The Gold That Was a Lifetime in the Making
The highlight of the day was Meyers Taylor's Olympic gold in the monobob. This is the first gold medal for the American in her fifth Olympics at the age of 41, making her the oldest champion in the history of the Winter Games in the USA.With a time of 3:57.93, she edged out German Laura Nolte by just four hundredths of a second. The bronze medal was won by her compatriot Kaillie Humphries, marking her sixth Olympic medal, tying her with speed skating legend Bonnie Blair.
Additionally, Taylor and Humphries became the first women over 40 to stand on the Olympic podium in bobsledding, highlighting the rarity of athletic longevity.
Slalom on the Edge: Falls and Switzerland's Triumph
The men's slalom took place under challenging weather conditions, leading to numerous athletes leaving the course. In this "survival race," Swiss skier Loïc Meillard claimed victory with a time of 1:53.61.
Photo Getty Images.
Silver went to Austrian Fabio Gstrein, while Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen took bronze.
Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath experienced particular drama, as he made a mistake on the decisive descent, losing his chance for a medal and leaving the course, heading into the woods, according to reports.
Experts emphasize that weather conditions are becoming increasingly significant at these Games, and the ability to cope with stress has become a key quality for athletes.
The Netherlands Takes Gold, But Not Where Expected
In the women's short track 1000 meters, Xandra Velzeboer from the Netherlands won with a time of 1:28.437, claiming her second gold of the tournament.
Photo Getty Images.
Second place went to Canadian Courtney Sarault, while South Korean athlete Kim Gilli took third.
For the Netherlands, traditionally strong in speed skating, this success in short track represents a symbol of expanding influence in ice disciplines.
Big Air: Canadian Triumph and the Return of a Star
In the women's big air, Canadian Megan Oldham won, surpassing Chinese athlete Gu Ailing by just 1.75 points.Competitions in Livigno were delayed for over an hour due to strong winds and snowfall, and one of the favorites, Swiss Matilda Gremaud, withdrew after an injury during warm-up.
This is already Gu's second silver at these Games, as she previously finished second in the slopestyle.
Figure Skating: A Record for the Japanese
The pairs event brought gold to Japanese figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who set a world record with a score of 158.13 points in the free program. After a disappointing short program, they managed to accumulate a total of 231.24 points, ensuring a confident lead over their competitors.
In the center: Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara (Japan), left Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava (Georgia), right Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin (Germany). Photo EPA/Shutterstock.
Silver medals went to Anastasia Metelkina and Luka Berulava from Georgia, with a total score of 221.75 points, marking Georgia's first medal at the Winter Olympics since 1994.
Bronze was claimed by Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin from Germany, who led after the short program with a total of 219.09 points.
Hockey: Final on the Horizon
The U.S. women's national team confidently advanced to the final of the hockey tournament, continuing their rivalry with Canada.
Photo Getty Images.
This match is seen as a "classic" of women's hockey at the world level, as the teams regularly meet in decisive games of major tournaments.
Medal Landscape: Favorites Strengthen Their Positions
As the second week of the Olympics approaches, several key trends can be highlighted:- experienced athletes continue to perform well alongside younger competitors;
- weather conditions increasingly influence the outcomes of competitions;
- the geography of medals is expanding, although traditional winter countries still set the tone.
The tenth day of the Olympics demonstrated that the final week of the tournament will be a balance between experience and boldness. Often, those who can wait and seize the one opportunity are the ones who win.
