Meyers Taylor to carry U.S. flag Sunday
BEIJING — Elana Meyers Taylor has been picked to be a flag bearer again. And this time, she’ll be able to take the job.
The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced Friday that the four-time Olympian bobsledder will carry the U.S. flag into Sunday night’s closing ceremony of the Beijing Games.
Meyers Taylor was chosen to be one of the flagbearers for the U.S. at the opening ceremony on Feb. 4 but could not participate because she was in isolation following a positive coronavirus test. That spot went to speedskater Brittany Bowe instead, who led the U.S. delegation into the opening alongside curler John Shuster.
Meyers Taylor spent Friday competing in the women’s bobsled. Meyers Taylor, a four-time medalist, and brakeman Sylvia Hoffman finishing their first two runs in 2:02.79, good for third place behind two German teams halfway through the event, which finishes Saturday.
“I’m just going to go out there and have fun tomorrow,“said Meyers Taylor, who has hinted that she may retire after these Olympics. “It’s been a long journey and I’m just going to enjoy the heck out of it.”
Earlier in these Olympics, Meyers Taylor took silver in the monobob, finishing behind U.S. teammate
Kaillie Humphries. Humphries is fifth in the women’s bobsled after two runs.
Shiffrin’s last event delayed:
The last Alpine skiing race of the Olympics was scrapped Saturday because of strong winds. A decision has not yet been made about whether to reschedule the event.
The team event was to be American skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s last chance to win a medal after going 0-for-5 in individual events. But wind gusts at up to about 40 mph led to suspending the competition.
Organizers said a meeting was being held “to discuss the potential rescheduling of the event.”
Bach criticizes Russian coaches:
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach criticized Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva’s entourage for their “tremendous coldness” toward the 15-year-old after her mistake-filled free skate.
Bach says it was “chilling” to see on television. Valieva, who has been at the center of a controversy over a positive doping test, finished fourth overall despite placing first in the women’s short program earlier in the week.
The IOC president did not name Valieva’s coach, Eteri Tutberidze, who was seen on camera telling a visibly upset Valieva “Why did you stop fighting? Explain it to me, why? You let it go after that axel.”
Bach said it was “chilling” to see the coldness with which Valieva was received by Tutberidze and other Russian skating officials after her performance.