Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games Day 8: LIVE!

Day 8 brought us some double the joy in luge for Germany as they were nitro on the St. Moritz track, and reigning champs Sweden won a thrilling penalty shootout over Slovokia and the Swiss hockey players had them on their feet in the Vaudoise Arena.

Up against it vs. the Czech Rep. Switzerland fought through and won in a shoot-out too.

Highlights

10:09pm - Leaving you with the Lowdown

Time for live bloggers to crash, we'll leave you on a high with the Lowdown.

So many LOLs.

9:37pm - Switzerland storm shoot-out!

The stadium erupts as Switzerland score two to the Czechs zero, Swiss goalkeeper Margaux Favre has to take a lot of credit here.

The Czechs were the stronger team all told but the Swiss were united and rode out long periods of Czech pressure.

If they beat Germany in their next match they're into the semi-finals and are now just three games from a gold medal.

The crowd loved that, great celebrations!

9:31pm - Penalties!

This one is going to a penalty shoot-out too, nothing to separate Switzerland and the Czech Republic in regulation time, which finishes 0-0.

9:13pm - Cute puppies!

8:57pm - Into final period

Switzerland-Czech Rep is locked at 0-0 coming into the final period.

If it stays like this then we'll have a shoot-out to decide the winner.

It's a packed stadium here, how the local fans would love a goal from the hosts, they were better in the second half... And it's game on!

8:18pm - Switzerland - Czech Rep

It's 0-0 at the end of the 1st period.

Two very good sides technically and physically, it's a bruising, evenly matched contest, the Czech Republic had the better chances in that first 15, but Swiss goalie Margaux Favre has been a wall.

Much more to come from these two.

8:03pm - Czech Republic - Switzerland underway

Our second women's ice hockey match is underway, this is poised to be another close-fought contest.

It's still 0-0 with just over five minutes gone in the first period.

Watch it live here.

Tight opening from these two, the Swiss tipped to do well here on home ice, they have a good program that brings through quality players.

The Czechs are always a nation that produces top talent.

7:36pm - Top moments

Luge lover?

These clips are for you.

7:06pm - Czech Repulic - Switzerland up next

Stay tuned, next game coming live in about 40 minutes.

6:43pm - Sweden win dramatic opener

Slovakia pushed the champs all the way to penalties and captain Nicole Hall is the hero of the hour for Sweden.

Up until then it was all about Slovak goalkeeper Laura Medvidova - she kept the score at 2-2 and forced it to penalties, saving two of three in the penalty shootout.

But up stepped Nicole Hall to put a confident finish past Medvidova and draw things level.

The Swedes put their captain out again for the sudden death penalty and she showed her class once more to beat Medvidova and win the opening match for Sweden.

6:40pm - Penalty shootout: Sudden death!

Slovakia score first and a lovely little victory dance!

And Sweden miss, Medvidova stands big.

Slovakia can't convert their second, but neither can Sweden, glove save from Medvidova.

Sweden captain Nicole Hall comes up big!

Sweden 1-1 Slovakia

Sudden death!

They put Nicole Hall out again for sudden death... She scores, and Sweden win!

6:35pm - Sweden-Slovakia goes to penalties!

2-2 the final score at the end of the three 15 minute periods so we're going to penalties!

Sweden will be favourites again but with the way Slovak goalkeeper Medvidova has played...

6:30pm - Drool

6:17pm - Sweden pepper Slovak goal

No let up at all from Sweden, it's a yellow swarm on the Slovak goal which is leading a charmed life.

Earlier in the game Sweden were rotating the puck too much, trying to wait for the perfect shot, looks like they've been instructed to get their shots off earlier.

Sweden have never lost a YOG game in regulation time, but Slovakia are keeping themselves in with a shout today.

It stays locked at Slovakia 2-2 Sweden

Huge glove save from Medvidova, she's the biggest reason why Slovakia still have hope here.

6:10pm - Who won Lausanne 2020 Fashion gold?

Who rocked the look at Lausanne 2020?

Watch now and decide.

5:57pm - Slovakia hold on

Sweden scored the goal to level things up in this opening 5x5 match, and despite what many thought might happen the floodgates haven't opened.

Stoic defending and great goalkeeping have kept Slovakia in it.

At the end of the second period it's Slovakia 2-2 Sweden.

5:45pm - Sweden draw level

Meanwhile back at the Malley ice rink Sweden have scored a second to make it 2-2.

The favourites are finding their edges here, another big save from netminder Medvidova keeps Slovakia level.

All the play coming from Sweden, Slovakia under siege.

5:30pm - LIVE SHOW!

5:21pm - Sweden break the ice

Top shelf shot from Klara Kentalla brings Sweden the goal they so badly needed, great goal seconds before the end of the first period.

Slovakia 2-1 Sweden

5:16pm - Slovakia hold firm

Lots of possession and pressure from Sweden as wave after wave of attack crashes against the Slovakian defence.

They're all breaking on the rock that is the Slovak 'keeper right now, Laura Medvidova will have to have the game of her life to keep this Swedish menace at bay.

Still Slovakia 2-0 Sweden

1 minute left on the clock in the first 15 min period.

