carries the speed as she comes into the slight

compression, it goes uphill very slightly, falls away to the right

and then you have a big jump. The first really tricky section. Dives

down. It is smooth, but not aggressive. It shows in the time.

The next script for Tina Maze, whose name is showing their, but we have

to keep reminding ourselves that the gold medal has been split so far

between Maze and Gisin. Comes up towards Tunnel Jump. We can

actually hear the helicopter right now, so they must just be taking

off. Yes, Alexandra Colletti on her way to the medical centre. Sara

Hector's time is a little distance now from the best of the day so far.

Just a little bit of a lukewarm run to me, not pushing quite as hard as

she could have done. Lacking the commitment.

So she has made it down, which means that Chemmy Alcott will not be

forced to wait any longer. And Sara Hector is 24th for the moment. So,

next to go, for Great Britain, in her fourth Olympic Winter Games,

Chemmy Alcott. Chemmy Alcott in the start for Great

Britain. The final couple of words encouragement. Pushing out of the

gate and tackling the Olympic downhill in 2014. One of only two

British representatives in the Alpine programme, the other being

the slalom skier David Ryding. She has pushed everything, all of the

injuries out of her mind. A little bit sideways, a bit of snow spraying

up but it wasn't a bad split. She has to make a proper move over the

last jump. Carrying good speed. Into the last section. In her final

Olympic downhill, she won't be pushing for a medal, but after all

the injuries she has suffered, it is great to see her back on the hill.

She has taken 19th position. Her best Olympic result was in 2006,

when she took 11th. She is happy to have raced, happy to have made the

top 20 and realistically, her best chance is to come in the super G. I

take my hat off to this girl. She has come through so much and to see

her throw herself then the downhill, well done. Karolina Chrapek check

from Poland is down, number 36. A long way off the pace as we pick her

up, near the final section of the course, coming along the flat very

upright. A little tentative but looking to finish her first Olympic

Games. It has been an eventful women's downhill in many ways, more

dramatic than the men's with all of the crashes and falls and drama of

the shared gold between Maze and Gisin. Lara Gut looking a little

nonplussed with her third position. But that is the way it stands. In

Tina Maze and Dominique Gisin will share the goal. The bronze goes to

Lara Gut. The first time in Olympic history

that we have had two gold medals in the same event. Tina Maze, the first

Slovenian ever to strike gold for her country. Dominique Gisin, the

28-year-old, the first for 30 years to win this event for the Swiss.

They will be absolutely delighted. Very eventful race indeed.

Congratulations to Chemmy Alcott as well. Looking like a top 20 finish

in her fourth Olympic downhill. A fantastic skier, a great ambassador.

And boy, this girl has got, doesn't she? Messier from Dominique Gisin.

You had a long wait and when Tina came down did you think you had

lasted? I didn't want to look. And then I thought zero is good! Yes,

crazy. It was a lot of nerves, a lot of sweat, a lot of emotions. Every

two minutes something else. It was lonely. It is incredible. What can I

say? It is crazy. You looking forward to sharing the podium with

Tina? It is a big honour to share it with her. She is an amazing woman.

She is an amazing athlete. I love skiing. This is all some. Brilliant.

Congratulations. You started quite early. Where the course conditions

good when you skied? It was really good. It was not as icy as in the

training runs. It was really fast. I just tried to charge as fast as I

could. Thank you. Two downhill wins. Congratulations to Dominique

Gisin and Tina Maze. It is the pairs in the figure skating. It is the

climax of the event. Who else to share that with both Robin Cousins?

We read in the feature a little earlier. It did underline the

pedigree of skaters the Russians have produced and the Soviets before

that. 12 gold medals. They lost it in 2010. They wanted back? They do

want it back. And badly on home turf. Sport for them is education.

In 1980, the pairs were the first event. Everybody knew. It was

thrilling. We were competitive. She once said to me that sport was

education. We educate our sport and our skaters. You teach it properly.

If you don't do it properly, you don't do it at all. That is their

pedigree. Somebody like her, she knows what she's talking about. The

history of pairs event is fascinating. How was it changed

after the 1960s? After Irina had won an Olympic gold medal, she split

from her partner. Irina was looking for a new partner. They took it from

the classical dance point of view into the more athletic stance. They

were creating well-known moves and tricks. They made it more athletic.

