Zagitova wins first gold for Russians
Figure skater beats friend Medvedeva to title
>> PYEONGCHANG: Close friends, fierce competitors and, now, the two best women figure skaters in the world.
Alina Zagitova edged training partner Evgenia Medvedeva yesterday for victory in the singles competition, giving the Russians their first gold medal of the Pyeongchang Games.
“I haven’t fully realized yet that I’ve won,” the 15-year-old Zagitova said. “I think I need some time to understand that I won the Olympic Games.” Well, she can pinch herself now. She and Medvedeva tied in the free skate with 156.65 points, but Zagitova had won the short programme on Wednesday — giving her the edge by only 1.31 points.
“I can’t believe I am the champion,” Zagitova said.
The Russians’ gold drought had been one of the ongoing story lines of the games, and they were running out of time to get one — although those concerns were eased a bit byZagitova and Medvedeva coming into the day in prime position to win.
Now, the Russians will have a shot at another gold with the men’s hockey team advancing to the final after a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic. Canada and Germany were due to play later to determine the match-up for tomorrow’s decider.
“We deserve to be there and the best team will win,” Russian forward Ilya Kovalchuk said. “We will be ready for the game, for sure.”
Switzerland topped Canada to win the bronze medal in men’s curling. The loss was an upset for Canada, which had won the last three men’s competitions.
The gold-medal game between the US and Sweden is today.
Kelsey Serwa of Canada won the gold in women’s skicross, adding to the silver she won four years ago in Sochi.
Canadian teammate Brittany Phelan, a close friend of Serwa, used an impressive pass late in the run to finish second. Fanny Smith of Switzerland won bronze.
Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands took the men’s 1,000 metre in speedskating, edging Havard Lorentzen of Norway by 0.04 seconds. Nuis also won the 1,500 last week.
Fredrik Lindstroem emerged victorious from a frenetic battle on the final leg with Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen to take the gold medal for Sweden in the men’s 4x7.5km relay on Friday, the final biathlon event of the Games.
Lindstroem held his nerve as Svendsen struggled on the final shoot, skiing away to win by 56 seconds.
Simon Schempp used all his sprinting prowess to make up for poor shooting and deliver the bronze for Germany.
In Gangneung, Zagitova skated first and she nailed everything during her programme to Don Quixote. The 18-year-old Medvedeva matched Zagitova — but that wasn’t good enough to bring home the gold.
“I put everything out there that I had,” Medvedeva said. “I left everything on the ice. I have no regrets.”
Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada, who had considered retirement, won the bronze.
A few hours later, Vasily Koshechkin stopped all 31 shots he faced to help the Russians advance in men’s hockey.
Nikita Gusev and Vladislav Gavrikov scored goals 27 seconds apart in the second period, and Kovalchuk added an empty-netter with 20.9 seconds left to seal the Russians’ first trip to the final since 1998.
“It is huge for us and the players and for the country,” Russian forward Mikhail Grigorenko said of playing for the gold. “It would mean everything to us.’’
FRESH DOPING CASE
Russia’s bobsleigh federation said female pilot Nadezhda Sergeyeva had tested positive for a “heart medicine” which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances.
Russia’s second doping case in Pyeongchang, after curler Alexander Krushelnitsky was stripped of his mixed doubles bronze medal, comes as Olympic officials consider whether to lift Russia’s suspension following a major drugs scandal.
“A doping test by the pilot of the Russian team Nadezhda Sergeyeva on 18 February gave a positive result for a heart medicine that is on the banned list,” a Russian bobsleigh federation statement said.
Sergeyeva placed 14th i n the women’s bobsleigh on Wednesday, partnered by brakewoman Anastasia Kocherzhova.
She is among 168 Russians who passed extended vetting to compete as neutrals in Pyeongchang, after Russia’s national Olympic committee was suspended over systemic doping culminating at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games.