Feb.7 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics news and results | CNN

Day 3 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

Helen Regan Patrick Sung Aditi Sangal
By Helen Regan, Patrick Sung, Ben Church, Aditi Sangal and Adam Renton, CNN
Updated 8:07 PM EST, Mon February 7, 2022
2022 Beijing Olympics - Snowboard - Women's SBD SS Qualification - Run 1 - Genting Snow Park, Zhangjiakou, China - February 5, 2022. Jamie Anderson of the United States in action. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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2022 Beijing Olympics - Snowboard - Women's SBD SS Qualification - Run 1 - Genting Snow Park, Zhangjiakou, China - February 5, 2022. Jamie Anderson of the United States in action. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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What we covered here

  • China’s teen skiing sensation Eileen Gu survived a fall in qualification to make it through to the finals of the women’s freeski big air competition.
  • Olympic officials met with Peng Shuai over dinner on Saturday as the Chinese tennis star has been at the center of international concern.
  • American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin crashed out of the grand slalom, saying, “I won’t ever get over this.”
  • This is the second Olympics to be hosted during the pandemic. But this time, athletes are confined to a “closed loop,” which is far stricter than Tokyo 2020’s bubble. See photos from the Beijing Winter Games here.

Our live coverage of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics has moved here.

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Here are the key things to know about day 3 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

From CNN's Aditi Sangal and Mike Hayes

Day three of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games was filled with Olympic action along with political and pandemic news.

Here are the key things you should know:

US-born Chinese athletes under scrutiny: American-born Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi fell twice and placed fifth in Monday’s event. The 19-year-old came under heavy criticism on Chinese social media, with many questioning why she was chosen to represent China over an athlete born in the country. Meanwhile, freestyle skier Eileen Gu – who was also born in California and is a year younger than Zhu – has charmed the Chinese public with her fluent Mandarin and familiarity with Chinese culture.

Historic firsts: ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva made history on Monday after she became the first woman to land a quad at the Winter Games. The 15-year-old is one of the youngest athletes taking part in this year’s Winter Olympics but she is not the youngest. Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst became the first athlete – man or woman – to win an individual gold medal in five separate Olympics. The 35-year-old was victorious in the women’s 1,500m speed skating event on Monday. She won her first gold medal in 2006.

American skiing icon crashes out: Mikaela Shiffrin crashed out of the grand slalom, saying, “I won’t ever get over this.” The three-time Olympic medalist got a Did Not Finish on her first run after failing to complete the course, ending any hopes of a medal in the event, which was won by Sweden’s Sara Hector.

Covid-19 delays: The pandemic continues to make news at the Olympics, with new cases still being reported daily, including a Team USA figure skater. Covid concerns also caused an hour-long delay at Monday’s women’s ice hockey match between the ROC and Canada, as the teams waited for their test results. Eventually, they played the majority of the game wearing face masks. Team ROC removed their masks after the third period.

Peng Shuai: Olympic officials met with Chinese tennis superstar Peng Shuai over dinner on Saturday, following through on a promise to hold a meeting with the former Olympian, who has been at the center of international concern after she alleged she had been pressured into sex by a retired top Chinese Communist Party official – an explosive allegation she has since appeared to retract.

US figure skater Vincent Zhou will not compete on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19: Team USA figure skater, Vincent Zhou, will not compete in Tuesday’s men’s single skating short program competition after revealing he tested positive for Covid-19. “It seems pretty unreal that of all the people, it would happen to myself,” Zhou said in a video posted on Instagram on Monday. Zhou said he has been doing “everything in my power” to avoid Covid during the pandemic. “I’ve taken all the precautions I can. I’ve isolated myself so much that the loneliness I felt in the last month or two has been crushing at times.” He added that this has been painful, but “I do recognize that this absolutely does not define me as an athlete, as a person.”

Your Olympics questions answered: Where are the next Winter Olympics?

From CNN's Ben Morse
Snow falls in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in February 2021.
Snow falls in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy in February 2021.
(Michael Kappeler/picture-alliance/dpa/AP)

The 2022 Winter Olympics are underway! With the competition taking place in a “closed loop” Covid-19 secure bubble in the Chinese capital, the 2022 Games are like no other, for athletes and fans alike.

So here are answers to some of the burning questions you might have about the 24th Winter Games.

Where are the next Winter Olympics?

Get more of your Olympics questions answered here.