It was the power and the speed. This is no athleticism with the beauty of

figure skating that we know from the Russians. It did change the course

of pairs skating. In 2002, Salt Lake City, and that very controversial

joint goals given to the Russians and to the Canadians. That

effectively, that moment was a massive scandal first skating? It

was a massive scandal. That aside, you had this traditional Russian

style versus the North Americans, who had taken that basic Russian

style and twisted it and made it their own. It was two versions of

the same thing. Very different versions. You are in one camp or the

other. That night they were both different. The IOC gave them the

gold medal. The Chinese took over in Vancouver. Going back 30 years, the

Chinese skater would come to practice in my day and take the

Russians. He was the coach of the Chinese in Vancouver when they won

the gold. He is here now with his team. The Chinese silver medallists

are also here. The Russians wanted badly. We saw in the team event that

they are performing under pressure in a way that nobody would have

expected. The Russians of the podium in Vancouver. They got to peers in

this event. -- they have got two pairs in this event that could do

the business. After the short programme last night, we will see

it. Here is what happened in that short programme.

Stacey Kemp and David King. Second appearance on the eyes here in

Sochi. Didn't start well in the short programme in the team event.

They finished 10th and last in that part of the competition. They have

to put that behind them. They have had some super results over the

years. They were sixth in the European Championships. 13th at the

world Championships. Here they are in the Olympic Games again. For

Britain, Stacey Kent and David King. A little tight on the landing. I

think they made the rotation. No triple jumps. They do have the

double axels. And that is what they want to make happen now. David made

-- he will be downgraded for a half turned cheat on that landing. --

have a turn. Well, that must have felt like a

very long two minutes, 45 seconds for David and Stacey. A number of

errors. They seemed to lose some speed towards the end. That is where

the mistakes came in. You can tell from their reaction they are not

happy. No. They will not be very pleased. I could see the attention

from Stacey going in at the very beginning. It was tight on the exit,

the triple twist. It is building towards that triple flip. You just

don't know if there is is an injury or something. I have seen them skate

a lot better than that in the past. Very disappointing. A long way below

this season's best. I think they know that that is not going to

happen. They are not going to be through to the free programme. Last

place at the moment. Not what they came here for. Sad to see.

Here they come. They secured the goal for Russia before the free

dance had even taken place. They won the silver medal at the recent

European Championships. Will it be error free today for the Russians?

Taking their time settling. The crowd so excited. They have to be in

the right frame of mind. They are ready.

Music: "Surrender" by Jesse Cook they open with the triple twist.

Beautiful. Exquisite. Absolutely perfect in

unison. The throw is a triple flip. And she has nailed it.

Look at the change of direction in the combination spin.

Oh, yes! The Russian skaters rise to the occasion again. This crowd is

knowledgeable about skating and expect so much. These two could not

have done more. Absolutely loved the choreography, I loved the music.

Great split. Makes the rotation. Catches her easily after the

rotation but before she lands. Look at his line. Look at that. Glorious.

The timing is immaculate. Thrilling. Absolutely thrilling. Surely they

are the new leaders? Yes, by a long way. Almost five points. A new

season's best. They are going to be in the medal hunt.

Next onto the ice the four-time world champions. They decided to

convert their very popular programme to the new short programme.

Savchenko and Robin sulkily from Germany.

They have chosen to open this new version of the show with the triple

flip. Lovely through the triple twist.

Third jump element, side-by-side triple toe loops. Yes.

A huge response from the crowd in Sochi, a brave decision and it has

proved to be right. Not only entertaining, but

beautifully presented. All of the difficult elements were there, it

was a programme that had it all. Throw flip, huge, absolutely huge,

and she is very soft on the landing. Easy catch before she comes down out

of the triple twist. The moment of truth with the marks. 79 points 64.

Not great smiles from the Germans. -- 79. 64. It puts them in first

place. While all of the attention was focused on Plushenko returning

in a short programme on Thursday, it was these two who stole the show,

winning the ten nation short programme competition by more than

ten points. It was not only flawless, it was breathtakingly

beautiful, and it is one of the great short programmes ever impairs

baking. -- in pairs skating. Will it be flawless tonight? The world

champions from Russia Volosozhar and Trankov in the masquerade waltz.

MUSIC: "Masquerade Waltz" by Aram Khatchaturian

Their first element, the triple twist. Easy and light.

