France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron win gold in figure skating ice dance

Day 10 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

By Aditi Sangal, Ben Morse, Helen Regan, Adam Renton and Patrick Sung, CNN

Updated 7:59 p.m. ET, February 14, 2022
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12:00 a.m. ET, February 14, 2022

France's Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron win gold in figure skating ice dance

Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France skate during the ice dance free dance on Monday.
Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France skate during the ice dance free dance on Monday. (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

French duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won gold in the figure skating ice dance competition on Monday, with a total score of 226.98 — a world record.

The pair's free dance program composition even earned a perfect 10.

The four-time world champions, who were Olympic silver medalists at Pyeongchang 2018, also set a new rhythm dance world record at the weekend.

Reigning world champions Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) took silver with a score of 220.51.

Team USA's Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won bronze, scoring 218.02. They narrowly beat fellow Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates in fourth with 214.77

The final scores are decided by adding the pair's scores from the rhythm and free dance events.

11:19 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

From Covid isolation to silver medal for Team USA's Elana Meyers Taylor

Elana Meyers Taylor celebrates during the women's monobob event on Monday.
Elana Meyers Taylor celebrates during the women's monobob event on Monday. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Team USA's Elana Meyers Taylor took silver in the monobob on Monday, just behind teammate Kaillie Humphries, who won gold.

But the bobsledder faced an uphill battle just to compete in the Games after testing positive for Covid-19, two days after arriving in Beijing.

The Covid comeback: Meyers Taylor returned to competition after spending the start of the Olympics in Covid quarantine. The 37-year-old was placed into an isolation hotel after testing positive.

Those who test positive must present two consecutive negative tests before they can be released. She did so several days later, and was cleared for release on Feb. 5.

During that time, her competitors were able to take training runs at the course — but Meyers Taylor was forced to train inside her hotel room, using weights and equipment her teammates brought her.

It didn't appear to impact her performance, however, as Meyers Taylor won her fourth career Olympic medal, having previously medaled in the two-woman bobsled in 2010, 2014, and 2018.

11:13 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Eileen Gu is through to the freeski slopestyle final

China's Eileen Gu competes during the women's slopestyle qualification on Monday.
China's Eileen Gu competes during the women's slopestyle qualification on Monday. (Francisco Seco/AP)

Home favorite Eileen Gu of China is through to the final of the freeski slopestyle, posting a best score of 79.83 on her second run to place third on the leaderboard.

Estonia’s Kelly Sildaru leads the field with a score of 86.15 on her second run, and Norway's Johanne Killi (86) is in third.

A total of 12 skiers will advance to the finals, which are scheduled for Tuesday.

Gu, who won gold in the big air last week, has entered all three freeski events.

11:04 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Team USA's Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor top the podium in monobob's Olympic debut

Kaillie Humphries (right) and her teammate Elana Meyers Taylor celebrate winning the gold and silver medals in the women's monobob on Monday.
Kaillie Humphries (right) and her teammate Elana Meyers Taylor celebrate winning the gold and silver medals in the women's monobob on Monday. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

American racers dominated the medal spots in the first ever monobob at an Olympics on Monday.

Team USA's Kaillie Humphries won gold in a time of 4:19.27, and teammate Elana Meyers Taylor took the silver in 4:20.81

Both athletes become the first women to win medals in bobsleigh events at four consecutive Winter Olympics.

Canada's Christine de Bruin clinched bronze in 4:21.03.

Monobob's Olympic debut: The event's inclusion is a victory for gender equality at the Olympics and comes after a long campaign for women to have the additional race.

It's an individual version of bobsleigh exclusive to female athletes. The bobsledders have to push, drive and brake the sled, which weighs at least 162 kilograms (more than 357 pounds) by themselves.

The monobob joins the pre-existing traditional bobsled events: four-man, two-man, and two-woman — and gives women two medal opportunities, bringing them even with men.

10:35 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Beijing 2022 reports 3 new Olympics-related Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Gawon Bae

The Beijing Olympic Committee identified three new Covid-19 cases among Games-related personnel on Sunday, it said in a statement Monday.

All three cases were found among airport arrivals, while no one tested positive for Covid-19 inside the “closed loop” system, which separates Olympic athletes, stakeholders, and staff from the public.

Of the three cases, one involved an athlete or team official. 

Since the official closed loop system began on Jan. 23, 432 Covid-19 cases have been found among Olympics-related personnel.

Of those cases, 183 involved athletes and team officials.

10:31 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Beijing 2022 Covid testers offer Valentine's Day greetings

Testing vials arranged to read "Happy Valentine's Day" and a heart shape, at a Covid-19 testing station inside the Beijing Olympic bubble. 
Testing vials arranged to read "Happy Valentine's Day" and a heart shape, at a Covid-19 testing station inside the Beijing Olympic bubble.  (CNN)

Those inside the Beijing Olympic bubble must contend with daily mandatory Covid-19 tests — usually the most unpleasant part of the day.

But on Monday, those who showed up to one testing center were greeted by vials arranged in the pattern of a heart and "Happy Valentine's Day."