White House says "Team USA has our full support" at 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics despite diplomatic boycott

From CNN's DJ Judd
White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily briefing in the James S. Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 7.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during the daily briefing in the James S. Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 7.
(Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, a self-described “Olympics-obsessed person,” offered her full-throated support for American athletes competing at the Beijing Olympics during Monday’s press briefing, telling reporters while the US chose to forego sending an official delegation, citing China’s human rights record, “We wanted to note Team USA has our full support.” 

The White House announced its diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics late last year, citing “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.” In an interview with CNN Sunday, Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield blasted genocide in China, but took efforts to convey the US was focused on “protect[ing]” athletes competing at the 2022 games. 

Psaki also took the opportunity to offer shoutouts to figure skater Nathan Chen, snowboarder Chloe Kim, and alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, adding “we’ll be rooting for US athletes, even as we made a very important statement about our concerns about Beijing’s and the Chinese human rights abuses.”

CNN's signal was briefly blocked in China during report on Peng Shuai

From CNN's Aditi Sangal and Selina Wang
A TV screen reads 'no signal please stand by' during a CNN report on Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.
A TV screen reads 'no signal please stand by' during a CNN report on Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.
(CNN)

CNN’s signal appeared to be briefly blocked in China as CNN’s Selina Wang reported on the continued controversy around Chinese tennis superstar Peng Shuai.

On Saturday, IOC President Thomas Bach met with the former Olympian who has been at the center of international concern after she alleged she had been pressured into sex by a retired top Chinese Communist Party official — an explosive allegation she has since appeared to retract.

Kirsty Coventry, an IOC member and former Chair of the Athletes’ Commission, was also present, according to the IOC. It is unclear whether Peng was accompanied by any Chinese officials.

Questions about censorship and state coercion abound: This is not the first time that the Asian nation has blocked CNN reporting — both on Peng Shuai and her allegations and wider issues considered sensitive by Chinese leadership.

The multi-colored bars also showed up on China’s TV feeds as the network previously reported on the allegations when they were first made, Wang reports, adding that Peng’s social media post that contained the allegation was removed swiftly along with all traces of her accusation. Peng herself fell silent, Wang added.

The Chinese government has not acknowledged the sexual assault allegations and no inquiry has been announced, but its foreign ministry said it hoped “malicious speculation about her would stop,” Wang reported.

Peng also told independent French sports news site L’Équipe in a sit-down interview in Beijing on Sunday that she “never disappeared” from the public eye and said so many people reached out that “it was simply impossible to answer so many messages.”

While L’Equipe journalist Marc Ventouillac said that he “didn’t feel during the interview any censorship” and that Peng was relaxed and was “laughing” when speaking about sports, he told CNN that his impression was that Peng was “cautious” when he asked about the sexual assault allegations.

Your Olympics questions answered: What is skeleton?

From CNN's Ben Morse
A German athlete slides during skeleton training prior to the start of the Beijing Olympics on February 2.
A German athlete slides during skeleton training prior to the start of the Beijing Olympics on February 2.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The 2022 Winter Olympics are underway. With the competition taking place in a “closed loop” Covid-19 secure bubble in the Chinese capital, the 2022 Games are like no other, for athletes and fans alike.

So here are answers to some of the burning questions you might have about the 24th Winter Games.

What is skeleton?

Get more of your Olympics questions answered here.

Your Olympics questions answered: Are athletes allowed to make political statements?

From CNN's Ben Morse
The United States' Raven Saunders makes an 'X' gesture during the medal ceremony for the women's shot put during the Tokyo Olympic Games in August 2021.
The United States' Raven Saunders makes an 'X' gesture during the medal ceremony for the women's shot put during the Tokyo Olympic Games in August 2021.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The 2022 Winter Olympics are underway! With the competition taking place in a “closed loop” Covid-19 secure bubble in the Chinese capital, the 2022 Games are like no other, for athletes and fans alike.

So here are answers to some of the burning questions you might have about the 24th Winter Games.

Are athletes allowed to make political statements?

Get more of your Olympics questions answered here.

US figure skater Vincent Zhou will not compete on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19

From CNN's Wayne Sterling
Vincent Zhou skates in the team event on February 6.
Vincent Zhou skates in the team event on February 6.
(Mario Hommes/DeFodi Images/Getty Images)

Team USA figure skater, Vincent Zhou, will not compete in Tuesday’s men’s single skating short program competition at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after revealing he tested positive for Covid-19.

