BEIJING: Host nation China nabbed its first gold medal on Saturday as dazzling performances on snow and ice nudged the political drama that has dominated the Beijing Olympics toward the sidelines.

“You can always trust China” began trending in posts on social media platform Weibo after its short track skaters won the mixed team relay, an event making its debut at the Olympics and the country has dominated in international competition.

The golden dream was almost cut short in the semi-final when the United States crossed the finish line ahead of the hosts, only to be disqualified along with the Russian Olympic Committee, after a lengthy video review.

Six gold medals were up for grabs on Saturday as athletes overcame pandemic obstacles to shine on the world’s stage, even as political storylines continued to swirl around the Games.

Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe, forced to isolate from his teammates because of a Covid-19 close contact, proved there were few Winter Games shows quite like his.

A blistering skiing effort by the beloved biathlete brought his team back from the dead to triumph in the 4x6-kilometre mixed relay.

The close contact restrictions were still in place as the winners were presented with their bouquets of flowers, and Boe stood apart from his team at the ceremony.

An upset in the men’s freestyle moguls saw Walter Wallberg of Sweden pip Canadian Michael Kingsbury for gold.

Dutch favourite Irene Schouten came from behind in the 3,000 metres speed skating to beat Italian Francesca Lollobrigida, a great-niece of 1950s film star Gina Lollobrigida.

Ursa Bogataj sparked Slovenian joy when she won the women’s normal hill ski-jump gold. Her compatriot Nika Kriznar claimed bronze as Germany’s Katharina Althaus had to settle for silver.

Norway nabbed the first gold medal at the Games when Therese Johaug powered to victory in the women’s skiathlon race, well ahead of Russian Natalia Nepryaeva and Austria’s Teresa Stadlober, who snagged the bronze medal.

Further back in 43rd place was Dinigeer Yilamujiang, a 20-year-old cross-country skier whose role as a final torchbearer for China in the opening ceremony continued to make waves.

The selection of Yilamujiang, from Altay in China’s western Xinjiang region, as one of two final torchbearers, came as many western nations diplomatically boycotted the Games over China’s treatment of Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups. China rejects allegations of human rights abuses.

The International Olympic Committee on Saturday insisted Yilamujiang’s ethnicity had nothing to do with her selection.

“She has every right, wherever she comes from, whatever her background, to compete... and to take part in any ceremony,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

Beijing’s slopes were not without their own controversy. Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt hit out at Olympic ski organisers after Saturday’s downhill training was cancelled with just three runners having completed the course.

The number of Covid-19 cases inside the Games bubble hit the second-highest since arrivals began after 45 new cases were detected on Friday. Organisers said the situation was under control and cases were confined to a ‘closed loop’.

The Games are being held in Beijing in extraordinary circumstances with metal fences, robot bartenders, workers in hazmat suits and strict mask policies meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

At least one athlete said he was determined to make the most of it.

American snowboarder Shaun White, who became the face of the sport, winning three gold medals, said on Saturday the Beijing Olympics would be his last snowboarding event and that he would retire from all competition.

White, 35, said he was “enjoying every moment” of his final Games.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2022