Matt Dunham / AP

U.S. speedskaters Joey Cheek, left, and Shani Davis trade smiles during the flower ceremony after the men's 1,000 meter speedskating race in Turin.

Biathlon
Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen was denied gold again when France’s Vincent Defrasne sped past him on the final straightaway to win the men’s 12.5km biathlon pursuit.

Bjoerndalen won another silver to go with the one he took in the 20km race.

Sven Fischer of Germany, who started in the lead, won the bronze, 15.6 seconds back.

Bjoerndalen swept all four gold medals at the Salt Lake City Games and was expected to challenge for the gold in all five races in Italy. He still has a shot in the relay, where Norway is a favorite, and in the mass start.

The worst of conditions brought out the best in Germany’s Kati Wilhelm, who convincingly won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s 10km biathlon pursuit in a snowstorm and swirling winds.

In an exciting format that often produces photo finishes, the World Cup leader blew away the competition, finishing an astonishing 1 minute, 13.6 seconds ahead of teammate Martina Glagow.

Russia’s Albina Akhatova took the bronze.

Wilhelm crossed the finish line with a German flag held high in her right hand.

Curling
Pete Fenson’s U.S. curling team beat Germany in nine ends, pulling away to victory with three points in the eighth and boosting its chances of advancing to the medal round. Italy pulled a stunning upset over curling power Canada (4-3), winning in an extra end.

At 5-2, the Americans are in good position to at least qualify for a tiebreaker at the end of the nine-game round-robin. Germany (1-5) has been all but eliminated from medal contention.

Italy, which had never before fielded an Olympic curling team, improved to 4-3 and is also in contention to make the semifinals. The curling venue in Pinerolo was near its capacity for Saturday’s afternoon session, coming alive as the host Italians faced the 29-time world champions.

Britain (6-1) beat Switzerland (3-4) and Finland (5-2) beat defending champion Norway (3-4).

The U.S. women’s curling team waited until it was virtually out of the running to have its best game of the Olympics, beating Italy in just six ends.

A regulation curling match is 10 ends, but a team will concede when it is so far down it cannot come back. The eight-point margin of victory ties an Olympic record for the women’s tournament.

In other games during the night session, first-place Sweden needed an extra end to beat Japan and improve to 7-1.

Norway beat Britain in nine ends to improve to 5-2, tied for second with Switzerland.

Britain (4-3) is tied with Canada. Denmark, Japan and Russia are 2-4.

The Americans (2-5) avoided taking sole possession of last place by beating Italy (1-6), a country with no curling tradition to speak of. Although the United States is not mathematically eliminated, it is expected to need at least five wins in the nine-game round-robin to qualify for the semifinals.