Saturday's Highlights at the Sochi Olympics
SATURDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS AT THE SOCHI OLYMPICS:
GOLD FOR THE AGES
Mario Matt becomes the oldest Alpine champion in Olympic history when he leads Marcel Hirscher in a 1-2 finish for Austria in the men's slalom. Matt turns 35 in April. Kjetil Andre Aamodt had the old mark — the Norwegian great was 34 years, 170 days when he won the super-G at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
BIG SHOTS OF BIATHLON
Russia wins a record seventh Olympic biathlon relay gold medal after Anton Shipulin surges to the front on the final lap of the men's 4x7.5-kilometer event, holding off Germany and Austria. Defending champion Norway led for most of the race but dropped to fourth after anchor Emil Hegle Svendsen missed three targets in his final shooting, denying teammate Ole Einar Bjoerndalen the chance of winning a record ninth career Winter Olympic gold medal.
BUSTED
Ukrainian cross-country skier Marina Lisogor fails a doping test, her country's Olympic committee said. It is the third positive result of the Sochi Games, all tied to banned stimulants.
DEFENDING THE QUEEN
South Korea is protesting the results of women's figure skating in which Russia's Adelina Sotnikova won the title. The South Koreans believe biased judging cost Yuna Kim, the country's beloved "Queen," a gold medal. The sport's international governing body has not yet received the letter.
PUSSY RIOT FALLOUT
The Cossack who horsewhipped members of the punk group Pussy Riot has been "held accountable." Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak would not specifically say what action was taken.
SLOVENE SWANSONG
Two-time Alpine gold medalist Tina Maze says the Sochi Olympics — her fourth — will be her last. The 30-year-old from Slovenia tied for victory in the downhill and won the giant slalom in Sochi.
OLYMPIC SUMMIT
Marit Bjoergen became the most decorated female Winter Olympian, leading a Norwegian sweep in 30-kilometer cross-country. Her sixth Olympic gold gave her a career total of 10, putting her ahead of Russian cross-country skier Lyubov Egorova.
TO RUSSIA, WITH GOLD
American-born Russian Vic Wild won the parallel slalom to bookend the gold he won in parallel giant slalom, strengthening his adopted country's bid to top the medal standings. Wild competes for Russia after marrying Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina.
BRUTAL FINNISH
Teemu Selanne scores twice and Tuukka Rask has a 27-save shutout to help Finland rout the United States 5-0 to win the hockey bronze medal.
MEDALS
Russia and Norway each have 11 gold medals, with the host nation leading the overall standings with 29 medals in total. The United States is second on the overall standings with 27 medals, including nine gold — level with Canada.
SUNDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Three final medals before the party ends and the guests head out the door: four-man bobsled, men's biathlon 50K mass start and Canada-Sweden in men's hockey. The closing ceremony follows, with the handover to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Games. The flame goes out, and then goodbye. Better yet, dosvidanya.
