The GIST: As expected, Kamila Valieva — the 15-year-old ROC figure skater embroiled in a doping scandal — finished first in the women’s singles short program this morning and qualified for Thursday’s free skate. Also as expected, the most important news is coming off the ice.

Valieva’s response: While we’ve covered how various sporting institutions have responded to this deeply troubling situation, there’s been little focus on Valieva’s own response. “It’s as if I don’t have any emotions left,” she said. “I am happy but at the same time I am emotionally tired.” As if she wasn’t already under enough pressure.

• Meanwhile, Valieva’s lawyers are claiming the failed doping test is a result of contamination from her grandfather’s medication. Very “my dog ate my homework” vibes.

Zooming out: 2018 medalist and current coach for American Mariah Bell, Adam Rippon summed it up well on Twitter, writing, “You can be heartbroken for this 15-year-old girl and at the same time be heartbroken that every other skater in this event will have to compete knowing that the competition is not clean.”

• As for other takes, many are drawing comparisons to American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who was barred from competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics after testing positive for cannabis. Double standard much?

What’s next: The women’s singles final is set for Thursday at 5 a.m. ET, but this story won’t end there. Canceling a medal ceremony can’t hide the lasting impact this scandal will have on the (already damaged) integrity of the Games.

⛸ Figure skating: In other figure skating news, Mariah Bell, Karen Chen and Alysa Liu qualified for Thursday’s free skate, thanks to strong performances during this morning’s short program. Good things come in threes.

💨 Speed skating: We have a need…a need for speed. The U.S. notched another medal overnight — a bronze in the men’s team pursuit, marking the red, white and blue’s first medal in the event since 2010.

🎿 Freestyle skiing: After winning aerials bronze in her Olympic debut yesterday (Team USA’s first individual aerials medal since 1998), Megan Nick shouted out the women who are “pushing the sport” and “inspir[ing] more people and more women to believe that they can do it as well.” You know we love it.

🎿 Freestyle skiing: After falling on her second run in last night’s slopestyle final, 18-year-old Eileen Gu (who was born in the U.S. but competes for China) regrouped with her mom, then threw down a clutch third run to win silver, her second medal of the Games. Mother knows best.

💨 Speed skating: Team Canada is on top of the world (hey!) after winning gold in the women’s team pursuit early this morning, setting an Olympic record (2:53.44) along the way. Coming off a perfect 2021–22 World Cup season, the trio was able to hold on when it mattered most.

🏂 Snowboard: Seventeen-year-old Su Yiming became the first Chinese snowboarder to win gold with an epic run in yesterday’s big air final. A child actor, Yiming put his acting career on hold to pursue his Olympic dream. A real-life Troy Bolton.

• Meanwhile, Austria’s Anna Gasser defended her 2018 big air title, winning gold with a 95.50 on her final run. Soarin’, flyin’.

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The ever-controversial Novak Djokovic. After last month’s deportation saga in Australia due to his unvaccinated COVID-19 status, the men’s tennis star has stated he will skip the French Open and Wimbledon grand slams if vaccination remains necessary. Stay tuned.

This article discussing the impact of the late Sarah Burke. The world’s first professional female freeskier and force behind women’s halfpipe and slopestyle skiing entering the Olympics, Burke’s memory lives on, helping several athletes from Canada, USA and Great Britain to compete in Beijing.

This sweet gesture by men’s 15km cross-country champion Iivo Niskanen of Finland. Niskanen waited for last-place Carlos Andres Quintana of Columbia to complete the race before celebrating his win. Talk about a good Finnish.

*P.S. This is a sponsored post. So cute.

Special guest host and GIST content manager Lauren Tuiskula joins Stephanie Rotz on The GIST of It today to further breakdown the aforementioned Valieva situation and dive deep into a WTF from one of Team USA’s snowboarding coaches.

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