Speed skater Sáblíková faces 3000 m at Olympics, skiers start with downhill

Speed skater Martina Sáblíková will compete in the 3000 metres on Friday at her sixth Olympic Games. She won gold over the distance in Vancouver and silver in Sochi, but after finishing fourth four years ago, she is not among the main favourites in Milan. Her best results this season were two sixth places in Salt Lake City and Inzell, while the top contenders include World Cup leader Ragne Wiklund of Norway and Dutch world champion Joy Beune. Alpine skiing also gets under way, with the men’s downhill in Bormio the highlight of the day.