Difficult variation of positions, reversing the spin to the right.

Oh, yes! You feel the tingles, the crowd are on their feet. That was

absolutely magnificent. They have established a magical partnership on

the ice over the past few years and that was outstanding. I can finally

breathe out now! Because halfway through, when the jump elements are

done, you think you can relax a little bit, he was playing with the

crowd, playing with the camera a little bit, and you take that deep

breath, but it is that hair on the back of the next moment, it is

glorious. The second half, to me, was fantastic. This was the throw,

look at the height on the twist. Easily down, nice and soft on the

landing, beautiful extension from them both. The arms even match on

the entrance of the three turn, on the triple toe loops. Perfect

unison. I think there is going to be another big cheer when the crowd

sees these set of marks. 84.17. That is almost five points ahead of the

Germans. The gold-medal is theirs for the taking.

She is 33, he is 34. Silver medallists at the last Olympics.

They dream of being on the podium once again and they are ready, the

two-time world champions from China, Qing Pang and Jian Tong.

MUSIC: "Lady Caliph" by Ennio Morricone

she was slightly under rotated on that.

Not so much the twist, that is easy. How far will the trademark loop fly

today? Gorgeous as always. There is a

wonderful connection between the two of them and they always produce a

performance that oozes class. I love watching them.

Already slightly off in the sink in the preparation. She misses on the

take-off, just about a quarter, so they may get the credit for it. And

when you watch the lift position, the leg could be bent or straight,

pick a position. Better in the second half. 73.30, still a great

score, it has them in fourth place. That is the result as it stands at

the moment, with Volosozhar and Trankov the leaders at the moment.

But a big score difference between those top two. Sadly, before that

miss out include Britain's Stacey Kemp and David King, a number of

errors in their short programme, finishing in a disappointing 19th

place. HAZEL IRVINE: Robin certainly

enjoyed that. I think we all did. One sober and Trankov scoring a

world record -- le is that enough, or will it be

overturned? They won't worry about the points, they will worry about

the performance. They know what they need to do to make that gold medal.

The Germans were disappointed, not in the marks that the Russians got,

but they were hoping to be in the 80s, to be closer. They can do it

but I have a feeling that the Russians are going to have to make a

mistake and the Germans have to be perfect to win, but it will be an

interesting tussle. You have the Chinese in fourth, the Canadians in

fifth, they have given a great performance as well, so I think we

have seen the medallists, but it is just in what order. When you think

about the feeling you have got when you sit in that incredible Ice

Palace. Do you think the atmosphere and the belief in the skaters is

transferring to the Russians, because it seemed to transferred to

the eyes? They have all felt support and not pressure, and it has been

interesting. 2012, our athletes felt incredible pressure and you kept

saying, as an ambassador, it is great as people are pressurising

you, use it a support mechanism. These guys are going out as if it is

a day in the park, a practice session. We have seen the veterans

at the sport, then look at a 15-year-old, not fazed or overawed

by the occasion. The Russians have come through in a way the no one

expected. And the team, how big a success was that? Some people have

said it should be at the end of the individual programmes, rather than

the start. Where do you stand? I love the fact that it has started

the event. I think they should start after the opening ceremony, and then

there will be a couple of days between the team event and the main

championships. It needs some work and I was one of those who wasn't

sure but I am a bit of a convert, and I think a few of us were

thinking it needs to be sorted from a technical point of view and a

judging point of view. The free programme needs to count for more

than the short programme, but as a medal event, very successful. It was

enjoyable to see everybody go up onto the podium. Together as a team.

We are not used to seeing the camaraderie with the skaters in our

event. We see it on a lot of the slope and ski sports, but we tend to

be segregated. It is nice to see a team come together as one unit. What

was great to see the other night was the preshow of the opening ceremony.

It featured, wait for this, the Russian Interior Ministry police

force. They gave a version of Daft Punk's Get Lucky. It has been a

massive hit here, but we thought you might enjoy this. Guaranteed to

cheer up your morning. # We are up all night to get lucky.

# We are up all night to get lucky. # We have come too far to give up

who we are. # We're up all night to get lucky.

