Live: Aussies miss skimo finals as Swiss creates Olympic history

The Nordic Combined Team Sprint has concluded at Tesoro Cross-Country Stadium, and it is another win to the Norwegian team.

Andreas Skoglund and Jens Luraas Oftebro were the pair for Norway, and they trailed by 13 seconds going into the final cross-country leg.

Finland’s Ilkka Herola led at the final exchange at 13.5km, but Oftebro skied past Eero Hirvonen to grab the gold by 0.5 seconds.

The Finns took silver and Austria the bronze.

That makes Norway’s 16th gold medal of the Games on day 13.

In Beijing four years ago, Norway topped the medal tally, finishing with 16 gold medals.

They would have to be a big chance to go past that in Milano Cortina.

It’s nearly time for the first medals to be decided in women’s ice hockey at Milano Cortina, with Sweden taking on Switzerland for bronze.

The Swedish team took out the third-seeded Czechia in the quarterfinals, but they had no answer to the American juggernaut, losing 5-0 in the last four.

Switzerland scored a winner in the third period to beat Finland 1-0 to advance to the semifinals, where they went down in a close one to Canada, 2-1.

Later on, at 5:10am AEDT, we will have the gold medal game. The seedings have worked, with first-ranked United States taking on second-ranked Canada.

The women’s curling round robin is also coming to an end on day 13.

Sweden (7-2) and Switzerland (6-2) are already through to the semifinals, but there are still four teams in contention for the last two spots.

Behind them Canada,  South Korea and the United States are all (5-3), with Great Britain on (4-4).

One place will be decided with the Canadians face South Korea.

The other one depends on whether the United States can beat Switzerland. If not, Great Britain could make it interesting if they get past Italy.

The medallists are standing with huge grins, and yelling out “Skimo!!!”. Not original, perhaps, but effective.

GOLD: Oriol Cardona Coll (SPA)

SILVER: Nikita Filippov (AIN)

BRONZE: Thibault Anselmet (FRA)

That’s a little bit of a surprise that neither of the Swiss skiers made the podium, but I know that Arno Lietha at least had a bad fall on the steps that halted his momentum.

And congratulations to Australia’s Phillip Bellingham for making the semifinals in his second Winter Olympic sport. 

Arno Lietha (SWI)

Nikita Filippov (AIN)

Jon Kistler (SWI)

Oriol Cardona Coll (SPA)

Thibault Anselmet (FRA)

Ot Ferrer Martinez (SPA)

They’re off!

A massive roar from the stands, and the men sprint up the slopes.

The two Swiss racers are leading with Oriol Cardona Coll in the middle.

They go through the diamond with both Lietha and Kistler in front.

Here we come to the first transition – Cardona Coll makes his move and gets there first.

And he steps up the steps, with two falls behind him by Lietha and Filippov.

Oriol Cardona Coll has a huge lead! He’s through the final transition, with Filippov second, and Anselmet third.

The Spaniard takes the gold! Nikita Filippov gets the silver, and France’s Thibault Anselmet comes from well back to grab the bronze.

The crowd is going off as the medallists celebrate in front of the packed stands at the Stelvio.

Gold: Marianne Fatton (SWI)

Silver: Emily Harrop (FRA)

Bronze: Ana Alonso Rodriguez (SPA)

They all look so happy, as you might expect.

Rodriguez gave Fatton a huge hug and said “I am SO happy for you!”.

Nice sportsmanship there.

The crowd lets loose again as Italy’s Giulia Murada is announced for the final. If she can win a medal of any colour, watch out.

The atmosphere is crazy. They are ready, we are ready.

And they’re off!

Emily Harrop and Margot Ravinel lead early for France, now Marianne Fatton pushes up to second.

These athletes are sprinting up the slope!

Harrop leads through the diamond ahead of Fatton, with Ravinel in third.

Here we go to the transition, and Murada is fourth for Italy.

Harrop and Fatton to the top of the stairs.

Fatton leads into the skinning section, ahead of Harrop.

They’re at the final transition!

And Fatton is clear!

Harrop ins second and Ana Alonso Rodriguez in third.

Marianne Fatton is flying! She comes in to win the gold!

Harrop gets the silver, and Alonso Rodriguez takes bronze for Spain.

Emily Harrop (FRA)

Marianne Fatton (SWI)

Ana Alsonso Rodriguez (SPA)

Margot Ravinel (FRA)

Tatjana Paller (GER)

Giulia Murada (ITA)

The first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in Ski Mountaineering will come from one of these six women.

The Women’s sprint final will be at 11:55pm AEDT, while the Men’s Sprint final will follow at 00:15am AEDT. Don’t go anywhere!

Arno Lietha (SWI)

Nikita Filippov (AIN)

Jon Kistler (SWI)

Oriol Cardona Coll (SPA)

Thibault Anselmet (FRA)

Ot Ferrer Martinez (SPA)

So, we have two Swiss, two Spanish, a French skier and Filippov (Russian-born, but since Russia does not have a team at the Winter Olympics, he is listed as an Independent Neutral Athlete (AIN).

