There was some slight movement in the medal count on Friday morning as Germany dropped out of the top three nations. Taking its place was Canada, which moved up to the third-place spot with 24 medals and four golds. Germany dropped down to fourth place with 22 medals.
The United States fell to fifth place with 21 medals and eight golds to its name.
Norway remains at the top in a seemingly unreachable peak, with 34 medals and 15 golds. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) remain behind them with 27 medals and five golds.
United States Men’s Curling Loses Bronze Medal
The United States curling team played its last game early Friday morning, as the men’s team faced Great Britain in the bronze medal matchup. As with the rest of the curling competitions in Beijing, the U.S. was unable to find success in the men’s contest.
The men’s team lost 8-4 to their cross-ocean rivals after failing to get on the board after the fourth round. While the U.S. put up two rounds with two points apiece, the British never suffered a large deficit to the Americans: the U.S. only have a one-point lead for one round.
The loss comes after the United States women and the U.S. mixed curling teams were unable to even reach the knockout stages of their competitions. However, the United States were never a high favorite in the sport, so the losses will not be so devastating.
Recapping day seventeen
Eileen Gu of China got the action started on Thursday night, winning the women’s skiing halfpipe. The win marked her 2nd gold medal of the games and China’s 4th alpine skiing gold. In men’s cross skiing, Ryan Regez and Alex Fiva represented Switzerland well, winning the gold and silver medals.
In the biathlon, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet won France the gold medal in the women’s 12.5km mass start. In the men’s 15km mass start, Johannes Thingnes Boe won his fourth gold medal of the games, and Norway’s 6th biathlon gold out of the 11 medals total.
Men’s hockey saw two semifinals games. The ROC beat Sweden 2-1, while Finland beat Flovakia 2-0.
The Netherlands continued to dominate speed skating, as Thomas Krol won the men’s 1000m Friday morning. The win marked Krol’s 2nd medal in Beijing and the Netherland’s 5th speed skating gold. The nation has won half of all gold medals awarded.
Going into day eighteen
Bobsled starts out the competition, with the four-man contest. The first run will come at 8:30 p.m., while the second comes at 10:05 p.m. The two-woman contest finishes up the next morning, with the third run at 7:00 a.m. and the fourth and final run at 8:30 a.m. At present, German teams comprised of Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi lead with Mariama Jamanka and Alexandra Burghardt coming in 2nd. Americans Elana Mayers Taylor and Sylvia Hoffman are in third.
In skiing, the men’s halfpipe final kicks off at 8:30 p.m. The team skiing event beings with the round of 16 at 9:00 p.m., with the final coming shortly after at 10:28 p.m. Finally, cross-country brings the men’s 50km mass start at 1:00 a.m.
Curling has two medal games Saturday morning. Sweden plays Great Britain in the men’s gold medal match, while Switzerland plays Sweden in the women’s bronze medal game.
Skating has two mass start events. The men’s semifinal begins at 2:00 a.m. and the final starts at 3:30 a.m. The women have their semifinal at 2:45 a.m. and its final at 4:00 a.m. In figure skating, the pair’s contest finishes with the free skate.
Hockey rounds out the day, as Sweden plays Slovakia in the men’s bronze medal match.
