Mental health hovers over Olympics; 1st Black athlete represents USA Skeleton team; monobob arrives

The Associated Press

Complete coverage from Day 8 of the 2022 Winter Games.

Today’s top stories, updated medal count, TV schedule and top pics from Beijing:

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TOP STORIES

<p>FILE - Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States walks from the finish area after a training run at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.</p>

Luca Bruno – staff, AP

Mental health hovers over Olympics, on its way to mainstream

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — At the Tokyo Olympics, mental health was the breakout star. Amplified by some of the world’s top athletes, it shook up those Games and made everyone take notice.

Six months later, in Beijing, the conversation has evolved: The subject pops up regularly, but no one is shocked when it does.

Many athletes have spoken about their struggles, but often in a no-biggie, nothing-to-see-here way. A difficulty is mentioned, then the conversation moves on. After star gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of competition in Tokyo because she wasn’t in the right headspace, retired Olympic swimming phenom Michael Phelps memorably said that “It’s OK to not be OK.”

And now, thanks in part to people like Biles, it seems it’s OK to talk about it, too.

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<p>Kelly Curtis, of United States, finishes the women's skeleton run 2 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.</p>

Mark Schiefelbein – staff, AP

Kelly Curtis, of United States, finishes the women's skeleton run 2 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.

Curtis, the 1st US Black skeleton Olympian, blazes new trail

BEIJING (AP) — For Kelly Curtis, representation absolutely matters.

And in her first Olympic appearance, she became a trailblazer.

Curtis finished 21st in the women’s skeleton event, her run at the Beijing Games ending Saturday. The result isn’t why she’ll be remembered. Curtis was the first Black athlete to represent USA Skeleton at the Winter Olympics — and she hopes her presence at the Games will open more doors to her sport.

“It’s pretty important. It’s part of my identity, but it’s not the only thing that I lean on,” Curtis said. “I would like to be known as one of the best sliders. It’s nice with a cherry on top to be known as the first Black Olympian for USA Skeleton, but I would also like to be one of the best. So that that’s really what I’m trying to progress toward every time I go out there and slide.”

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<p>Elana Meyers Taylor, of the United States, drives her bobsled during a women's monobob training heat at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing.</p>

Mark Schiefelbein – staff, AP

Monobob arrives at Olympics, giving women 2nd medal event

BEIJING (AP) — This road started in 2014, when Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor started driving four-man bobsleds against men with hopes of getting a second medal event for women added to the Olympic program.

In 2018, they got their wish.

And now, it truly becomes reality for the top American pilots and the other best women’s bobsledders in the world.

The inaugural Olympic monobob event — only one woman in the sled — starts Sunday, with reigning world champion Humphries and this season’s monobob World Series overall champion Meyers Taylor expected to be among the top contenders. Medals will be awarded in the new event on Monday and the traditional two-woman competition then starts Friday.

MORE COVERAGE

MEDAL COUNT AND TODAY’S GOLD MEDALISTS:

TV SCHEDULE:

All times Eastern

BIATHLON

4 a.m. (Sunday): USA — Women’s Biathlon (Pursuit: 10km)

BOBSLED

1 a.m. (Sunday): USA — Women’s Monobob (First, Second Runs) (Taped)

CORSS-COUNTRY SKIING

8:15 p.m.: USA — Women’s Cross-Country Skiing (4x5km Relay) (Taped)

2 a.m. (Sunday): USA — Men’s Cross-Country Skiing (4x10km Relay)

CURLING

2 p.m.: USA — Men’s Curling (U.S. vs. Norway) (Taped)

5 p.m.: CNBC — Women’s Curling (U.S. vs. Great Britain) (Taped)

8:05 p.m.: CNBC — Men’s Curling (U.S. vs. Canada)

11:30 p.m.: USA — Men’s Curling (Norway vs. Sweden) (Taped)

HOCKEY

8 a.m.: CNBC — Men’s Hockey (ROC vs. Czech Republic)

12 p.m.: USA — Men’s Hockey (Switzerland vs. Denmark) (Taped)

5 p.m.: USA — Men’s Hockey (U.S. vs. Canada) (Taped)

11:10 p.m.: CNBC — Men’s Hockey (Slovakia vs. Latvia)

4:40 a.m. (Sunday): USA — Men’s Hockey (Finland vs. Sweden)

MULTIPLE EVENTS

2:30 p.m.: NBC — Men’s Biathlon; Speedskating; Cross-Country Skiing (Taped)

8 p.m.: NBC — Bobsled, Skeleton, Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating (Dance) & More

11:30 p.m.: NBC — Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Ski Jumping, Speedskating & More

2 a.m. (Sunday): NBC — Bobsled, Skeleton, Alpine Skiing, Figure Skating (Dance) & More (Taped)

SKELETON

10:45 a.m.: USA — Women’s Skeleton (Third, Final Runs)

SKIING

7:30 p.m.: USA — Men’s Ski Jumping (Large Hill Final) (Taped)

9 p.m.: USA — Women’s Skiing (Slopestyle Qualifying)

11 p.m.: USA — Women’s Alpine Skiing (Downhill: Training)

SPEEDSKATING

9:45 a.m.: USA — Speedskating (500m, Team Pursuit Qualifying) (Taped)

6 a.m. (Sunday): USA — Men’s Speedskating (500m); Women’s Speedskating (3000m Relay)

TODAY’S PHOTOS:

Categories: Sports