Beijing Winter Olympics: Canada takes home gold medal in 3-2 victory in women’s hockey against United States

Canada players celebrate victory against United States at the Wukesong Sports Centre, Beijing, China, Feb, 17, 2022.DAVID W CERNY/Reuters

Coming up at the Beijing Olympics
Daily highlights and medal count
Essential reads

Beijing Olympics: Latest updates

Olympic events for Feb. 16, 2022

Ice hockey: After waiting 1,460 days to get their revenge, the Canadian national women’s hockey team stuck it to its only rival on Thursday. As must happen by rule, it came down to the final seconds, but the power of history was not greater than Canada’s team. It beat the United States, 3-2. Meanwhile, Canada was ousted from men’s hockey after losing 2-0 to Sweden in the quarter-final match.
Curling: Canada’s Jennifer Jones split her games on the day but still had a chance of making the playoffs. She beat American Tabitha Peterson 7-6 in the morning but dropped an 11-9, extra-end decision to China’s Yu Han in the evening. Jones will take a 4-4 record into Thursday’s round-robin finale against Denmark’s Madeleine Dupont. Meanwhile, Canada’s men’s curling team closed out its round-robin schedule with a 5-2 loss to Britain. Both teams had already qualified for the semi-finals. Britain finished first in the standings with an 8-1 record and will face the defending-champion United States in the semi-finals, which are scheduled for later Thursday.
Speed Skating: Canada’s short-track speed skating team has won a gold medal in the men’s 5,000-metre relay. It’s a sixth medal for retiring Charles Hamelin, who becomes Canada’s most decorated male Winter Olympian and joins Cindy Klassen as the only other Winter Olympian with a half-dozen podium finishes. Hamelin, who served as one of Canada’s flag-bearers in the opening ceremony, and Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion finished in a winning time of six minutes 41.25 seconds. South Korea won silver, while Italy took bronze. Dubois has now won three medals – one of each colour – at the Beijing Games, having earlier claimed silver in the 1,500 and bronze in the 500. Meanwhile, Canadians Kim Boutin and Courtney Sarault had to settle for a skate in the B final of the women’s 1,500-metre event after failing to qualify for the final. Boutin and Sarault finished third and fourth, respectively, in their semi-final heats. Only the first two skaters from each semi-final made it to the final, as well as the fastest third-place skater.
Biathlon: Sweden won gold in the women’s 4x6 km biathlon relay at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team took the silver medal and Germany picked up the bronze. The Canadian team ranked tenth in the event.
Freestyle skiing: Max Moffatt of Caledon, Ont., placed ninth in men’s freeski slopestyle with 70.40 points against some stiff competition. Alexander Hall of the United States won gold with 90.01 in his first run. Hall called it the best slopestyle run of his career. In his first run, the 23-year-old Moffatt ended a rail slide too early, leading to a score of 47.18. Then in the second run he was a little tighter in his technical elements for 65.31.

Off the field

IOC says Richardson and Valieva doping cases not similar: The doping case of American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to a one-month ban, is different from that of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva at the Beijing Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday. “Every single case is very different. She (Richardson) tested positive on June 19 (2021), quite a way ahead of the Tokyo Games,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said. The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by a year due to the pandemic, started on July 23.
Ukrainian skier suspended after positive dope test: Ukrainian cross-country skier Valentyna Kaminska has tested positive for an anabolic androgenic steroid and two stimulants at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the International Testing Agency said on Wednesday. The ITA said the sample was collected during an in-competition anti-doping control on Feb. 10 in Zhangjiakou, China and reported by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory in Beijing on Tuesday.
IIHF, NHL officials optimistic about deal for 2026 Olympics: International Ice Hockey Federation president Luc Tardif said Thursday he is optimistic NHL players will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, though he wants an agreement reached further in advance than this time around.