“It seems pretty unreal that of all the people, it would happen to myself,” Zhou said in a video posted on Instagram on Monday. “That’s not just because I’m still processing this turn of events but also because I have been doing everything in my power to stay free of Covid since the start of the pandemic. I’ve taken all the precautions I can. I’ve isolated myself so much that the loneliness I felt in the last month or two has been crushing at times.”

He added that this has been painful, but “I do recognize that this absolutely does not define me as an athlete, as a person. I am more than just another positive Covid test. I am more than just another face in the crowd.”

The 21-year-old became very emotional when talking “to the future Vincent.”

He continued, “When you were young sitting on the couch, watching those great skaters on TV, studying their jumps every night at the dinner table and waking up at 4 a.m. or earlier to go into the rink and skate and do double jumps, you had no idea what you were getting into. But you had a dream and you followed it. You made sacrifices for it. You dedicated your life to it. And today, you are that person, Vincent. You made it happen. So be proud of that. Take pride in yourself.”

Zhou won the silver medal in Monday’s figure skating team event.

Skijoring: The wacky, wild world of winter cowboys, horses and skiers

From CNN's Jack Bantock
People participate in a skijoring race in Leadville, Colorado, in March 2021.
People participate in a skijoring race in Leadville, Colorado, in March 2021.
(Jason Connolly/AFP/Getty Images)

Picture the scene: a cowboy or cowgirl riding a horse into the Opening Ceremony bearing the American flag, followed in tow by a skier carrying the Olympic torch.

Yeehaw! Don your cowboy hat and canter into the wild world of Western-style skijoring.

Exhibited at St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1928, skijoring holds the honor of being the first ever demonstration sport at a Winter Olympics.

Born in Europe, skijoring has taken many forms over the years and it’s practiced differently across continents.

It began with skiers being pulled by reindeer in Lapland, before practitioners began trying their hand behind horses, dogs and — popularized in the 1950s — motorcycles and cars.

St. Moritz’s frozen lake — host to the glitzy annual White Turf event since 1907 — has been described as the sport’s spiritual home, but skijoring took a trip across the Atlantic not long after and has since blossomed into an ever-growing discipline in the US.

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The central difference to the European version of skijoring is that, in the US, the horse has a rider.

While in Switzerland, many competitors grow up on horse ranches and ski, in the US most are either very accomplished horsemen or very accomplished skiers.

It is doubtful that skijoring would ever be added onto the official Olympic schedule, according to Loren Zhimanskova, President of SkijorUSA and Skijor International. She cited reasons surrounding the Games’ complicated relationship with animals.

But she would be keen to reignite the demonstration tradition or incorporate it into the Opening Ceremony for a forthcoming Games.

Not least because 2028 marks the 100th anniversary of skijoring at the Olympics and there’s a prospect of Salt Lake City potentially being the host city for the 2030 or 2034 Games.

Read more here about skijoring.

Your Olympics questions answered: How many athletes are competing in the 2022 Games?

From CNN's Ben Morse
Members of the United States Olympic Team take part in the parade of nations during the Opening Ceremony.
Members of the United States Olympic Team take part in the parade of nations during the Opening Ceremony.
(Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

The 2022 Winter Olympics are underway! With the competition taking place in a “closed loop” Covid-19 secure bubble in the Chinese capital, the 2022 Games are like no other, for athletes and fans alike.

So here are answers to some of the burning questions you might have about the 24th Winter Games.

How many athletes compete in the Winter Olympics?

Get more of your Olympics questions answered here.

China takes gold and silver in men's 1,000m short track speed skating
China's Ren Ziwei celebrates winning the gold medal after the men's 1,000m short track speed skating final on February 7.
China's Ren Ziwei celebrates winning the gold medal after the men's 1,000m short track speed skating final on February 7.
(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Chinese short track speed skater Ren Ziwei won gold in the men’s 1,000m short track speed skating at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics on Monday.

Hungarian Shaolin Sandor Liu crossed the finished line first, but after an official video review, Liu was given a yellow card and two penalties for illegally changing lanes and causing contact with Ren.

This is Ren’s second gold medal of the Games. He also won in the mixed team short track speed skating relay.

Silver went to Chinese Li Wenlong. Liu’s younger brother, Shaoang Liu of Hungary, claimed the bronze medal.

With four laps to go, the race initially was halted due to debris on the ice. 

