BEIJING (AP), — It was not clear who would take home the six gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.
With Kamila Valieva, a 15-year-old figure skating competitor, still awaiting her fate. After testing positive for banned substances, will the Russian allow her to compete? Can the ROC keep the team gold she won?
In the mountains, there were also grave inquiries when a former U.S. Olympian alleged harassment from her former coach and teammate — both who are attending the Beijing Games.
Even the friendly Canadians are embroiled in controversy. This is due to a dispute between countrymen arising from a wrong ruling by Olympic judges. After Valieva’s contribution to the ROC winning team gold, the doping case was made public.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed that it will hear appeals from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) challenging Valieva’s status as a medalist as well as her right to compete at the upcoming women’s program. While doing a short program, Valieva fell while trying to do a triple-axel jump. This is a jump that she usually does without any problems. After landing two combos, a triple flip triple toe loop, and a triple Lutz triple toe loop, Valieva walked to the boards, giving Eteri Tutberidze an emotional hug.
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is investigating allegations that Peter Foley, a longtime Olympic coach, took naked photos of female athletes and that Hagen Kearney, an Olympic snowboard racer used racist language in order to provoke a colleague.
Callan Chythlook -Sifsof was a former snowboardcross rider and was a member the 2010 Olympic team. He wrote that Foley had taken the photos and made inappropriate comments. Kearney also used the N-word repeatedly to “intentionally get beneath my skin”.
Chythlook Sifsof hails from Alaska and describes her self as Yupik, Inupiaq.
Foley and Kearney visited China this week to take part in the Beijing Games.
Foley stated that he was shocked by the allegations in a text to The Associated Press. He denied them.
TRUE NORTH QUABBLESlopestyle gold Medalist Max Parrot claimed that fellow Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris was sorry for suggesting Parrot won only because of questionable Olympic Judging.
Parrot admitted to The Associated Press that he didn’t fully execute a grab for the first jump on Monday’s slopestyle course. He said that he was happy the judges didn’t notice it. Parrot insists that he had the best run of his day and won his first Olympic gold.
McMorris was third, but McMorris told CBC that he deserved to win Parrot and Chinese silver-medalist Su Yiming.
Parrot stated that McMorris’ comments were not a cause for concern.
Parrot stated, “He actually came to see me earlier today and apologized for his lack of sportsmanship.” “I assured him that I was not worried.”
ALL THE KIDS ARE RIGHT
Inexperienced and young, the U.S. hockey team faced off against Canada in a bitter matchup. They won 4-2 to stay unbeaten in the Olympics’ second game.
Captain Andy Miele, the U.S. captain, said that “We didn’t back down from our physical play.” He scored a goal and assisted. “I love how our team responded.”
The U.S. has a chance to reach the quarterfinals thanks to Miele’s 70 second response goal after Canada’s score and 35 saves from Strauss Mann. The Americans would be the first to beat Germany on Sunday, and they could become the top seed in round four.
OLDIES, BUT GOODIES
Lindsey Jacobellis was awarded her second Olympic gold medal when she teamed up with Nick Baumgartner, 40, to win the title in mixed snowboardcross.
Baumgartner (a concrete worker-contractor in Michigan) is 40 years old and 57 days. He becomes the oldest snowboarder ever to win an Olympic gold medal. Jacobellis, who is 36 years old and has been writing a children’s book for 177 days, is second.
Baumgartner stated, “It’s never too late to get what you want in life.”
HOME GOLD
Gao Tingyu, a Chinese speedkating champion, was the host nation’s first Olympic gold medalist. He won the 500m. Gao also won the bronze medal in 500 meters at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Cha Min Kyu from South Korea won the silver. His time of 34.39 was a match for the silver he won in Pyeongchang four years ago. Wataru Morishige from Japan won the bronze medal in 34.49.
DANCING OUT AHEAD
Gabriella Papadakis, Guillaume Cizeron set a new world record in rhythm dancing at the Beijing Olympics. They scored 90.83 points to start the ice dance competition. This gave the French four-time world champions a slight advantage over Russian rivals Victoria Sinitsina & Nikita Katsalapov as they entered the free dance.
Madison Hubbell, Zachary Donohue and their American counterparts Madison Chock and Evan Bates came in third and fourth respectively. The free dance Monday morning will determine the medal winners.
