SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Fast five, Sunday edition: Things you’ll want to know about the 2014 Winter Olympics.
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RUSSIA WINS FIRST MEDAL: Host Russia won its first medal of the 2014 Sochi Games, with Olga Graf taking bronze in the women’s 3,000-meter speedskating final. Russia’s best chance for its first gold, perhaps, comes in the newly-created team figure skating competition on Sunday night. Russia held a big lead after the short programs and the men, women and ice dancing pairs skate their long programs.
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US SLOPESTYLE SWEEP: “Even though it’s just another competition, the stage and the outreach that this event connects to is out of control,” snowboarder Jamie Anderson said after completing an American gold sweep in slopestyle. Sage Kotsenburg won on the men’s side. Before showcasing her skills, Anderson said she enjoyed a brief “Zen” moment at the top of the course.
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UKRAINE’S BID: Officials spearheading Lviv’s campaign for the 2022 Winter Olympics say the political crisis at home has not deterred their effort to secure the games. Acting Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Vilkul was peppered with questions about the anti-government demonstrations that have gripped the country for months. Vikul says the Olympics “are above politics” and a winning bid could help unite the country.
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BODE’S DISAPPOINTMENT: Bode Miller was king of the Sochi slopes in training, blazing to two of the three fastest times last week in practice during the men’s downhill and setting himself up as a favorite heading into Sunday’s final. But the 36-year-old wasn’t the same guy with a medal on the line. The most decorated American skier in Olympic history slogged to an eighth place finish, far out of medal contention.
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LOCH’S RUN: Germany’s Felix Loch was attempting to become the third man to successfully to defend the Olympic title in luge, with the second half of competition Sunday night. Germany’s Georg Hackl won three straight golds from 1992 through 1998, while Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler went back-to-back in 2002 and 2006.