Slovenia wins inaugural mixed team ski jump gold

From CNN's Aleks Klosok
Slovenia's Peter Prevc jumps during the mixed team ski jumping on February 7.
Slovenia's Peter Prevc jumps during the mixed team ski jumping on February 7.
(Al Bello/Getty Images)

Slovenia won the mixed team ski jumping gold medal at the Beijing Games on Monday.

The event was making its debut at the Games with 10 teams – or National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – taking part, each represented by two men and two women. 

The Slovenian team of Nika Kriznar, Timi Zajc, Ursa Bogotaj and Peter Prevc scored a total of 1001.5 points.

It’s the second medal of the Games for Kriznar and Bocataj, who won bronze and gold respectively in the women’s normal hill competition on Saturday.

The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) took the silver medal with 890.3 points and Canada the bronze with 844.6 points.

Germany were favorites for the event but failed to reach the final after individual silver medalist Katharina Althaus was disqualified for a suit violation.

The fast and furry world of sled dog racing

From CNN's Jack Bantock

For most, a dog is a man’s best friend.

But for select few, they’re also integral to a competitive sport — welcome to the world of sled dog racing.

Debuting as a demonstration sport at the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, 90 years later, the sport is still alive and barking as dogs pull their harnessed drivers, or mushers, around courses across the globe.

Most popular in the Arctic regions of North America and Europe, any mention of sledding and the breeds of dogs involved — huskies, malamutes and similar Nordic breeds — always come with the association of snow.

Yet Matt Hodgson, Great Britain’s first world champion in purebred sled dog racing, is living proof that a relative lack of snow is no barrier to success when passion is involved.

Based in the occasionally cold but rarely arctic southeast of England, Hodgson has developed his childhood fascination with dogs of the far north into Infury Dogs — a five-time medal winning sled dog team.

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3:25 • Source: CNN
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Though disrupted by the pandemic — with a December trip to Belgium canceled following the Covid surge of the Omicron variant — the sport has taken Hodgson and his dogs around the world.

Travel restrictions willing, Sweden calls for the World Championships in March, with the tantalizing prospect of competing at the Östersund Ski Stadium in Östersund.

Now, 10 years shy of the 100th anniversary of sled dog racing at the Winter Olympics as a demonstration sport, talk continues to swirl of the sport one day making a return to the Games.

Hodgson says the International Federation of Sled Dog Sports (IFSS) has been petitioning the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but he holds his own reservations on the suitability of the sport for Olympic status — fearing a “can of worms” opened up by logistics, finances and the very nature of the sport.

Read the full story here.

Blink and miss: Speed skiers zooming down mountains faster than an F1 car

From CNN's Jack Bantock
Italian speed skier Ivan Origone flies down a slope in Vars, France, in 2017.
Italian speed skier Ivan Origone flies down a slope in Vars, France, in 2017.
(Jean-Pierre Clatot/AFP/Getty Images)

Armed with nothing but two skis, skeleton fabrics and a helmet fit for a Daft Punk comeback tour, there are humans hurtling down the sides of mountains faster than an F1 car.

Blink and you’ll miss them, some of the fastest non-motorized humans on the planet — speed skiers.

Speed skiers are effectively plummeting through the sky.

In 2016, Italy’s Ivan Origone flashed down a run of the La Forêt Blanche resort in France, clocking an average of 254.958 kmph (158.42 mph) across his last 100 meters to set a new world record.

For perspective, the World Air Sports Federation states that the terminal speed of the human body freefalling in a stable, head down position is between 240 and 290 kmph (149.13 and 180.2 mph.)

Unsurprisingly, such descriptions dictate that, though skiing generally is wildly popular, speed skiing is very much a niche vocation.

Whereas jockeys riding horses will aim to keep themselves as light as possible, athletes on speed skis are maximizing strength and heaviness. Weightlifting, squats and deadlifts formed the backbone of a program designed to build dense muscle.

Strength conditioning also serves another vitally important purpose — surviving crashes.

F1 drivers are dressed to minimize damage. McLaren’s F1 driver’s overalls for example — made from a heat and flame resistant fiber — can resist exposure to direct fire for 15 seconds, supported by flame-resistant boots and gloves.

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2:49 • Source: CNN
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Speed skiers are afforded no such protection. With clothing designed for speed and speed alone, crash injuries can be horrific.

Concussions, broken arms and legs — the diagnoses are endless, but friction burning is the most commonplace injury.

