Another day, new delay for Shiffrin

The start of Mikaela Shiffrin’s bid for multiple medals at the 2018 Olympics was delayed yet again when the women’s slalom was postponed from today to Friday because of strong winds.

It’s the third time in four days an Alpine skiing race was shelved because gusts made it too dangerous for competition. Shiffrin originally was supposed to get started with the giant slalom on Monday, that race was rescheduled for tomorrow and will now be her first at these Winter Games.

The men’s downhill, which was supposed to open the 11-event Alpine program on Sunday, also was shifted to tomorrow, when the forecast calls for a lessening of the swirling and blustery wind that has been creating problems.

Now Friday will also be a double-competition day, with Shiffrin attempting to defend her 2014 gold medal in the slalom, while the men will compete in the super-G about 30 miles away.

That super-G was originally scheduled for tomorrow but was pushed to Friday once the men’s downhill was moved.

Dutch clutch

The Olympic Oval turned into the royal House of Orange, and not because Dutch King Willem-Alexander is there most nights. No, it’s all about the speedskating.

Kjeld Nuis made it four gold medals in four races for the Netherlands after winning the 1,500 meters, a run nearly beyond belief. Nuis swept past his toughest opponents to take home gold. In second, of course, was another Dutchman, teammate Patrick Roest.

On the opening day of speedskating, Carlijn Achtereekte won the 3,000. Olympic champions Sven Kramer and Ireen Wust added the 5,000 and 1,500, respectively, making the Dutch 4 for 4.

The Dutch have now won eight of 12 medals at the PyeongChang Games, keeping them on the stunning medal pace they set at the 2014 Sochi Games when they finished with 23 out of 36.

U.S. skaters disappointed again with Joey Mantia finishing eighth and Shani Davis crossing in 19th position, leaving the United States with another bad start in the Olympics after they were shut out in the Sochi Games.

Ruling the luge

Natalie Geisenberger has another Olympic women’s luge gold medal.

The German star is now the two-time Olympic champion, after finishing off the historic win yesterday. Germany’s Dajana Eitberger was second and Alex Gough earn bronze, giving Canada its first Olympic luge medal.

Geisenberger becomes the third woman to win consecutive Olympic golds, joining fellow German stars Steffi Martin Walter and Sylke Otto.

Erin Hamlin of the U.S. was sixth. Summer Britcher was 19th and Emily Sweeney crashed out midway through her final run but avoided injury.

X-country prowess

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Stina Nilsson of Norway, who came into the Olympics as the favorites in the cross-country skiing sprints, did not disappoint, both now owning a gold medal to prove it.

Jessica Diggins came up short in her quest to become the first American woman to win an Olympic medal. She ended in sixth place, more than 11 seconds behind Nilsson . . . .

Canada beat Switzerland 10-3 to win the first Olympic gold medal in curling mixed doubles.