Today at the Olympics: A Wild finish for Russia, Team USA hopes to salvage hockey bronze, Ligety seeks slalom gold
Each day throughout the Winter Olympics, we'll bring you a daily rundown on what to expect and a look at key story lines in Sochi.
What to watch today, Saturday, Feb. 22
While you were sleeping (spoilers):
Vic Wild, the American who is snowboarding in Sochi under Russian citizenship, won his second gold medal of these Games in the parallel giant slalom on Saturday. Slovenia’s Zan Kosir won silver, and Austria’s Benjamin Karl won bronze.
Wild, who grew up in White Salmon, Wash., became a Russian citizen when he married Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina in 2011 and moved to Moscow.
In the women’s slalom finals, Austria’s Julia Dujmovits took gold, while Germany’s Anke Karsten and Amelie Kober took silver and bronze, respectively.
The men’s slalom can be seen as part of NBC’s primetime coverage at 8 p.m. The women can be see on NBC at 3 p.m.
In cross-country, Norway swept the podium in the women’s 30 K mass start free (3 p.m., NBC). Barre Vt.’s Elizabeth Stephen finished 24th.
Medal watch:
It wasn’t the medal they were after, but the US men’s hockey team can still salvage bronze Saturday morning in the consolation game against Tuukka Rask and Team Finland (10 a.m., NBC Sports Network). Canada and Sweden will play for the gold on Sunday.
Bode Miller may be out of the running after tweaking his ankle, but gold medalist Ted Ligety will look to match Mikaela Shiffrin’s impressive gold-medal performance in the slalom event Saturday for another medal (NBC primetime).
In speed skating, the men’s and women’s team pursuits will both hand out medals (NBC primetime), as will the biathlon in the men’s relay 4x7 5 K (3 p.m., NBC).
Tweets from the athletes:
Mikaela Shiffrin, a product of Burke Mountain Academy, after winning gold in the women’s slalom:
The sacrifices are nothing compared to a dream dying- keep your dreams alive, give them all of your soul and #createyourownmiracle
— Mikaela Shiffrin (@MikaelaShiffrin) February 22, 2014
US hockey player TJ Oshie in the wake of the 1-0 loss to Canada:
Not the medal we wanted to be battling for but we can still take home some hardware. #USA
— TJ Oshie (@OSH74) February 21, 2014
Oshie’s wife, Lauren Cosgrove:
Missing @OSH74 #34weeks pic.twitter.com/jhlNuQstxs
— lauren cosgrove (@laurencosgrove3) February 22, 2014
Figure skater Marissa Castelli:
I am going to miss seeing the flame everyday. pic.twitter.com/w6NVqPmrAP
— Marissa Castelli (@MarissaCastelli) February 22, 2014
Photo of the day:
18-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin becomes the youngest winner of the Olympic women's slalom: http://t.co/QkZQBN9Gtv pic.twitter.com/yD09vbUAjR
— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) February 22, 2014
Olympics bloggers
Look for updates, news, analysis and commentary from the following reporters:.- Dan Egan, Boston.com blogger
- John Powers, Globe staff
- Shira Springer, Globe staff
- Scott Thurston, Globe staff