It was a cheery way to break up the monotony and difficulties of living in the "closed loop" bubble, which has been challenging for everyone, including Olympic volunteers and staff.

The demands of the bubble: The "closed loop" separates Olympic athletes, support staff, media and volunteers from the rest of the Beijing public — but the stringent requirements are exacting, with an especially high cost for Chinese volunteers.

The first batch of volunteers, including health care workers, drivers, cleaners and chefs, entered the bubble on Jan. 3 — and they're all required to stay until the Games end on Feb. 20. Once they leave the bubble, they must then undergo 21 days of strict quarantine at a designated facility.

9:52 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Love is in the air on Valentine's Day for these Olympic couples

Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, right, and his girlfriend, Team USA's Mikaela Shiffrin, leave the finish area for the women's super-G on Feb. 11.
Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, right, and his girlfriend, Team USA's Mikaela Shiffrin, leave the finish area for the women's super-G on Feb. 11. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

Several sporting couples are spending Valentine's Day in the Olympic bubble together. Here are some of Beijing 2022's power couples:

  • American Mikaela Shiffrin and Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, both alpine skiers, have been seen hand in hand around the Olympic venues, including after the women's super-G on Friday, in which Shiffrin placed ninth. The pair have been supporting each other throughout their time in Beijing, with Kilde writing an emotional message of love and support on social media after Shiffrin crashed out of the women's slalom on Feb. 9. And following Kilde's silver win in the men's alpine combined slalom, Shiffrin tweeted: "Bigggg ❤️ for @AleksanderKilde and his beautiful dancing feet 🎉. Literally hasn't skied a run of slalom in years and then went and DID THAT. 😳🤯🥳🤩What an athlete!!!"
  • Belgium's Kim Meylemans and Brazil's Nicole Rocha Silveira competed against each other in the women's skeleton last week. Silveira placed 13th and Meylemans 18th. Over Christmas, Silveira shared a photo of the couple under the mistletoe with the caption, "Two teams are better than one."
  • British speedskaters Ellia Smeding and Cornelius Kersten are Olympic teammates, business partners and a couple. On her Olympic debut, Smeding placed 27th in the women's 1,500m, becoming the first long track speed skater to represent Team GB in 42 years. Kersten came 19th in the men's 1,500m. The couple regularly post photos and videos at the Games together. "At the Olympics with my bestest friend. Someone pinch me!!!" Smeding wrote in one post.
  • Team USA's Red Gerard and Hailey Langland began dating before the 2018 Pyeongchang Games — where they both made their debuts. In Beijing, Gerard placed fourth in the men's snowboard slopestyle and Langland ranked 11th in the women's event. Ahead of the Games, Gerard said: “It’s incredible, I feel super lucky," according to the Olympics website. “To snowboard with your girlfriend, your best friend, both of us push each other in really good ways. She’s a lot more mellow, I have a lot more anxiety," he said.
9:21 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

Chinese authorities investigate unofficial Olympic mascot cakes

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games mascot Bing Dwen Dwen.
Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games mascot Bing Dwen Dwen. (Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images)

Mascot Bing Dwen Dwen is everywhere at the Winter Olympics, with fans queuing for hours to get their hands on coveted pins bearing the cuddly panda's likeness or sold out replica stuffed toys.

Outside the Olympic bubble, love for the round-bodied panda has gotten several Chinese bakeries into trouble.

Police in several cities, including Chongqing, Ningbo and Shantou, are investigating bakeries making Bing Dwen Dwen shaped cakes, in violation of licensing laws, according to Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times.

A market watchdog in the city of Nantong, eastern China, got a tip off that one bakery was selling Bing Dwen Dwen cakes for 200 yuan ($31) each. The shop is under investigation for using the Olympic symbol without authorization, the Global Times said.

And in Ningbo, another dessert shop was ordered to suspend sales of similar Bing Dwen Dwen cakes and placed under investigation.

No one can use the Olympic symbols for commercial purposes without the permission of the right owners, Global Times reported.

8:59 p.m. ET, February 13, 2022

What is the monobob?

Germany's Laura Nolte slides during the women's monobob bobsleigh heat 3 on Monday.
Germany's Laura Nolte slides during the women's monobob bobsleigh heat 3 on Monday. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The second half of the women's monobob competition is underway, with Team USA's Kaillie Humphries in the lead, followed by Canada's Christine de Bruin and fellow American Elana Meyers Taylor.

It's the first time the event has appeared at an Olympic Games, but what exactly is the monobob?

As the name suggests, this event features a single, female participant tasked with quickly navigating a sled down the windy, icy track.

It's an individual version of bobsleigh exclusive to female athletes. The bobsledders have to push, drive and brake the sled, which weighs at least 162 kilograms (more than 357 pounds) by themselves.

The event joins the pre-existing traditional bobsled events: four-man, two-man, and two-woman. As such, the Beijing Games mark the first time female bobsledders have had two medal opportunities, bringing them even with men.

In the women's monobob event, each competitor's sled is identical, removing any potential design advantages.