\n<\/p>\n
Ski mountaineering: Women’s and men’s sprint finals (12:55 and 13:15)<\/b><\/p>\n
Bormio is synonymous with downhill skiing but some athletes will also be attempting to go uphill in the only new sport at these Winter Olympics \u2013 ski mountaineering, or skimo for short. <\/p>\n
Skiers race up and down a steep course on skis, ‘skins’ (strips of fabric attached to the bottom of skis) and on foot, putting on or taking off their equipment in transition areas between sections. <\/p>\n
Two of the three golds on offer will be decided today in the sprint races, which consist of several knockout contests. <\/p>\n
France’s Emily Harrop, whose parents are British but who was born and bred in the French Alps, is the women’s favourite (heats start at 08:50), with the men’s heats at 09:30.<\/p>\n
Figure skating: Women’s free skate (18:00-22:10)<\/b><\/p>\n
The women’s figure skating is always one of the highlights of any Winter Olympics, but in 2022 it was one of the most upsetting events. It concluded with 15-year-old Kamila Valieva leaving the ice distressed after an error-strewn performance that followed her positive drugs test. <\/p>\n
The contest for gold in Milan-Cortina promises to be an intriguing battle \u2013 reigning world champion Alysa Liu and revitalised team-mate Amber Glenn are aiming to become the first USA winner of this title for 24 years, while Japan’s three-time former world champion Kaori Sakamoto is hoping for a first Olympic gold in her farewell season. <\/p>\n
But could the latest young Russian talent Adeliia Petrosian \u2013 who will be competing as a neutral athlete \u2013 emerge as a contender?<\/p>\n
Ice hockey: Women’s gold medal game (18:10) <\/b><\/p>\n
Thursday’s final will almost certainly be the latest chapter in the increasingly bitter rivalry between the two dominant teams in women’s hockey, Canada and the USA. <\/p>\n
The pair have contested six of the seven gold medal matches at the Olympic and met in 23 of 24 finals at World Championship level. <\/p>\n
The Canadians usually have the edge when it matters most and claimed their fifth Olympic crown in 2022.<\/p>\n
Freestyle skiing: Women’s halfpipe run one and two (18:30-20:25)<\/b><\/p>\n
Zoe Atkin, one of Britain’s biggest medal hopes at these Games, begins her quest to emulate big sister Izzy and win an Olympic medal. <\/p>\n
The 23-year-old Stanford University student is the reigning world champion and also the joint-winner of the overall World Cup title last season. <\/p>\n
However, she will face a strong field, including China’s defending champion Eileen Gu and Li Fanghui, who was the other major force in the 2024-25 campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n