The fallout from the news of teenage skating star Kamila Valieva’s positive test for a banned substance in December has overshadowed the action in Beijing over the last few days.
Valieva was initially suspended by the Russian anti-doping agency (Rusada), although that was lifted only a day later on appeal. The IOC, World Anti-Doping Agency and International Skating Union appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to get the provisional ban reinstated, although CAS ruled “exceptional circumstances” meant Valieva could compete in the women’s figure skating competition, which began on Tuesday.
Switzerland’s golden run on the slopes at Yanqing continued in the women’s downhill on Tuesday as Corinne Suter pipped reigning Olympic champion Sofia Goggia of Italy.
Suter’s gold completed a downhill double for the Swiss after Beat Feuz won the men’s equivalent, while Marco Odermatt in the men’s giant slalom and Lara Gut-Behrami in the women’s super-G topped the podium for the Swiss as well, who have also claimed three bronzes in Beijing.
Britain’s wait for a medal goes on
In January, Team GB chiefs set an ambitious target of between three and five medals for Beijing 2022 but days are quickly running out for Great Britain’s athletes to get on the medal table.
Slalom skier Dave Ryding has said it’s “do or die” for his own medal chances as he prepares for his fourth Games. Ryding finished 27th in Vancouver in 2010, 17th in Sochi and ninth in Pyeongchang four years ago but has been in great form this season, culminating in a landmark victory in Kitzbuhel in January.
Were he to win a medal, Ryding, who is 33/1 to be leading after the first run, would become the first British Alpine skier to do so at a Winter Games.
The curling rink has been a source of British medals in recent Games and both the men’s and women’s fours are handily placed to claim a medal.
Bruce Mouat’s men, who secured a semi-final spot with victory over previously unbeaten round-robin leaders Sweden, take on Russia and Canada in their final group games, while the women’s team, led by skip Eve Muirhead, are one of four teams who are 4-3 and have China and the Russian Olympic Committee team still to play in their pursuit of a last-four berth.
Roiseland seeking a five-star Games
Norwegian skiers have been a class apart in the Biathlon events at Beijing 2022 and Marte Olsbu Roiseland has led the way with gold in the women’s sprint, women’s pursuit and mixed relay.
Roiseland, who also claimed a bronze in the individual for good measure, goes again in the women’s relay in the early hours of Wednesday morning and mass start on Saturday.
The 31-year-old is responsible for four of Norway’s ten medals in the Biathlon events and would be 11th in the overall medal table if she were a nation.
*All odds correct at time of writing