# Shoes up all night for the sun. # I am up all night to get some.

# I am up all night to get lucky. # We are up all night for good fun.

# We are up all night to get lucky. # We are up all night to get lucky.

# We are up all night to get lucky. Isn't that just fantastic? I think

we are starting a campaign. What do we want? Get them in the closing

ceremony, on the main show. It might not be too long before the ice

skaters can actually dance and perform to vocal music. As of next

season it goes across all the disciplines. You could see somebody

getting lucky on a podium in the future to that version, you never

know. The free programme of the players starts at 4pm on the red

button. The top eight pairs will start on the ice from eight to 20 on

BBC Two. Thank you very much, always great to see you -- from 20 past

eight. We are going to stay on the ice but this time we are talking ice

hockey. It is a big day in ice hockey because the men's competition

starts later. In the daylight hours it will be happening in the Shayba

Arena, that means ice hockey puck in Russian. Let's examine what is going

on in the women's event, two crucial matches will decide the look of

group a and that will shape the semifinals. It is the Americans

against the Canadians, they are playing for first and second place.

It is a repeat of the Vancouver final. Both of the teams will go

through to the quarterfinals but the winner will potentially the easier

quarter final opponent from group B. Shall we say you the key moments so

far? COMMENTATORS: Switzerland are

bending and not buckling under the strain. Deflection, and a goal at! A

lovely touch. The captain, the defenceman, linking up with her

colic to get just enough of a stick on it. The Swiss are on the board.

Just below the crossbar, that is where she needs to make contact and

she does an excellent job to make certain. She deserved it for the way

she orchestrated that entire shift. Switzerland are hitting and hoping

right now. This could be real danger. A chance for the Finns to go

two up. A wonderful finish. She spotted the move. Look at this.

Frosted it into the back of the net, great finish. -- thrusted it.

STUDIO: We understand the Swiss have got a goal back, the first goal they

have scored in the whole tournament. They were beaten 9-0 by the United

States but they are back in this match. In the Swiss ranks, two sets

of twins and a 15-year-old centre. Although she is young enough, she is

certainly good enough. We are going live to the second period. Good

morning to our commentators. Commentators good morning.

Muller has been the best player on the ice, 15 years old but a huge

talent. The Finns will try to get back on track. They are in blue,

white for the Swiss. Maybe an opportunity to level things up. A

penalty will be called here. What is the decision? It is just a whole. I

wondered if she was going to put her arms in the air. If a Swiss player

was Home Free, had to step on the Finnish player and was restrained.

She has got her stick and is preventing her from getting control

of the park to the backhand side -- of the puck. A power play for

Switzerland and a great advantage. They skate five on four for the next

two minutes. And that means they can try to camp in this offensive zone

and try to create something. One of the twins lasered off to her sister,

who fires through a gap, and the goal is there. Well finished out in

front. The park bobbled around. Stanz was on the doorstep. That

penalty really hurts Finland. Her second goal in this tournament,

Marty makes a great play, back to her sister, it is through and it is

a kaleidoscope of action as it ricochets around. It is Marty would

be shot. And then Stanz in a perfect position to put it in the open goal.

-- it is Marty with the shot. The power play proves extremely useful

for Switzerland. Stanz has been a strong performer for Switzerland,

despite their heavy defeat. She is blessed with offensive talent. Now

she is on the board. She is definitely in the record books from

an Olympics perspective. So Finland, now, have to see what they can do.

Tapani has been a strong performer for Finland so far.

Now they clear the zone. That is good stick handling, the shop will

come in. We look at the latest goal-scorer,

Tapani. No one knows what is about to happen as the puck comes in, it

is bouncing around. She puts it in the back of the Finnish goal. It

must be some feeling for Stanz to have scored a goal at an Olympic

Games. Is there an answer from Finland? Stanz gets locked up, I

think we are going to see penalties each way here.

They do not like the call, they got locked up behind the play. The coach

is a little confused. This is the contact and there is body contact

allowed but not body checking. That line is changing as to what was

previously allowed in women's ice hockey and what is allowed now.

