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Winter Olympics 2018: Women's figure skater's record quickly eclipsed

Olympic athletes push safety boundaries
Winter Olympic athletes push safety limits amid rise in extreme sports 03:09

The Winter Games featured some action-packed events Tuesday in primetime. Team USA's Lindsey Vonn took home the bronze medal in the women's downhill. She won gold in the event in 2010.

Also, the United States had three competitors in the figure skating short program: Bradie Tennell competed in the first group, with Mirai Nagasu and Karen Chen taking part in the fourth.

In addition, the U.S. men's hockey team sought to avoid being eliminated from the games when it took on the Czech Republic.

Scroll below to see the latest updates as they happen. All times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.


7 a.m.: Norway ousts defending speedskating race champs

Norway has defeated defending champion the Netherlands with an Olympic record speedskating race and will face South Korea in the final of the men's team pursuit.

Outsider New Zealand, which pushed the South Koreans until the final half-lap, will face the Netherlands for the bronze medal.

The Dutch changed their team for the semifinals after a disappointing performance by Koen Verweij and picked 1,500-meter silver medalist Patrick Roest to go instead.

The Norwegians won over eight laps by 1.38 seconds and finished in an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 37.08 seconds.

Dutch rider Jan Blokhuijsen seemed to be hampered by a faulty clapskate. Coach Geert Kuiper says a spring broke at the start of the race, making skating more difficult.

6:30 a.m.: Women's speedskating team pursuit finals set

Defending champion the Netherlands will face Japan in the final of the women's speedskating team pursuit, with both teams cruising in the semifinals.

It will be a North American battle for bronze, with the United States facing Canada.

The Dutch, led by Ireen Wust, took an early lead over the United States and never had to push, since the U.S. team, with Brittany Bowe sitting out the semifinal, was clearly seeking to conserve energy for the bronze-medal race.

And after six laps, the Dutch could already see the slow U.S. riders in the same lane as they cruised to at least a silver medal.

Japan was pushed a bit harder by Canada but steadily built up a comfortable lead, taking any excitement out of the second semifinal, too. 

5:30 a.m. U.S. gets its 1st gold ever in women's cross-country skiing as Norwegian sets historic mark

The United States has won its first Olympic gold medal in women's cross-country skiing, and Norwegian skier Marit Bjoergen has become the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time by taking bronze at the Pyeongchang Games.

The Americans posted the fastest time in the semifinals to start on the front row in the finals Wednesday. Jessica Diggins passed the Swedes and the Norwegians on the final lap to make history in a major upset.

Sweden took silver.

Bjoergen and teammate Maiken Caspersen Falla won the bronze medal.

Bjoergen now has won 14 career medals at the Winter Olympic Games, passing Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjourndalen for the most ever. The 37-year-old previously took gold in the women's 4x5-kilometer relay, silver in the 15-kilometer skiathlon and bronze in the 10-kilometer freestyle at Pyeongchang. 

5 a.m. Russian men's hockey team moves closer to finals

The Russian men's hockey team has swept aside Norway 6-1 to set up a semifinal against the Czech Republic.

Russia charged to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period, outshooting Norway 19-2, and remained in control throughout the game as chants of "Red Machine" and "Russia" echoed around the half-empty Gangneung Hockey Center.

Nikita Gusev finished with a goal and two assists, while Slava Voynov had a goal and an assist.

After the disappointment of losing in the quarterfinals at home in Sochi four years ago, the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" - as they're called due to International Olympic Committee sanctions over doping - are now guaranteed to play for a medal.

No Russian hockey team has won a medal since 2002.

3:30 a.m. Crashes mar men's skicross

Brady Leman has earned gold for Canada in men's skicross, beating Switzerland's Marc Bischofberger in a wild final at the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Leman took the lead early during Wednesday's last round and then held off Bischofberger in a two-man duel after Canada's Kevin Drury and Russian athlete Sergey Ridzik collided early on.