In 2016, during a World Cup training run in France, Great Britain’s Jan Farrell crashed at 216 km/h (134.2 mph) and proceeded to skid for roughly 1,150 feet — over three-and-a-half football pitches — leaving him with second-degree burns.

More commonly caused by direct exposure to fire and boiling water, partial thickness burns can be excruciatingly painful, yet incredibly, Farrell was back out on the slopes again a day later.

Over time, the burns healed, but the psychological scarring endured.

Once unflappable and having never crashed at such a speed, almost overnight Farrell’s confidence was rocked — a critical issue in a discipline with little room for self-doubt.

“I was quite good at not crashing and not being scared — after that, everything changed,” he said. “Most of us who’ve crashed take some time to come back. It took me over a season and I had to go do psychological training and really rethink my mindset of how I skied.”

The sport has made just one appearance at the Winter Olympics — as a men’s and women’s demonstration event at Albertville in 1992 — and Farrell believes that while the potential is there, speed skiing needs to “do its homework” before an official return is viable.

Read the full story here.

Arianna Fontana defends women's 500m short track speed skating title after race restart

From CNN's Aleks Klosok
From left, Italy's Arianna Fontana and Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands compete in the women's 500m short track speed skating event on February 7.
From left, Italy's Arianna Fontana and Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands compete in the women's 500m short track speed skating event on February 7.
(Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images)

Italy’s Arianna Fontana defended her women’s 500m short track speed skating title on Monday but only after the final was restarted.

Fontana fell within the first lap causing the race to be restarted.

Once the action was again underway, Fontana seized the lead from reigning world champion Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands with just a lap to go and held on to seal gold – the second of her campaign at the Beijing Winter Games.

It’s Fontana’s 10th Olympic medal of her career.

Schulting finished in the silver medal position with triple Olympic medalist Kim Boutin from Canada in bronze.

Figure skater Zhu Yi focused on "coping mentally" after falling in team event

From CNN's George Ramsay
Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi breaks down in tears after competing in the team event on February 7.
Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi breaks down in tears after competing in the team event on February 7.
(Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images)

American-born Chinese figure skater Zhu Yi broke down in tears following her free skate performance in the team event on Monday.

The 19-year-old Zhu — who came under heavy criticism on Chinese social media after falling in the short program — fell twice in Monday’s event as she placed fifth for her routine with 91.41 points.

Amid the abuse she received after the short program, many questioned why Zhu was chosen to represent China at the Winter Olympics over an athlete born in the country.

The Russian Olympic Committee’s Kamila Valieva placed first in the free skate as she wrapped up the gold medal for her team.

US-born Chinese athletes have come under intense public scrutiny during these Games.

In contrast to the treatment of Zhu during her first Olympics, freestyle skier Eileen Gu – who was also born in California and is a year younger than Zhu – has charmed the Chinese public with her fluent Mandarin and familiarity with Chinese culture.

In the process, Gu has become the unofficial face of Beijing 2022 and is tipped to win at least one gold medal for China.

Kamila Valieva, 15, is one of the youngest athletes at this year's Winter Games

From CNN's Ben Church and George Ramsay
ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva competes in the team event on Monday, February 7.
ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva competes in the team event on Monday, February 7.
(Phil Noble/Reuters)

ROC figure skater Kamila Valieva made history on Monday after she became the first woman to land a quad at the Winter Games.

The 15-year-old executed a quad Salchow — which involves four complete rotations in the air.

She then went on to land a quad toeloop and triple Axel in the same routine, though she fell on her second quad toeloop attempt.

Read more about Valieva’s achievements here.

Valieva is one of the youngest athletes taking part in this year’s Winter Olympics but she is not the youngest.

You can read more about the youngest and oldest participants at Beijing 2022 here.

"This sport is so damn hard," says Mikaela Shiffrin after giant slalom heartbreak

From CNN's Ben Church
Mikaela Shiffrin falls during the women's giant slalom on February 7.
Mikaela Shiffrin falls during the women's giant slalom on February 7.
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Mikaela Shiffrin says Monday was one of the “most turbulent days I have ever experienced” after crashing out of the giant slalom at Beijing 2022.

The three-time Olympic medalist got a Did Not Finish on her first run after failing to complete the course, ending any hopes of a medal in the event, which was won by Sweden’s Sara Hector.

The event was marred by a scary fall from fellow American Nina O’Brien after she lost her balance before the finish.

“We’re so heartbroken for [Nina O’Brien] she showed so much heart and fire in her skiing today, and it all got shredded to pieces on the final turn,” Shiffrin wrote.