There is, most definitely... I am not going to say body checking but

the referee has taken both. They allow it to more and more throughout

this tournament. Because they get the stick side, they need to make

the call. It is four on four, that means four out skaters, the

goal-tender does not come into the equation when we discuss the

numbers. That means there is loads of space. If you are a defenceman

who is ostensibly minded you can make best of this. -- offensively

minded. Muller will replay, the talented teenager. Now it goes the

other way, from one end of the spectrum to the other. Villila is

now 14 years of age, she was the top scorer in Nagano in 1998. She

decided to have children, her eldest is now ten, all of her children play

hockey. She decided she fancied coming back in her 40s and she has

been an effective player. She is still slight enough and quick enough

to make things happen. The Finns are very effective and applied at both

ends of the rink and Villila has been involved. They break for the

Swiss, what can they make of this? Stanz with some help out there. They

good hold on the blue line. The pass was Miss communicated -- a good hold

on the blue line. We talked about the defenceman pinching into the

play. There is space, high over the top from Hiirikoski. There is a

space somewhere. Terho is trying to create something, there is push and

shove and the referee has plenty to answer for. This is the play made by

the captain. Rajahuhta is quickly becoming a favourite of mine. She is

battling for every bit of ice time that she can get. Switzerland have

been penalised on this play. I wonder if this is going to go each

way and we are going to see another even up call. I think it would be

difficult to call one and not the other after that skirmish. We wait

and see exactly what the American free does. -- American referee.

Well, a power play. Will it be? The referee is try to make herself

understood through that gap in the plexiglass. Trying to communicate

his message, the coach. I think it will stay as a power

play, the coach was indicating with a wry smile how important it was for

the Swiss player leaving the penalty box to get back into the defensive

zone, as they are currently disadvantaged. There is quite a bit

of discussion. Now leaving the penalty box is the Swiss player. We

are kind of ad sixes and sevens at the moment. Raselli went into the

penalty box. I wonder if she has been tossed out of the game. With

her legs. If she kicked out she will have got thrown out of the game. You

are not allowed to kick because the skates are so dangerous. I think she

is gone, I think she's going to get thrown out of the game, Raselli.

There she goes. Wow. You don't see those penalties very often.

We await the official call, we will get a better angle. You see that,

shoved her away with the left leg and that is enough to get kicked

out. The skate play can -- the skate blade

the skate blade can do a lot of damage. The Swiss team have got

their back against the wall now. They have an opportunity here. This

is going to be cleared away. A low range shot, well saved. That was

good stuff as Laura Benz get stuck into it. They are right here, they

have too many players on the ice. They had a five on three there and

it should not have been the case. If we look back, I don't know if we

will have a chance to see it but we will see the penalty again, there

were five players out there for fin land and only three for the Swiss.

It should have been a five on four or a four 13, depending on where the

other calls were at. It is an unusual play. Riot hooter was able

to muscle her way and an awkward response -- Rajahuhta. They need to

get a grip on this. There was a cloud of uncertainty yesterday when

a goal should have been allowed or at least referenced to the technical

support they have two review with the television screens. You can see

the coach from Finland wants some clarity because everyone is confused

at the moment. They are discussing this right in front of us. What he

is saying is that it should either have been five on four or four on

three but it should not have been five on three. He is not happy. She

is very strong in her response. I think she has almost accepted that

there was a misappropriation of players initially but they cannot go

back in time now but they had to accept it and move on. They will

look at the numbers ready for this face-off. They have to be strong now

as this is a berry tight game and she needs to be in charge. Now it is

five on four. We see the 4.30 mark of this power play and there will be

an extra player for fin land and no matter how many times they score,

unlike the minor penalties, the clock will continue to take on that

four-minute penalty and there is no get out of jail free card. This is a

huge moment for Finland in this game. These two are battling for

third and fourth in group A. This will be really tiring for the

Swiss players to play one short for whole five-minute chunks.

Switzerland have done well, being down to nothing and coming back in

this game. Now they are in the Game 2-2 they do not want to give it up.

Even if it is a preliminary round they will want to make sure they are

competing. Finland are trying to find some space. Minnamari

Tuominen. Michelle Karvinen on the angle.

The most important player now will be Florence Schelling. She is

world-class. This is the player -- this is the play.

They shot will come and a clear away down the ice and the Finland team

have two reset. Good penalty killing. The pressure

is on again. The Finland team are pending their own ends and half of

this penalty has been killed and it is the major penalty that we have

seen in this tournament so far. Huge indiscipline. Good play here. The

Finland team will be tired as well because the expectation would be

that they would have scored by now. 90 seconds remain on the power play.

