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BEIJING, China — Friday at the Beijing Olympics will mark the start of the playoff leg of the women’s hockey tournament, continued action in short and long track speed skating, where Canada is chasing podium finishes in both disciplines, and the return on skis of an Olympic hero who, not so long ago, was unknown.
Here are events to watch at the Beijing Olympics on Friday, February 11.
What does Shaun White have in store for us in the final? (8:30 p.m.)
At 35, American superstar Shaun White is playing his very last career Games. He will have the chance to savor gold one last time in the halfpipe event.
In qualifying, White managed the fourth best score. Japanese Ayumu Hirano was the best, two points ahead of Australian Scott James.
Jones and Gushue in curling action (1:05 a.m. and 7:05 a.m.)
Both Canada’s women’s and men’s foursome will be in action on Friday in the preliminary round of the curling tournament.
On the women’s side, the team led by Jennifer Jones will face Japan. The men’s team led by Brad Gushue will try to overcome Switzerland later in the day.
An opportunity for Bloemen to regroup (3 h)
After a disappointing 10th place in the 5,000 meter long track speed skating event, Ted-Jan Bloemen will try to pull himself together in the 10,000 meter, his favorite event. Four years ago in Pyeongchang, Bloemen won the gold medal and set an Olympic record.
The Calgary athlete won’t have it easy against Sweden’s Nils van der Poel, the current world brand holder, but he should be doubly motivated after the drop in speed that marked his exit in the 5,000 metres.
Medal hopes on the shoulders of young people (6 a.m.)
After winning a bronze medal in the 500 meters in short track speed skating on Monday, Kim Boutin was expected in the 1000 meters final on Friday.
However, the Sherbrooke resident suffered a fall during the preliminaries presented on Wednesday. As a result, Canada’s medal hopes now rest on the young shoulders of Courtney Sarault, 21, and Alyson Charles, 23.
Ski jumping specialists back on the hill (6 h)
Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes generated one of the most pleasant upsets of the Beijing Games so far with a leap of 101.5 meters that helped Canada win a bronze medal in the team ski jumping event mixed Monday.
The 30-year-old Torontonian’s Olympic adventure is not over yet as he and Matthew Soukup will take part in the individual large hill qualification stage.
Women’s Hockey Quarter-Final Game (8:10 a.m.)
After their 4-2 victory in another exciting game against the United States, which saw them finish atop the Group A standings with a perfect 4-0 record, Canada’s women’s hockey players will enter the playoff phase of the Olympic tournament by facing Sweden in the quarter-finals.
During the preliminary round, Canada outscored their opponents 33-5 in goals scored.
In the other quarter-final duel on Friday, the United States will do battle against the Czech Republic.
