Bauer wins second Czech silver in Turin, ice hockey team embarrassed by Swiss

The Czech Republic has taken its second medal at the Winter Olympics in Turin, silver for cross country skier Lukas Bauer in the 15 km classical. Meanwhile, the Czech ice hockey team were left with egg on their faces after losing to Switzerland in their second group game.

Lukas Bauer, photo: CTK

The Czech Republic has taken its second medal at the Winter Olympics in Turin, silver for cross country skier Lukas Bauer in the 15 km classical. It was the first ever Czech medal in the discipline, and is without doubt the greatest success in the career of the 28-year-old from Ostrov nad Ohri in west Bohemia.

Friday's silver for Bauer follows second place for the leading Czech women's cross country skier Katerina Neuammanova in the 15 km pursuit last Sunday.

The Czech ice hockey team lost 3:2 to Switzerland on Thursday, after committing errors in defence and failing to take advantage of two 5-on-3 power plays in the second period. Czech forward Martin Rucinsky wasn't making any excuses after the game:

Photo: CTK

"I don't think we played well from the beginning, and we didn't deserve to win - Switzerland were better. It's kind of an unwritten rule - if you don't score when you have a 5-on-3 powerplay then it's pretty hard to win. They defended well, whereas we looked dull and tired."

The Czech Republic's next hockey game is against Finland on Saturday.

They will definitely be without goaltender Dominik Hasek and winger Patrik Elias, both of whom have left Turin after sustaining injuries in the opening game against Germany. Hasek is 41 in two weeks' time and there are fears that he may not appear again this season, which could possibly mean he has played his last.