The day in pictures

Team Canada celebrate after winning gold in the men's 5000m relay final during the short track speed skating competition at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Natacha Pisarenko/The Associated Press
1 of 25
Charles Hamelin, right, of Canada reacts with teammates Jordan Pierre-Gilles (centre) after winning gold in the men's 5,000-metre short-track speed skating relay final at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
2 of 25
Top to bottom is Canada's Charles Hamelin and Pascal Dion, Team South Korea, Team ROC, Team China and Team Italy during the men's 5000m team relay.ALEKSANDRA SZMIGIEL/Reuters
3 of 25
Canada's speed skaters, Charles Hamelin, Pascal Dion, Steven Dubois and Jordan Pierre-Gilles celebrate after winning gold in men's 5000m team relay at the Beijing Winter Olympics.EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/Reuters
4 of 25
Team Canada celebrate after winning gold in the men's 5000m team relay during the Beijing Winter Olympics.ALEKSANDRA SZMIGIEL/Reuters
5 of 25
Sweden's Fredrik Olofsson and Pontus Holmberg celebrate their first goal scored during quarter-final hockey action at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Sweden defeated Canada 2-0 eliminating them from the tournament.BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
6 of 25
Team Canada players and coaches look on from the bench during a break in quarter-final hockey action at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Sweden defeated Canada 2-0 eliminating them from the tournament.ANNEGRET HILSE/Reuters
7 of 25
Team Canada forward Mason McTavish looks for a loose puck in front of the Sweden net as Team Sweden look on during first period men's quarter-final hockey action at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Sweden defeated Canada 2-0 eliminating them from the tournament.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press
8 of 25
Canada's Kaitlyn Lawes, left, and Jennifer Jones, right, high five after a win against the United States in curling at the Beijing Winter Olympics. It was their third straight win.Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
9 of 25
Canada's Jennifer Jones curls the stone during the women's round robin session game against the USA at the Beijing Winter Olympics.LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP
10 of 25
Courtney Sarault of Canada leads the pack during the women's 1,500-metre short-track speed skating quarter-final at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
11 of 25
Kim Boutin of Canada leads the pack during the women's 1,500-metre short-track speed skating quarter-final at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press
12 of 25
Ding Yuhuan of China, Emily Dickson of Canada and Anastasiya Merkushyna of Ukraine in action during during the women's biathlon 4x6 relay at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China. Canada would place tenth out of twenty teams.ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/Reuters
13 of 25
Canada's Megan Bankes during the women's biathlon 4x6 relay at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China. Canada would place tenth out of twenty teams.KIM HONG-JI/Reuters
14 of 25
Canada's Megan Bankes and France's Anais Chevalier react on the ground after their relay in the biathlon women's 4x6km Relay event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.JEWEL SAMAD/AFP
15 of 25
Canada's Max Moffatt competes during the men's slopestyle finals at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Moffat placed ninth.Gregory Bull/The Associated Press
16 of 25
Max Moffatt of Canada performs a trick during the men's freestyle freeski slopestyle final on Day 12 of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Moffat placed ninth.Lars Baron/Getty Images AsiaPac
17 of 25
Katherine Stewart-Jones of Team Canada competes during the women's cross-country team sprint classic semifinals on Day 12 of the Beijing Winter Olympics in Zhangjiakou, China.Clive Rose/Getty Images AsiaPac
18 of 25
Canada's Justin Kripps, Benjamin Coakwell, Ryan Sommer and Cam Stones during the 4-man Bobsleigh training heats at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in Yanqing, China.Julian Finney/Getty Images AsiaPac
19 of 25
Cynthia Appiah of Canada slides during the 2-woman Bobsleigh training heats at the Beijing Winter Olympics.Julian Finney/Getty Images AsiaPac
20 of 25
Canada's Erik Read during the men's finals slalom run 2 at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Read finished in 24th place.Tom Pennington/Getty Images AsiaPac
21 of 25
Erik Read of Canada reacts after his run in the men's finals slalom run 2 at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Read finished in 24th place.JORGE SILVA/Reuters
22 of 25
Canada's Melissa Lotholz takes part in the 2-woman bobsleigh training at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre during the Beijing Winter Olympics.DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP
23 of 25
Iivo Niskanen of Finland and Antoine Cyr of Canada race in the men's team sprint classic semi-finals at the Beijing Winter Olympics.MARKO DJURICA/Reuters
24 of 25
Strauss Mann, goalie for the United States, reacts to the second goal scored by Marek Hrivik of Slovakia. Slovakia stunned the U.S. in a shootout, knocking the Americans out of the hockey tournament.BRUCE BENNETT/Reuters
25 of 25

Get the Olympic highlights in your inbox every day with our newsletter, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram for updates. Here are yesterday’s Olympic highlights in case you missed them.