“The warrior that she is, she will get back stronger and speedier than ever, with the same upbeat and kind attitude that is trademark Nina,” she added.

“But tonight we’re all just sad and crossing our fingers for the best news possible.”

The US Ski and Snowboard team said O’Brien is now alert and responsive. 

"Age is just a number," says speed skater Ireen Wüst after making Olympic history

From CNN's Ben Church
Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst, center, celebrates on the podium following her win in the women's 1,500m on February 7.
Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst, center, celebrates on the podium following her win in the women's 1,500m on February 7.
(Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst says she is “really proud” after becoming the first athlete to win an individual gold medal in five separate Olympics.

The 35-year-old was victorious in the women’s 1,500m speed skating event on Monday but still remembers her first gold medal from 2006.

Wüst, who now sits in third place alongside Norway’s Bjørn Dæhlie on the all-time Winter Games medal list with 12, also broke the Olympic record for the women’s 1,500m event.

“This is just amazing. There’s a lot of different emotions going through my mind right now. I mean, it’s just bizarre that I was able to pull it off once again. 

“The whole week, I have been feeling great. I skated very well, and I knew I could trust myself. I was confident that I was able to do it today.

“To then have a race like this one is just incredible. I just have no words for it.”

Despite still being at the top of her game, the speed skater has said she will retire this season — making Beijing 2022 her last Olympic Games.

She says her last race will be the World Cup final in her home country on March 12.

“Age is just a number, hey? It’s just about how you feel,” she said, before confirming she would “leave on top. I will quit.”

Canada and ROC women's ice hockey teams wear facemasks after delayed Covid-19 test results

From CNN's Gawon Bae in Seoul
Russian Olympic Committee's goaltender Mariia Sorokina checks her face mask during a women's group A match at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games at the Wukesong Sports Centre on February 7.
Russian Olympic Committee's goaltender Mariia Sorokina checks her face mask during a women's group A match at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games at the Wukesong Sports Centre on February 7.
(Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images)

The women’s ice hockey match between the ROC and Canada was delayed by an hour on Monday as the ROC’s Covid-19 test results had not arrived on time, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement on Monday.

The puck was set to drop on the preliminary match at 12:10 p.m. local time but, according to ROC player Maria Batalova, the match was delayed after Canada refused to play until all the test results had arrived.

“We take the tests in the mornings and in the evenings, and the Canadian team wanted to wait for our morning test results and their own as well,” Batalova told the official Beijing 2022 website.

“At the beginning, there was an agreement that we will come out to play, and then they decided to wait for the test results.”

The federation said in its statement that both teams got tested before 9 a.m. local time on Monday, but the results did not come through in time.

“Russia’s results from this morning weren’t back in yet,” said Canada forward Natalie Spooner.

The ROC women’s ice hockey team was subjected to three days in quarantine early last week after several players tested positive for Covid-19. The team has since been cleared to compete at the Games.

According to the Russian Ice Hockey Federation, both sets of players were later instructed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that they could play the match wearing face masks.

The two teams abided by the regulation until the third period when the IIHF allowed the players to play with their masks off.

Team ROC played out the remainder of the game without masks, while the Canadian team maintained wearing personal protective equipment.

Canada eventually won the match 6-1, securing their second win in the Beijing Olympics’ preliminary round after Saturday’s victory against Finland.

German Denise Herrmann wins women's 15km biathlon gold

From CNN's Wayne Sterling
Gold medalist Denise Herrmann celebrates during the women's biathlon 15km individual flower ceremony on February 7.
Gold medalist Denise Herrmann celebrates during the women's biathlon 15km individual flower ceremony on February 7.
(Clive Rose/Getty Images)

German biathlete Denise Herrmann won gold in the women’s 15km individual biathlon at the 2022 Beijing Games on Monday.

The 33-year-old crossed the finish line in 44 minutes and 12.7 seconds to earn her first-ever Olympic medal. 

For Herrmann, the gold was a dream come true and one that has yet to sink in.

Germany is the only delegation in history to win multiple Olympic gold medals in women’s individual biathlon — with Antje Misersky-Harvey winning in 1992 and Andrea Henkel in 2002.

Herrmann’s success is Germany’s second gold medal of the Games and its third overall.

The silver medal for the women’s 15km biathlon went to Anaïs Chevalier-Bouchet of France, while Norwegian Marte Olsbu Røiseland won bronze.

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