USA's Mikaela Shiffrin leaves after the women's giant slalom was postponed because of strong winds at the Jeongseon Alpine Center during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang on February 12, 2018. Shiffrin will have to wait to kick off her bid for multiple Olympic medals after the opening women's giant slalom was postponed Monday because of strong winds. / AFP PHOTO / Javier SORIANO
Superstar alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin may finally get her chance to perform at Pyeongchang on Wednesday on day five of the Winter Olympics.
Wind has delayed the start but the 22-year-old American is hoping to get her Pyeongchang campaign off the mark by retaining her 2014 slalom Olympic title.
Here are five highlights of day five of the Pyeongchang Olympics:
First gold for Shiffrin?
American ace Mikaela Shiffrin, one of the biggest stars at the Games, gets an opportunity to shine in alpine skiing. Shiffrin stormed to gold in the Olympic slalom in Sochi four years ago at the age of just 18, a year after she won the first of her three consecutive world championship titles. Now 22, she is favourite to retain her title and is aiming for multiple gold medals at Pyeongchang.
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Fifth time lucky?
German skaters Aljona Savchenko and partner Bruno Massot are among the favourites for the pairs figure skating title. For Savchenko, 34, it is her fifth attempt at winning the event, which gets under way with the short programme. China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong beat the Germans for the world title in Helsinki last year and are hoping for a repeat performance. Making their Olympic debut are North Korean pair Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik. They are not medal contenders but are making history as part of 22 athletes from the north at the Pyeongchang Games.
Has White still got it?
Snowboarding’s former bad boy Shaun White is back for a shot at a third Olympic title at the age of 31. White won gold at the 2006 and 2010 Games but flopped in Sochi four years ago. The “flying tomato” has shed the grunge look and the shoulder-length red locks for his tilt at the halfpipe gold. Two-time world champion Scotty Jones of Australia is among those hoping to eclipse snowboarding’s biggest star.
Russia all the way?
Men’s ice hockey starts with the Russians up against Slovakia and the Americans playing Slovenia. The Russians, playing as Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR), believes they can go all the way to gold for the first time since 1992. Team USA are expected to struggle without their NHL stars for the first time since 1994. In the women’s tournament the joint Korean side make a final bow after becoming the first team to represent North and South Korea at an Olympics. They play their final game against Japan after losing their first two group games to Switzerland and Sweden.
Triple treat from Germany?
Germany, with Sochi 2014 gold medallist Eric Frenzel and world champion Johannes Rydzek among their starters, are looking for a rare medal sweep in the Nordic combined, involving ski jumping and a 10km cross country race.
Source: G Sport