Desperate work from the Swiss at the right times, making sure to defend

against woodland. They are looking for the goal on the back hand side.

Last-ditch stuff from the Swiss. Having almost scaled amounting, can

the Swiss plant their flag on the peak? They have 50 seconds left to

kill, they are so deep in their zone.

Do not take another penalty now. That is the crucial bit from a Swiss

perspective. Florence Schelling is equal to it again. Kira Kosky has a

good shot. -- Jenni Hiirikoski. Second this afternoon as well and

good finish. Those extra minutes on this power play prove extremely

useful for the Finland team. She knows how important that was.

The Swiss team were just about to kill this entire major Op and there

they find a way again. Finland are in front. Michelle Karvinen comes to

the party and get the acclaim of her team-mates on the bench. A power

play goal. Michelle Karvinen was actually born

in Denmark. She only recently qualified to play for Finland after

certain -- spending a couple of years there. She played for the

under 20 team in Denmark. That changes the complexion a little

bit. The penalty is now over and the Swiss are down by a goal. Do they

have it in them to try and create something else having lost the

player? I don't we thought they would come back from 2-0 but they

have. They could respond and get back into this game. It is difficult

to losing a player and I think that was more sort of a momentary lapse

of reason really because she was just shamed in the moment and the

way she had been pushed down but it is one less player for the Swiss

team. Phoebe Stanz skates away and she has

a goal already in this game. She is acclaimed as the best goal taker in

the world, Noora Raty. Phoebe Stanz is digging. Where is it? It is taken

away by the Finns. We have seen so many different and

is in this game. -- deflections. Finland are leading this by 3-0

thanks to Michelle Karvinen. It is so important is the Finland bounce

back after conceding that goal. There are six areas in a game where

you can concede, obviously when you are conceding a penalty or during

the power play. Those are areas. The power play proves useful for Finland

and you have two bounce back. With two and a half minutes remaining in

the second period, they need to get out of here again with no more goals

against as we look against -- look at this replay once again. It is an

outstanding play. You tell every single kids to go to the neck are --

go to the net is hard to keep your stick on the ice which is what

Michelle Karvinen does. Look at that stick. That is what allows her to

put it home. It is very easy as a player to get impatient and think

the park will not come to your stick but it is elementary to be stood

there with it but how important was it that when the puck came across

you just redirected and that was the difference in the scoreline.

Another shot came in and that was well turned aside. That is good

stickhandling. Noora Raty is forced to play it and does well and gets in

contact. What a path that was. She was

looking to get it back from Michelle Karvinen but it did not quite

happen. She is a brilliant player. Finland are in the offensive zone.

That shot was blocked. That is great defensive play.

A chip and a change for Switzerland. Good work here from

Switzerland. They did a great job in getting out of their own zone. They

were right in there, camped out and they are trying to put the game to

bed. Noora Raty could get a penalty here.

She was driving hard to the net and she got a stick in her face for her

troubles. If Noora Raty does not get a penalty

here she is very fortunate. The Finnish defender in front of her

grabbed a swish -- Swiss player by her face mask. This was a good

clearance by Noora Raty. She cannot quite get it out. Switzerland are

late and looking to get a shot in and trying to see if they can pinch

a sneaky one. The referee does not agree with what she says. This has

been a very entertaining one. There is so much going on. Major

penalties, three goals, shifts of momentum. Is there going to be a

final moment? Unable to beat the goal-tender. 12.2

seconds remain. Florence Schelling does what she does so well. On a

couple of occasions she has denied them. The puck just came to the

wrong place. Yes, she is a left-handed shot but she has to keep

the scoreline at three and she does that her team has an opportunity. If

they can get out of this second period and into the third without

conceding. It should be cleared without any

problems. That was a real chance but the hooter blue and she was unable

to get the shot on target. What a second session. This game is finally

poised above Finland are in charge. Finland lead Switzerland by 3-2.

STUDIO: That match continues on the red button.

It is a good game. We will be live and we will bring you up-to-date

with it later. We have dismissed to move onto. We are going to reflect

on last night and the first ever women's ski jumping competition. It

is in the games after a protracted legal wrangle. The campaign for

inclusion has taken just about as long as the gold medal's favourite

has been alive and she is only 17. She is under five feet and she was

Japan's big gold-medal favourite. How did she do? Let's find out.

COMMENTATORS: