Saturday 04 / May / 2024
Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami has added super-G Olympic gold to her World Cup triumph, becoming the first woman to hold both titles simultaneously.
The 30-year-old had to wait for confirmation of her place atop the podium but, in reality, there was little chance of any of those seeded lower than 30th, who raced later, matching her time of 1:13.51.
Austria's Mirjam Puchner finished second, while Gut-Behrami's compatriot Michelle Gisin took bronze. Germany's Kira Weidle was more than a second off the pace in 15th.
It was glory for Gut-Behrami on the slope, but heartbreak for the greatest men's snowboarder of all time in the halfpipe, as three-time Olympic champion Shaun White ended his career without a final medal — but with a standing ovation.
The 35-year-old was aiming for his fourth gold medal in the halfpipe, but crashed out on his third and final run to finish in fourth.
"That's it," he said as he removed his helmet to bid farewell to the crowd, revealing a tear-streaked face.
Into his place stepped Japan's Ayumu Hirano, who finally claimed that coveted gold medal with a score of 96.00 after twice finishing with silver in the past two Games.
"I've been working toward my dream and this is it," said the 23-year-old.
Australia's Scotty James won silver with 92.50, while Switzerland's Jan Scherrer's 87.25 grabbed him bronze.
The figure skating team gold medal won by the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Monday remains in doubt after team member Kamila Valieva tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.
The Independent Testing Agency confirmed the result, but the the 15-year-old's suspension has been temporarily lifted by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, RUSADA — a decision which the International Olympic Committee is now appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