The crowd is going off again for the competitors for the second semifinal.

Swiss skier Arno Lietha is close to the form skier here, but who knows?

They’re off, and they’re going flat out for position early.

Ot Ferrer Martinez of Spain and Arno Lietha of Switzerland are together going into the diamond.

Belgium’s Max Drion is third, and AIN Nikita Filippov is fourth.

Lietha comes out first to the top of the stairs.

It’s close up front, they’re into the third section.

Now the final transition, it’s Lietha leading from Filippov, and then Ferrer Martinez.

Lietha looks comfortable here, and he wins, ahead of Filippov, and Ferrer Martinez is third, can the Spaniard grab a lucky loser spot? Two wins for the Swiss.

We are waiting for the announcements of the racers in semifinal one of the men’s sprint.

Phillip Bellingham gets a big roar from the crowd as he is called out.

Swiss skier Jon Kistler gets the roar of the night from the crowd!

This is a tough semifinal to get through.

Remember just the top two go through automatically, with the two lucky losers from the semifinals joining them in a six-man final.

A huge roar and they’re off!

bellingham is off to a strong start, he’s in third into the diamonds.

Kistler and Oriol are leading to the transition.

Bellingham has lost some ground. Thibault Anselmet is third.

Kistler leads in to the final transition. Oriol Cordona Coll second.

They are flying down the descent – Kistler leads, Cordona Coll in second. Anselmet in third. China’s Bu Leur is fourth, Klette is fifth, and Bellingham fell back in the latter stages to finish sixth.

SF1

Bu Luer (CHN)

Thibault Anselmet (FRA)

Oriol Cardona Coll (SPA)

Jon Kistler (SWI)

Hans-Inge Klette (NOR)

Phillip Bellingham (AUS)

SF 2

Max Drion (BEL)

Ot Ferrer Martinez (SPA)

Amo Lietha (SWI)

Nikita Filippov (AIN)

Pablo Giner Dalmasso (FRA)

Cameron Smith (USA)

The snow is as heavy as it’s been at the Stelvio, but the crowd don’t seem to mind.

The DJs are sending the bangers over the PA, and the packed stands are bouncing as people jump up and down to the beat.

Meanwhile volunteers are trying to shovel excess wet snow off the course.

These are going to be ever-more challenging conditions.

Emily Harrop (FRA)

Marianne Fatton (SWI)

Ana Alsonso Rodriguez (SPA)

Margot Ravinel (FRA)

Tatjana Paller (GER)

Giulia Murada (ITA)

The home crowd will be happy with that!

France’s Emily Harrop is the fastest qualifier, but anything could happen in the final.

The crowd is chanting Giulia for Italy’s Giulia Murada …

And they’re off!

Marianna Jagercikova leading from Margot Ravinel early as they go through the diamonds.

The snow is heavy and deep!

They’re heading up to the transition – and Murada is leading for Italy! Jagercikova is second.

What happens now at the steps?

Jagercikova is first, and Ravinel is close – thuis is going to be tight!

Germany’s Tatjana Paller and Ravinel are out fast for the next transition.

This is anyone’s race!

Ravinel out first, Paller second in the descent.

Ravinel crosses first! Paller second, and Italy’s Murada gets beaten into third.

It’s a slower heat too.

I’m not sure it’s possible, but the snow may actually have got heavier again at the Stelvio for the Skimo semifinals.

The crowd is jammed in, and they’re off.

Marianne Fatton is off to a strong start, and it’s almost hard to make out who is who coming through the diamond.

Fatton is second behind Waldal of Norway.

Emily Harrop of France is closing in, here  comes the first transition before the stairs.

Harrop is first to the top followed by Fatton, and Alonso Rodriguez is third.

Harrop is extending in the ski, and now she’s ripping off the skins.

here’s the descent!

She’s away, only the top two go through automatically.

Harrop wins, with Fatton second.

Alonso Rodriguez is third, and Waldal is fourth. Rodriguez might be in line for a lucky loser spot in the final.

As we close in on the penultimate round (the semifinals) in Skimo women’s sprint, here are the start lists for the final 12.

SF 1

• Ida Waldal (NOR)

• Ana Alonso Rodriguez (USA)

• Emily Harrop (FRA)

• Marianne Fatton (SWI)

• Maria Costa Diez (SPA)

• Anna Gibson (USA)

SF 2

• Marianna Jagercikova (SVK)

• Tatjana Paller (GER)

• Giulia Murada (ITA)

• Margot Ravinel (FRA)

• Caroline Ulrich (SWI)

• Alba de Silvestro (ITA)

Semifinal one is the gun heat, with France’s Emily Harrop, Swiss skier Marianne Fatton, and Spanish pair Ana Alonso Rodriguez and Maria Costa Diez. The slightest slip might be the separation in advancing or elimination in that one.