Alpine fans get their money’s worth
Actually there should be only eight decisions in the Olympic programme on Monday. But on Sunday the men’s alpine downhill had to be cancelled and was postponed to 07.07.2022. Nine sets of medals will therefore be awarded on Monday, if everything goes according to plan. Especially the friends of alpine skiing will get their money’s worth on the Olympic night. In addition to the men’s downhill, the women will also be competing for the Olympic medals in the giant slalom.
Other than that, there are two more decisions scheduled for the night. In figure skating, the best team will be crowned. However, there will be no German-speaking athletes on the ice, just like in the final of the snowboard men’s slopestyle. All athletes from Germany, Austria and Switzerland failed in the qualification and will only be allowed to watch.
It will be exciting at breakfast time, because the third decision in speed skating is on the Olympic programme. Afterwards, the schedule offers the first individual decision in the biathlon, when the women start over the 15 kilometres. After that, the third decision will be made in ski jumping. The team competition in the mixed event could hold precious metal in store for the German eagles in particular.
Olympics 2022 – Current Medals Table
In the team sports, once again only the Swiss will be competing on Monday. In women’s ice hockey, however, there is the threat of another disaster against the Finnish selection. In curling, the mixed doubles still have to play against Norway. However, a place in the semifinals is no longer possible. The day will be rounded off by the two decisions in short track, where no German-speaking athletes will be competing.
The most important decisions of the day
Alpine Skiing – Women’s Giant Slalom
3:15am CET – Yanqing Alpine Skiing Centre Technical
Ski superstar Mikaela Shiffrin takes to the slopes for her first race. The US American has a lot planned in Yanqing and has announced in advance that she will be competing in all competitions.
Sara Hector is the best woman in this discipline this winter. In the last five World Cups she was always on the podium and even won three times. The lowest quotes are offered in this decision on a success of the Swede. In total, however, there are five to six women who can intervene in the race for the precious metal.
Besides Hector and Shiffrin, only France’s Tessa Worley has won a giant slalom this season. The two-time World Champion got into shape in time and could be a force to be reckoned with in the Far East. The same goes for the Italians Marta Bassino and Federica Brignone. Whether World Champion Lara Gut-Behrami will be at full strength after her compulsory break remains to be seen.
Biathlon – Women’s Individual
from 10:30 CET – Zhangjiakou Biathlon Centre
On Monday, the first individual decision in the biathlon is scheduled in the Olympic programme. The 15 kilometres can be very long in the altitude of Zhangjiakou. Therefore, it is probably the most difficult race that the women have to complete at these Winter Games. The differences between the top skiers and the mediocre biathletes may become even more obvious than they already are.
The German technicians have obviously adjusted well to the conditions in China, because even though the mixed relay team faltered at the shooting range, it went very well in the cross-country, among others for Denise Hermann. But the German women will only be outsiders on Monday. The favourites are more likely to come from Scandinavia.
In addition, there are the two Swedish sisters Hanna and Elvira Öberg. Overall, you have to keep an eye on the entire French women. Traditionally, the Eastern Europeans are strong in the individual competition. Hanna Sola, Dzinara Alimbekava, Marketa Davidova or the Russians have to be taken into account.
Ski Jumping – Team Competition Mixed
from 12:45 CET – Zhangjiakou Ski Jumping Centre
For most teams in ski jumping it is difficult to put together a good mixed team. Germany has both two strong men and two strong women, but especially the men were not convincing on the normal hill and had enormous problems. Therefore, the quartet of the DSV eagles is not a favourite for gold on Monday, even though one should not write off this team.
Stronger are probably the Slovenians, who have the biggest selection in the women’s and men’s events. With Ursa Bogataj, Slovenia brings the Olympic champion of the women to the start. Japan has Ryoyu Kobayashi, the men’s gold medallist, in the team. The Japanese team will also be strong and will certainly be in the fight for the medals.
Austria has the problem that their best jumper, Sara Marita Kramer, is not competing. Norway is missing some strong men and Maren Lundby is taking a break this year. In general, the team line-ups are not fixed at the time of going to press, but we expect a duel for gold between Slovenia and Japan. Russia and Germany are candidates for bronze.
