The Gold They Strived for All Their Lives
The most outstanding event of the day was Meyers Taylor's victory in the monobob. She won her first Olympic gold medal at her fifth Olympics, at the age of 41, becoming the oldest champion in the history of the United States Winter Games.With a time of 3:57.93, she edged out German Laura Nolte by just four hundredths of a second. The bronze medal went to another American, Kaillie Humphries, who now has six Olympic medals — allowing her to tie with legendary speed skater Bonnie Blair.
Thus, Taylor and Humphries became the first women over 40 to stand on the Olympic podium in bobsledding, a rare example of athletic longevity.
Challenging Slalom: Falls, Nerves, and Swiss Triumph
The men's slalom took place in difficult weather conditions and was accompanied by numerous disqualifications. In this "survival race," Swiss skier Loïc Meillard won with a time of 1:53.61.
Photo: Getty Images.
The silver medal was won by Austrian Fabio Gstrein, while the bronze went to Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen.
Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath experienced particular drama, as he lost his chance for a medal after a mistake on the decisive descent and, upset, left the course into the woods.
Experts note that weather conditions are becoming increasingly significant at these Games, with the ability to withstand stress becoming a key quality of champions.
The Netherlands Wins Gold in Short Track
In the women's 1000 meters short track, Dutch athlete Xandra Velzeboer won with a time of 1:28.437, claiming her second gold of the tournament.
Photo: Getty Images.
Second place went to Canadian Courtney Sarault, and third place to South Korean athlete Kim Gilli.
For the Netherlands, which has traditionally excelled in classic speed skating, this success in short track symbolizes an expansion of their influence in ice disciplines.
Freestyle: Canadian Victory and the Return of a Superstar
In the women's big air, Canadian Megan Oldham won, edging out Chinese athlete Gu Ailing by just 1.75 points.The competitions in Livigno were delayed for over an hour due to strong winds and snowfall. One of the favorites, Swiss Matilda Gremaud, withdrew from the competition after a hip injury during warm-up.
This is Gu's second silver at the Games, as she also previously secured second place in slopestyle.
Figure Skating: Japanese Set World Record
In pairs skating, Japanese skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara won gold and set a world record — 158.13 points — in the free program. Despite a poor performance in the short program, their total score was 231.24 points, giving them a confident lead over their competitors.
In the center: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (Japan), left: Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia), right: Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (Germany). Photo: EPA / Shutterstock.
The silver medals were won by Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava from Georgia with a score of 221.75 points, marking the country's first medal at the Winter Olympics since 1994.
Third place went to Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin from Germany, who led after the short program, with a total score of 219.09 points.
Hockey: Final with North America on the Horizon
The U.S. women's national team confidently advanced to the final of the Olympic hockey tournament, continuing their rivalry with Canada.
Photo: Getty Images.
This match is considered a "classic" of women's world hockey — the teams regularly meet in the decisive stages of major tournaments.
Overall Medal Landscape: Favorites on Top
As the second week of the Games progresses, several key trends can be highlighted:- Experienced athletes continue to compete alongside the young;
- Weather conditions are increasingly affecting competition results;
- The geography of medals is gradually expanding, although traditional "winter" powers continue to set the pace.
The tenth day of the Olympics demonstrated that the decisive week of competition will be based on a delicate balance between experience and courage. More and more, those who can wait and seize a single opportunity are winning.