5:02pm - Slovakia 1-0 Sweden!

Underdogs Slovakia have a goal in with barely a minute on the clock.

Slovak captain Barbora Kapicakova gives the underdogs a surprise lead.

And it's two!

A power play to Slovakia, another shot, and a deflection take the puck up and over the goalkeeper's shoulder, Sweden are the favourites to defend their title, but they're 2 down!

Slovakia 2-0 Sweden

5pm - Ice hockey in ten minutes!

The ice hockey 5x5s starts in ten with defending champs Sweden vs , you can watch it live right here.

That gives you just enough time to read this:

4:13pm - 🏂

The photos from today's snowboard practice are simply stunning.

Snowboarders and fans are hyped, stoked, and pumped.

4:09pm - Leysin Park will be lit!

4pm - Live Show up in an hour and a half

Yesterday's show was serious fun, the hula-hooping is worth the watch alone.

Stay tuned for today's show coming up at 5:30pm.

3:53pm - Faith in humanity: Restored

Ok, it didn't happen at Lausanne 2020 but who cares.

Off the scale on the awwwwometer.

2:22pm - Snowboarder Hirano the next Olympic star?

Ruka Hirano - no relation to Olympic silver medallist Ayumo Hirano - is one of the most exciting boarders of his generation, don't miss him on the halfpipe early next week.

Snowboard halfpipe is gonna be lit!

2:18pm - 🎼 Now I'm having...

..the time of my life... 🎼

Skis are overrated when you're practicing ski jumping...

1:52pm - Fantastischen Fans

The support at the luge medal events this morning was superb once again, give yourselves a round of applause Lausanne 2020 fans!

1:09pm - New Winter Olympic sport?

Latvian and Russian lugers play 'kick the block of ice about'.

Get it on the agenda!

Correction: It's more of a snowball, less a block of ice.

Lovely to see different teams from different NOCs having fun together away from competition, that's what it's all about.

12:43pm - Missing figure skating?

We got you covered.

Figure skating fix:

12:37pm - Snowboard practice session cancelled

Windy conditions at the Leysin SnowPark forced the organisers to cancel the afternoon training sessions but in the morning snowboarders were on fire on the halfpipe!

12:16pm - Luge double for Germany!

Moriz Jaeger and Valentin Steudte weren't going to be upstaged.

Teammates Merle Fraebel and Jessica Degenhardt won gold and silver in the women's singles earlier this morning and the men's duo have made it a clean sweep of the day's luge medals.

Jaeger/Steudte were last on the track after they were fastest in Run1 and they didn't disappoint.

54.825 gave them 149.649 overall and a gold medal.

Latvia's Kaspars Rinks and Ardis Liepins take silver and Russia's Mikail Karnaukhov and Iurii Chirva put down a lightning Run 2 to take bronze.

Men's Doubles Luge results:

1. Jaeger/Steudte 1:49.649
2. Rinks/Liepins 1:49.951
3. Karnaukhov/Chirva 1:50.325

12:02pm - Men's luge doubles finals

U.S. lugers Sam Day and Sam Eckert just went into fifth on 1:53.857, but it's Russia's Mikail Karnaukhov/Iurii Chirva leading..

Here come the fastest four from Run 1...

Poland's Imiolek/Mackala can't beat the Russian pair's time but they're into second.

Latvia's Kaspars Rinks and Ardis Liepins are into first! 1:49.915 - the first duo to dip under 150.

Not fast enough though! Gold for Germany: Moriz Jaeger / Valentin Steudte

12:00pm - Low. Down.

All the lols from Lausanne...

11:48am - Women's luge podium

Here's your women's luge podium, can Germany top the men's doubles too?

Run 2 has just started.

11:41am - Snowman!

Your daily snowman is in, keeping people warm earlier this morning in -11 degrees Celsius (12.2 Fahrenheit).

11:28am - Men's luge Run 1

We could see a German men's/women's double in this morning's Luge.

Germany's Moriz Jaeger/ Valentin Steudte will want to match Merle Fraebel and Jessica Degenhardt's heroics earlier, and they're looking good.

58.824 was the fastest Run 1, but hot on their heels are Latvia's Rinks/Liepins who are just 0.147 behind and Poland's Imiolek/Mackala who are 0.643 behind.

Run 2 is coming up soon, scheduled to start at 11:50am.

The USA's two Sams Day and Eckert lie in fifth, they told us what the secret to double luge success is:

11:24am - Excited about ski and snowboard halfpipe?

Us too.

Watch out for this Swedish star in the making:

10:21am - German 1-2 in Women's Luge!

They won silver in 2012 and 2016 and they've won gold and silver here at Lausanne 2020!

Merle Fraebel was fastest in Run 1 and she's won gold on Run 2, 1:49.687 the winning time.

Jessica Degenhardt went from third in Run 1 to a silver medal spot, and Russian Diana Loginova (RUS) takes bronze.

Women's Luge official result:

1. Merle Fraebel 1:49.687
2. Jessica Degenhardt 1:49.895
3. Diana Loginova 1:49.966

10:16am - New Wave

As part of innovative new ideas to make Olympic Games more sustainable Lausanne has come up with a “two-wave” system where athletes stay at the YOG in two groups.

