Two additions to Italy squad for France clash
ROME, Feb 16 : Italy have added two players to their squad for Sunday's Six Nations clash against France, but scrumhalf Stephen Varney has not recovered from injury and pulled out of the trip.
Italy Sport News
Leave the kids alone: Norway explains formula behind success
BORMIO, Italy, Feb 16 : Norway’s remarkable consistency at the Winter Olympics stems from a decades‑old culture that puts children’s happiness, equal access to sport and shared expertise ahead of fast results, the country’s head of delegation Tore Oevreboe said.
At most gender-balanced Winter Games yet, hosts Italy's women outperform men
MILAN, Feb 16 : At the most gender‑balanced Winter Olympics in history, hosts Italy are enjoying their best‑ever medal haul, powered by women in a sign that long‑running efforts to level the playing field are delivering results.
Curling-Edin rues Sweden's lack of 'toughness' as title defence crumbles
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 16 : Olympic men's curling champions Sweden are headed for an early exit from the Winter Olympics after managing just one win in six games, with skip Niklas Edin admitting his team has lacked the fortitude displayed by their hungrier rivals.
Biathlon-Vittozzi may retire despite first Olympic biathlon gold for Italy
ANTERSELVA, Italy, Feb 16 : Italy's first Olympic gold medal in biathlon came in spectacular fashion on Sunday as Lisa Vittozzi triumphed in the sport's spiritual home in the country's north, but the joy may be short-lived as the 31-year-old considers her future.
Alpine skiing-Meillard's slalom triumph cements 'golden era' of Swiss skiing
BORMIO, Italy, Feb 16 : Loic Meillard's commanding victory at the Winter Olympics on Monday ended a decades-long drought in Alpine skiing's most technical discipline and reinforced the nation’s status as the sport’s benchmark.
Alpine skiing-McGrath’s solitary walk into the woods captures weight of Olympic loss
BORMIO, Italy, Feb 16 : No one would have blamed Norway's Atle Lie McGrath if he had opted to spend the night alone in the woods he sought sanctuary in after his Olympic gold-medal dream was shattered on Monday. The 25-year-old led the men's slalom after a brilliant first leg but with a 0.59-second cushion over Swiss Loic Meillard as he started his second on the Stelvio course, calamity struck. Shortly after beginning his weave down through the red and blue gates, the World Cup slalom leader made a minor misjudgement and suffered the slalom skiers' curse - the dreaded straddle - and his hopes of gold went in a flash. As Meillard celebrated becoming Olympic champion down at the finish, a heartbroken McGrath simply wanted to disappear. Shedding his skis and poles he stomped across the piste towards the trees lining the steep course. After stewing in the snow next to the red perimeter fence, he was helped down the slope in a police Ski-Doo before beating a retreat. To his credit, McGrath, whose grandfather Svein Lie died, aged 83, on the day of the opening ceremony and who he so wanted to honour by winning gold, met reporters back at the same team hotel where days earlier he had recounted hiking and cross-country skiing adventures with the man he described as an inspiration. "It's a mix of shock and just everything in between, it's like a surreal feeling.
Alpine skiing-Kristoffersen sympathetic to teammate McGrath after slip-up gives him bronze
BORMIO, Italy, Feb 16 : The crowd held its breath as the winner of Monday’s first slalom run, Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath, went through the start gates to defend his spot.