Chasing Gold🥇: Last chance for Mikaela Shiffrin to medal at 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
The final full day of Olympic competition is here.
With the 2022 Beijing Olympics quickly winding down, Saturday's action will prove to be the last shot for many athletes to leave the Games with a medal. Mikaela Shiffrin, after struggling through the beginning of her events, will be back on skis for the last time in these Olympics, in the mixed team parallel competition.
The day's events kick off with the men's freeski halfpipe final, where the U.S. has an outside shot at a podium sweep. Aaron Blunck, Birk Irving and David Wise qualified first, third and fourth into the final. Alex Ferreira, the seventh qualifier, has been the top American this season.
Elsewhere, figure skating wraps up with the pairs free skate, where Timothy LeDuc already made history as the first openly nonbinary person to compete in the Winter Olympics.
While there will still be some events held Sunday in Beijing, the Game's closing ceremonies will take place later that night to officially close the competition.
TV SCHEDULE: What and how to watch Friday night and Saturday morning events
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OLYMPICS MEDAL COUNT: Track the hardware in Beijing by country
'IT CAN'T BE SILENT': Women's hockey was a primary draw during the 2022 Beijing Games. Yet, players fear that after the Olympics, attention and visibility will recede. With the Games coming to a close, prominent players like Team USA's Kendall Coyne Schofield, are speaking out in favor of more coverage of the sport.
STILL ENJOYING IT: Despite being left off the podium after Team USA lost its bronze medal match against Canada, curling's John Shuster — the American flag bearer for the opening ceremony — is leaving Beijing with his head held high.
BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: Snowboarding superstar Eileen Gu is American-born but is competing for China at the Beijing Games and has become one of the most prolific performers, winning three medals. Gu, who has been outspoken of the pride she feels for both of her countries, addressed how she is navigating the space of being biracial.
HERO'S WELCOME: Russian women's ice skater Kamila Valieva has been praised back in her home country, receiving support and well-wishes from celebrities and media outlets, alike.
'VERY DISTURBED': The president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, said he was "very disturbed" by Russian women's ice skater Kamila Valieva's disastrous performance and ripped those in Valieva's inner circle who didn't support her.
Here are some other stories you might enjoy:
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- WHO IS ETERI TUTBERIDZE? What we know about the coach behind Kamila Valieva, top Russian figure skaters
IOC says this is the most gender equal Winter Olympics. But the Games are hardly equal and here's why
Say cheese! Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:
- Incredible photos from the Beijing Olympics
- Emotion at the Olympics: Faces of triumph and defeat in Beijing
- See the funny faces at the 2022 Beijing Olympics
- Every American medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics
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