The first group just left, they attended the Opening Ceremony and the second that has just arrived will attend the Closing Ceremony.

This way it was possible to increase in the number of athletes without requiring any further financial investment.

The new crew is here today, and will be given time to train and settle in, meaning the schedule is not exactly packed today, luge and ice hockey taking pride of place on Day 1.

It's all part of a new sustainable approach plan that takes advantage of existing facilities where every new venue has a long-term role to play in the region’s development plans.

10:03am - Women's luge final run

Morning!

Italy are in the top two positions on Run 2 of the women's luge, Nadia Falkensteiner and Katharina Putzer lead right now but with the fastest from Run 1 yet to come.

Merle Fraebel was fastest in Run 1 clocking 55.011 with Russian Diana Loginova (RUS) a fraction behind recording a 55.155 time, and Jessica Degenhardt is third on 55.171.

Fine margins.

Canada's Kailey Allan into the lead on 1:50.915 total, but Romania's Corina Buzatoiu steals into first with 1:50.873.

Day 8 Preview

Day 7 brought us the thrill of the speed skate mass start and a cracking curling final.

Japanese speed merchant Arito Motanaga took men's gold and China's Yang Binyu scorched the women's race.

And then there was the amazing story of Colombia's first ever Olympic speed skater Diego Amaya winning a silver medal.

Day 8 sees the puck drop on ice hockey 5x5s and luge slides into action.

Luge

How about hurtling down an icy track at 130kph before breakfast?

Get set as luge starts today at 8.30am on the purpose-built ice course in St. Moritz.

Luge women’s singles is packed with talent, Austria is traditionally strong in this event winning gold at Innsbruck 2012 and bronze at Lillehammer 2016.

Germany have won silver twice in a row and are keen to take that step up to the top of the podium, and with the likes of Merle Fraebel and Jessica Degenhardt on the team don-t be surprised to see them there.

Kailey Allan (CAN), Diana Loginova (RUS), Caitlin Nash (CAN), and Yulia Tunytska (UKR) are all contenders.

Look out for many of the singles lugers in the doubles event too.

Keep an eye on Austrian Selina Egle who will compete in singles and doubles in St. Moritz, her sister Madeleine Egle won 2016 YOG singles bronze and then went to repeat the feat at PyeongChang 2018.

Luge men’s doubles:

The men's doubles starts today with a number of dynamic duos to keep your eye on - if you can.

Ones to watch: Karnaukhov/Chirva (RUS), Jaeger/Steudte (GER), Rinks/Liepins (LAT), Turea/Motzca (ROU), Day/Eckert (USA), Imiolek/Mackala (POL).

Rinks (LAT), Milanov/Ivanov (BUL) and Yang/Yeh (TPE) are also competing in the luge singles event.

Italy are reigning champions but will not enter an athlete in this competition so we are guaranteed a new winner at the top of the podium.

Italy flashed by to gold in 2012 and 2016 twice ahead of Germany.

Don't blink!

Women's ice hockey preview

Later today starting at 5pm Lausanne time the women's ice hockey 6x6 tournament starts in earnest, with the men facing off tomorrow.

Current champions Sweden start us off against Slovakia today.

Sweden won the ladies gold medal at Lillehammer 2016 over the Czech Republic, and the USA are defending champions on the men's side after they defeated Canada four years ago in a thrilling seven-goal final.

It all starts today at the Malley ice rink in Lausanne where all matches will take place from the 10th to the 22nd of January 2020.

Lausanne 2020 Day 8 Schedule

January 17th

Ice hockey

17:00 - 19:00 Women’s Sweden-Slovakia

20:00 - 22:00 Women’s Czech Republic Switzerland

Luge

08:30 - 10:30 Women’s Single

11:00 - 12:30 Men’s Double

What is Lausanne 2020?

Lausanne 2020 is the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games following on from Innsbruck 2012 and Lillehammer 2016.

YOGs bring together the most promising young athletes on the planet, giving the next generation of Olympic stars a stage to shine.

Lausanne 2020 will be the biggest Winter Youth Games ever with over 1870 athletes (A 40% rise on 2016) 79 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) taking part, 12 of those taking part in the WYOGs for the first time ever

Albania, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Haiti, Hong Kong (China), Kosovo, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Trinidad & Tobago.

The Games in Lausanne in the mountains of Switzerland and France will be the first Winter Youth Olympics with equal numbers of female and male athletes.

See a list of athletes to watch here, and who to follow on social media here.

Where to watch Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games

Olympic Channel will stream 300 hours of action from the 13 days of competition in Lausanne 2020 with a dedicated Winter YOG channel available on olympicchannel.com, YouTube and connected devices such as Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Android TV and Roku.

There will be an action-packed daily live show featuring news, highlights, trending stories and interviews in a fun and interactive format streamed on Facebook, Twitter and olympicchannel.com, plus a daily Olympic Channel Podcast featuring insightful interviews with personalities from across the Olympic world.

Fans can also follow Olympic Channel's coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about the event, and a full Lausanne 2020 schedule can be found here.

Enjoy!