Pic of the Day
Talking points
Russia’s South Korean wonder: The South Korean speed-skater formally known as Ahn Hyun-Soo won his fourth Olympic medal under the new Russian moniker of Victor Ahn. Ahn is now competing for Russia after switching his allegiances back in 2010. The speed-skater, who is dating a former member of his fan club, said he made the jump to be able to train in a calm atmosphere. Wonder if there are any Winter Olympians Ireland could attract for the 2018 Games. We do calm, right?
Treble Dutch: Jorien ter Mors smashed the Olympic record to take women’s 1,500m speed-skating gold. Ter Mors’ time was almost 4.5 seconds better than the old record as she led home compatriots Ireen Wurst and Lotte van Beek for the Dutch 1-2-3.
Lucky moustache: The Czech Republic celebrated its first gold medal of the Games as Eva Samkova was victorious in the snowboard cross. The Czech Olympian has taken to competing with a painted-on moustache and claims it brings her luck. That was certainly the case today as she held off fierce competition from Dominique Maltais of Canada.
Flock to the altar of Oshie: America’s ice hockey shoot-out sensation TJ Oshie picked up more than 60,000 extra Twitter followers after scoring four times in the S.O win over Russia.
Russia rebound and Canada reach quarters: 2010 gold medal winners Canada squeaked into the quarter finals of the Men’s Ice Hockey after beating Finland 2-1 in overtime. Hosts Russia recovered from their loss to the USA by beating Slovakia in a shoot-out. What a shame, as we shall miss the twerking antics of Slovak netminder Jan Laco:
You gotta see this
Norwegian cross-country skiier Martin Johnsrud got little support from his dear old Mum back home as she watched him compete in a 15km classic over the weekend. As Johnsrud struggled top keep up with the leaders his mother, one Gro Johnsrud Langslet, had these words of encouragement for her young Olympic hero: “You’re the worst Norwegian. You should go home.”
Hero of the day
Canadian bobsled driver Christopher Spring may have finished down in eighth place after Heat One of the two-man event but is winning a lot of friends in Sochi.
After tweeting a great picture of a good luck message he got from home, the leader of ‘Team Spring’ was not afraid to poke fun at himself when he had a wardrobe malfunction:
Irish eye
No Irish competitors in action today with Florence Bell in action next, on Tuesday. The skiier tweeted her support of Canadian actress Ellen Page, who recently declared she was gay, today.
They said what?
The president then decided to speak to him on the telephone. He (Putin) assured the father that doctors were doing everything so that she completely recovers.”
– Russian president Vladimir Putin got on the phone today to speak with the father of Russian skiier Maria Komissarova, who fractured her spine during a training run on Saturday.
Medal table
Tomorrow’s highlights
After the ladies got their high-flying day in the Sochi sun today, the men’s snowboard cross medals will be handed out on Day 10. We will also learn the finalists of the Women’s Ice Hockey as the USA face Sweden and Canada take on Switzerland.
There is a whole heap of curling as the round robins continue while the men [15km] and women [12.5km] biathlon competitors will slog it out for glory. The Two-Man Bobsleigh will keep fans of the Jamaican team content.
– Additional reporting by © AFP, 2014
