Let's go back to last night--Snowboarding wraps up, and Shaun White passes the torch in his final games. Meanwhile, the analyst explains how to make "hammer soup"--huh?--then berates the judges when they give a great run a "meh" score, calling it "triple-gate".
Off to Women's "Super-G", with NBC cutting away from runs to show Shiffrin and her team (Shiffrin announced yesterday that she will do no media "for the foreseeable future"). That didn't stop the network from pointing a parabolic mike at her to pick up what they could. With breathless anticipation, Shiffrin made her way through her run. Of course, NBC was effusive about this being a "triumph". Well, the media blackout didn't last long--she gave a quick interview after the race.
Prime Time ran late, so there wasn't much recorded on Late Night--did get part of the Freestyle Skiing Team Aerials, with Kornacki narrating an animated spiel of stats about the sport.
Meanwhile, we're getting more details on that Not-Russian "legal issue". Per an ESPN report, it's been confirmed that skater Kamila Valieva was drug tested on Christmas Day, during their national skating championship. However, the results (conveniently?) did not come back until February 8--one day after the QISE team event, saying she tested positive for a substance that could have increased her endurance. At that point, she was "provisionally" suspended, which would prevent her from competing in the individual competition--but this wasn't disclosed, as Valieva is 15, and hence is a "protected person" due to her age. She challenged the decision, and the suspension was lifted. Now, the QISEOC is appealing to reinstate it, and the "Court of Arbitration for Sport", onsite at Beijing, will decide if the suspension should have been lifted. Then, the International Skating Union will make the final call on whether a) Not-Russia will lose the team gold and b) Valieva will be allowed to compete in the individual event. Got all that? Seems like a lot of paperwork for a cheater.
Afternoon coverage--Lowe sends us off to the longest of the long speed skates--the Men's 10,000M. 25 laps around the oval. The Netherlands basically owned this event, but Sweden took it this time. You know it's a long event when they stick a commercial break in the middle of run AND a segment on blade options. We also get a rerun of the post-event Shaun White interview to keep the viewers awake. This was followed by a studio segment with Lowe learning more about the Skeleton event. Then another long event--the Men's 15km Classical Cross Country Ski--before we make it to the Women's Skeleton heats. You are going face-first, lying on your stomach--it's for people who saw the danger of Luge and said "hold my beer."
I switched over to Peacock, and saw that Kevin Hart is doing another QISE show--a "Tailgate Party". He does a stand-up routine in an LA parking lot, swearing up a storm, with people from Central Casting laughing at it all. Pass.
Prime Time kicks off with Torico, now reporting from LA--site of this weekend's Superb Owl and the 2028 QISE games. Off to more Ski Jumping, this time the Men's Large Hill, followed by Short Track 500M heats. These are sprints, which means a lot of crashes and disqualifications. Then it's the medal round for Men's Skeleton, with a teaser of tomorrow's Ice Dancing dropped in.
More to come.