Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics daily briefing: Gu and Norway set records

Today in a nutshell: Norway set a record gold medal haul as the fallout from the way Kamila Valieva’s coaching team treated her continues

Next up: There is bobsleigh, ice hockey and curling still to come today. On Saturday, Team GB will win their first medal of these Games – but will it be silver or gold?

Eileen Gu of China wrote a new chapter of Olympic history by soaring to a third medal at these Games. The 18-year-old won gold in the freeski halfpipe final, adding to her big air gold and slopestyle silver to complete an unprecedented hat-trick. Canada filled out the podium as the defending Olympic champion, Cassie Sharpe, won silver three points clear of teammate Rachael Karker.

“It has been two straight weeks of the most intense highs and lows I’ve ever experienced in my life,” said Gu, who became the youngest person to win three individual medals in the history of the Winter Olympics. “It has changed my life forever.”

In the men’s ski cross it was Switzerland who took two medals. Ryan Regez grabbed a lead early and never let go. Teammate Alex Fiva finished second and Sergey Ridzik of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) took bronze.

Sean Ingle described yesterday’s figure skating final as chaotic and cruel. A tearful Kamila Valieva slipped to fourth, Anna Shcherbakova quietly won gold and runner-up Alexandra Trusova wept and shouted at her coaches as ROC sealed a one-two. Kaori Sakamoto took bronze for Japan.

Perhaps the least edifying sight of the entire Beijing Games, after all the pressure that has been heaped on Valieva’s shoulders, was her coach, Eteri Tutberidze, barking in her ear after the 15-year-old had fallen twice during her routine. “Why did you let it go?” she demanded. “Explain to me, why. Why did you