Ridzik picked himself up and raced down for bronze.

The elimination rounds included a handful of frightening crashes that forced several men to leave the course wrapped up in a medical sled.

The worst came when 2011 world champion Chris Del Bosco lost control in mid-air late in the run. The right side of the Canadian's body slammed hard into the snow and he lay motionless for several minutes before emergency personnel carefully placed him on the sled.

1:05 a.m. Records galore in women's figure skating short program


Alina Zagitova's record-setting short program has given the 15-year-old Russian the lead over friend, training partner and two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva heading into Friday's free skate.

Zagitova scored 82.92 points, breaking the mark of 81.61 that Medvedeva had set about 15 minutes earlier. Both scores topped the short program record Medvedeva set earlier in the Pyeongchang Games.

Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada was third with 78.87 points.

The American trio of Mirai Nagasu, Karen Chen and Bradie Tennell struggled with early mistakes in each of their programs. Nagasu was ninth with Chen and Tennell right behind her.

Tennell fell during her opening jump combination, a mistake so rare that the reigning U.S. champion couldn't remember the last time it happened.

Nagasu fell trying to land her signature triple axel, which she pulled off in the team event but is so hard that nobody else in the competition attempts it.

Chen bobbled her opening triple lutz, which was supposed to feed into a triple toe, forcing her to adjust the rest of her routine to squeeze in another combination jump.

But all three Americans showed tremendous resilience in holding their programs together.

1 a.m.: U.S. men's hockey team eliminated

Goaltender Pavel Francouz stopped all five shooters and Petr Kouka scored the shootout winner as the Czech Republic eliminated the United States men's hockey team with a 3-2 victory in the quarterfinals.

Jan Kovar and Tomas Kundratek scored in regulation Wednesday for the Czech Republic, which was fresher after winning its group and getting a bye into the quarterfinals. The U.S. looked fatigued after facing Slovakia in the qualification round and was outshot 29-20.

Ryan Donato and Jim Slater scored for the U.S, which again was led by its youngest players, including speedster Troy Terry. U.S. goaltender Ryan Zapolski allowed three goals on 29 shots and one in the shootout. The Czech Republic's Pavel Francouz stopped 18 in regulation and overtime. 

12:20 a.m.: Russian Evgenia Medvedeva skates into first place

Evgenia Medvedeva, the world champion and a favorite for gold, scored an 81.61 in her short program, putting her in first place. Skating after Medvedeva was Japan's Satoko Miyahara, who landed in second place with a score of 75.94.

Figure Skating - Winter Olympics Day 12
Evgenia Medvedeva of Olympic Athlete from Russia competes during the Ladies Single Skating Short Program on day twelve of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 21, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. Getty

11:30 p.m.: Team USA's Mirai Nagasu falls during triple axel

Mirai Nagasu became the first American woman to land a triple axel at the Olympics during the team event last week, but she fell during the notoriously difficult jump on Tuesday. She fell out of the top three after South Korea's Choi Dabin scored 67.77. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto led with 73.18 and Canada's Gabrielle Daleman took second place. 

"I think I overshot it -- I kind of landed it, but I kind of fell," Nagasu told NBC after the program. "I took an L for the day ... you win some, you lose some." 

Figure Skating - Winter Olympics Day 12
Mirai Nagasu of the United States falls while competing during the Ladies Single Skating Short Program on day twelve of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Gangneung Ice Arena on February 21, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. Getty

11:05 p.m.: Italy's Sofia Goggia takes gold in Olympic downhill

Sofia Goggia of Italy has won the women's Olympic downhill, with good friend Lindsey Vonn taking the bronze. Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway was the surprise silver medalist after turning in a sizzling run as the 19th racer on the course. Mowinckel also earned silver in the giant slalom at these Games.

Goggia finished in a time of 1 minute, 39.22 seconds to hold off Mowinckel by 0.09 seconds. Vonn finished 0.47 seconds behind Goggia.

