Sawt Falasteen - Nakai targets Olympic skating upset as 'skimo' makes debut

Nakai, 17, set the pace in the short programme on Tuesday, upstaging teammate Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time Olympic medallist.

The 25-year-old Sakamoto is saying goodbye to the sport and would dearly love to end her career by topping the podium at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Sakamoto is just 1.48 points behind her younger teammate ahead of Thursday's free skating programme, while US world champion Alysa Liu also has eyes on the main prize.

Nakai said she felt like she was "dreaming" after topping the short programme, though insisted Sakamoto remained the favourite.

Sakamoto said she would love to sign off with an Olympic medal.

"It would be very nice, but I want to let everybody know what I have done over my career," she said.

"I want people to know that there was a skater of this kind in Japan who had performed for a long period."

In the snow-swept mountains above Bormio, ski mountaineering -- an adrenaline-packed sprint requiring athletes to negotiate uphill climbs on ski and foot before descending by ski -- made its Olympic bow.

Switzerland's Marianne Fatton won gold in the women's ski sprint, beating France's Emily Harrop by 2.38sec. Ana Alonso Rodriguez of Spain claimed bronze.

In the men's event, Russian Nikita Filippov won the first medal at the Milan-Cortina Games for individual neutral athletes (AIN) when he claimed silver.

The race was won by Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll in 2min 34.03sec with Filippov 1.52sec behind. Thibault Anselmet of France took bronze.

Russia and Belarus have been banned from international competition since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Filippov and his AIN teammates have been allowed to compete at the Winter Olympics in Italy under a neutral banner having met strict conditions.

Those included taking part only in individual events and undergoing checks to prove that they did not actively support the war in Ukraine or have any links with the army.

In curling action later, undefeated Switzerland will play Great Britain in the men's semi-finals, with Canada taking on Norway.

The curling tournament was rocked after a Swedish player accused a Canadian opponent of cheating, and the latter responded by insulting him.

- Canada v USA hockey battle -

The USA and Canada meet on Thursday in the final of the women's ice hockey tournament.

Canada have maintained their record of appearing in the gold medal game of every women's hockey tournament since it became part of the Winter Games at Nagano in 1998.

The Canadians have won five of the previous seven gold medal matches, including a 3-2 victory over the Americans at the Beijing 2022 Games.

The men's tournament could produce the same final after the USA and pre-tournament favourites Canada stayed on track in Wednesday's quarter-finals.

Canada go on to face reigning champions Finland and the USA will play Slovakia, with both semi-finals taking place on Friday.

Recent political tensions between the North American neighbours could add spice to the contest on the ice.

After the early action on Thursday, Norway have a huge lead at the top of the medals table, with 16 golds and 34 overall.

Hosts Italy are in second spot with nine golds and a total of 26 medals, with the USA in third place.

N.Awad--SF-PST