Important Olympic hockey matches tonight
Women – Russia vs. Canada
5:10 a.m. CET – Preliminary Round – Wukesong Arena
The Canadian women’s hockey team has marched through this Olympic tournament to this point. So far, their opponents have not shown the qualities to even come close to taking on the Maple Leafs. The first two tournament games ended with a 12-1 win over Switzerland and an 11-1 win over Finland. The next landslide victory could follow as early as Monday.
This time, the opponent will be the Russian women’s team. They started the tournament with a 5:2 victory over Switzerland. In their second match on Saturday, however, the Russians were shown their limits and lost 5-0 to the USA. That’s why everything points to Canada winning this match against Russia by a clear margin.
Women – Denmark vs. Czech Republic
9:40 CET – Preliminary Round – Wukesong Arena
It was the Danish women who threw a spanner in the works of the ice hockey teams from Germany and Austria in the qualification. In Beijing, however, things are going anything but well for the women from Northern Europe. After only two games, their backs are against the wall. After the defeats against China and Japan, the third place, which is enough to enter the quarter finals, is far away.
On Monday, a win against the Czech Republic is absolutely necessary, but the belief in this is lacking. The Czech Republic won their first two games against China and Sweden and have one foot in the playoffs. Everything points to the Czech Republic making it into the quarter-finals on matchday three, with the Danes possibly already out of the tournament.
Team Germany to watch in Beijing
It will probably not be a successful day for the German Olympic team. A medal is possible especially in the mixed team in ski jumping. If things go quite well, the German women should be able to surprise in the biathlon, although the winter has shown that this should not be expected. But not much more should be possible.
Germany will hardly be able to do anything in the two alpine decisions. The men were behind in the downhill training in Yanqing and have not been among the front runners all winter, Emma Aicher is only a stopgap in the women’s giant slalom. Even qualifying for the second round would be a great success.
You shouldn’t expect too much in speed skating or ski freestyle on Monday. But it will be exciting again in the ice chute. Although the decision in the women’s singles will not be made yet, the first two runs are coming up. According to the impressions from the sliding centre so far, Natalie Geisenberger should probably be the big favourite.
Team Austria to watch in Beijing
Austria is one of the most successful alpine skiing nations in the world. Therefore it should be an exciting night for the fans of the ÖSV team. In the women’s giant slalom, however, the Austrians are not among the medal candidates. It’s a different story for the men. In the downhill they hope to be able to provide the king of the Olympic athletes.
Max Franz, Daniel Hemetsberger, Vincent Kriechmayr and Matthias Mayer all have chances for top places. Otherwise, the Olympic day could be similar to that of the Germans. With a bit of luck, they could play a role in the mixed team in ski jumping. However, the absence of Sara Marita Kramer might weigh too heavily.
In the biathlon, Lisa Theresa Hauser could perhaps play a good role. If everything goes together and she is as confident as usual at the shooting range, a medal might be possible. In luge, Team Austria has three strong racers at the start. Especially Madeleine Egle and Hannah Prock performed well in the training runs and hope to get into position in the first two runs.
Team Switzerland to watch at Olympia 2022
Naturally, the focus of the Swiss is also on the two alpine decisions in the night. In both the women’s giant slalom and the men’s downhill, winning the gold medal is not impossible. Lara Gut-Behrami and Wendy Holdener as well as Beat Feuz and Marco Odermatt are certainly the most promising candidates.
In the qualification in Ski Freestyle, the Swiss want to get some candidates into the final in the Big Air. Especially in the men’s event, where the contingent has been completely exhausted with four participants, they are hoping for good results. In the biathlon, the Swiss women are unlikely to play a role. Perhaps Natalie Maag can surprise in the luge.
Otherwise, the last game in the mixed doubles is still to come in curling against Norway. However, it is only a matter of saying goodbye to the tournament in the best possible way, as the semifinals have already been missed. In the women’s ice hockey preliminary round, the fourth defeat is looming in the fourth game. Nevertheless, the women’s national team has reached the quarter-finals after that.