At 33, Vonn becomes the oldest female medalist in Alpine skiing at the Winter Games. The record was held by Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister, who was just shy of her 33rd birthday when she won the downhill and the super-G at the 2006 Turin Olympics. This is likely Vonn's last Olympic downhill race. 

9:46 p.m.: Norway edges out Lindsey Vonn to take 2nd place

Norway's Ragnhild Mowinckel scored a +0.09 from the leading score of 1:39.22 from Italy (Sofia Goggia).

USA's Lindsey Vonn drops to third place in the downhill (+0.47).

This didn't hold for that long:

9:13 p.m.: USA's Lindsey Vonn takes run, places 2nd

Vonn was clocked at skiing more than 60 mph ... but she was almost a half second behind Italy's time near the end of her run. She crosses the line and places second (+0.47) behind Italy's Sofia Goggia (1:39.22).

9 p.m.: Women's downhill skiing underway

Will Lindsey Vonn capture gold? We'll soon find out.

8:44 p.m.: South Korea defends title to capture gold in 3,000M relay

The team won again (after their victory in Sochi). There were numerous crashes and near wipeouts in the competition.

Italy earns the silver medal and the Netherlands capture the bronze.

winter games 2018 women's 3000m relay
The Italy team (below L), the South Korea team (top L) and the Netherlands team (R) celebrate on the podium during the victory ceremony after the women's 3,000m relay short track speed skating final event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at the Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangneung on Tue., Feb. 20, 2018. Getty

8:40 p.m.: Women's 3,000M relay gets underway

8:35 p.m.: Relive Lindsey Vonn's 2010 Winter Games gold medal win

Team USA posted a throwback video showing Vonn's downhill gold victory in Sochi.

8:30 p.m.: Africa team has its first bobsled run in Winter Games

They scored +0.65 seconds behind Team USA (40.01).

8:21 p.m.: Team USA heads to the top in women's bobsled

After their run, Team USA (group 1, piloted by Elana Meyers Taylor) leads the bobsled competition with a 2/10 of a second ahead of Canada. They scored 40.01.

Group 2, piloted by Jamie Greubel-Poser, scored third place after their bobsled run just behind Germany.

8:18 p.m.: Women's bobsled kicks off

Canada's team starts the event with pilot Kaillie Humprhies.

8:08 p.m.: Ladies' figure skating short program kicks off

USA's Bradie Tennell takes the ice first for her short program, but she did take a tumble after an opening combo (triple lutz / double toe). She scored 64.01 (three points off her personal best).

"It was definitely unexpected," Tennell said of her fall on a triple toe loop, "but things happen. We're all human. We all make mistakes. You just have to get up and keep going."

The Russians also have strong contenders, including two-time reigning world champion Evgenia Medvedeva, who broke her own short program world record in the team event. She has lost to only one skater since 2015 -- her teammate Alina Zagitova. The medals will be awarded Friday.

7:55 p.m.: Latest medal count by country

Here's a look at the total medals rounded up by CBS Sports.

180220-olympics-medal-count-01.png
A look at the latest medal count by country as of 7:50 p.m. ET on Tue., Feb. 20, 2018. CBS Sports

7:30 p.m.: Tuesday night's schedule of events

Courtesy of CBS Sports.

8-10:45 p.m. -- Figure Skating (ladies' short program), NBCSN (LIVE)
9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Women's Alpine Skiing (downhill gold medal final), NBC (LIVE)
8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Figure Skating -- Ladies' Short Program, NBC (LIVE)
8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Women's Bobsled (competition), NBC
8 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Men's Snowboarding (big air competition), NBC (LIVE)
10 p.m.-12:30 a.m. -- Men's Ice Hockey (Czech Republic vs. USA/Slovakia, quarterfinal), CNBC (LIVE)
10:45 p.m.-2:40 a.m. -- Women's Curling: Canada vs. Great Britain, NBCSN

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