Coming up at the Beijing Olympics

All dates and times (ET)

What to watch later today, Feb. 16

Ice hockey: women’s gold medal game, Canada vs. U.S. 🥇 11:10 p.m. ET
Freestyle Skiing: Men’s halfpipe qualification 11:30 p.m. ET

What to watch tomorrow, Feb. 17

Alpine skiing, women’s alpine combined 🥇 1 a.m. ET
Curling, women, round robin, Canada vs. Denmark 1:05 a.m. ET
Freestyle skiing, women’s ski cross, finals 🥇 2:10 a.m. ET
Figure skating, women’s singles, free program 🥇 5 a.m. ET
Curling, men, semi-final 7:05 a.m. ET
Freestyle skiing, women’s halfpipe, final 🥇 8:30 p.m. ET
Ice hockey, men, semi-final 11:10 p.m. ET

What time is it in Beijing right now?

(Return to top)

Olympic highlights and medal count for Feb. 16

Latest Olympic medal count

Kamila Valieva’s doping case boosts drive to raise age limit at Olympics: The doping case involving Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva has led to many more questions than answers. Some skaters think it’s time to ask another: Should a 15-year-old be in the Olympics at all?

Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, reacts after the women's short program during the figure skating at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 15, 2022, in Beijing.Natacha Pisarenko/The Associated Press

On the slopes, a struggle for Black skiers’ Olympic dreams: Take an informal survey of elite American Alpine skiers and snowboarders, and most can name an organization that exposes Black and Hispanic children from urban areas to winter sports. Whether it’s on indoor half-pipes in New Jersey, or the Rocky Mountain slopes of Colorado and Wyoming, there seem to be plenty of programs aimed at developing a diverse new generation of skiers and snowboarders. So where are the Black and Hispanic American athletes at the Winter Olympics? The U.S. Alpine skiing team in Beijing is entirely white. The U.S. snowboarders and freestyle skiers include Asian American riders, but none who are Black or Hispanic.

Richardson Viano, of Haiti, celebrates after finishing the men's slalom run 2 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 16, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.Pavel Golovkin/The Associated Press

Fascinated by quadruple jumps at Beijing Games? Here’s how figure skaters do it: Sports experts say it’s not clear what the human limits might be on the number of rotations a skater could complete. Quadruple jumps have become standard in the men’s competition since Canadian Kurt Browning landed the first one in 1988. For women, Japan’s Miki Ando achieved the feat in 2002. Yet the quads on display in women’s skating at the Beijing Games only came onto the scene in a big way in the last few years. Here’s a look at how the jumps are achieved.

Canada's Keegan Messing performs his free program in the men's figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 10. The speed and strength needed for launching – and landing – is partly why quads are more common in men’s skating.Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

Gu top qualifier in ski halfpipe, chasing 3rd Olympic medal: Eileen Gu turned in the top score not once but twice in a competitive women’s ski halfpipe qualifier on Thursday as she chases her third medal at the Beijing Olympics. She was holding back, too. The standout American-born freestyle skier who represents China already has a gold from big air and a silver from slopestyle. She’s bidding to become the first action-sports athlete to capture three medals at the same Winter Games.

China's Eileen Gu competes during the women's halfpipe qualification at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb. 17, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China.The Associated Press

For Love and Hoffman, the wait for Olympic bobsled race ends: Depending on how you count, Kaysha Love and Sylvia Hoffman have waited a couple of weeks to make their debut at the Olympics. Or a few months. Or a few years. Or, well, forever. Whatever the number is, their wait is just about over. They’ll finally and officially become U.S. Olympians on Friday when the women’s bobsled competition starts at the Beijing Games, with Love pushing Kaillie Humphries’ sled and Hoffman pushing the sled piloted by Elana Meyers Taylor.