Lizzy Yarnold secures third win of the season

Team GB had two great performances in the women's skeleton at Winterberg, Germany this afternoon.

The first was a great run from Rose McGrandle who climbed from her position of 15th after the first leg and as more and more women came down the run she wasn't bettered until Russian Olga Potylitsina in 10th place went ahead of her, but she didn't have to wait long to secure that top ten slot when the next slider Elena Nikitina RUS finished with a combined time that was 4 hundredths of a second down on the Brit.

The next person to make major gains on their first run was Germany's Marion Thees who was 6th after the first run, she saw the next two sliders unable to overcome her aggregate time. So with only the top three sliders to come she had a chance of a medal. However, those to come were three of the best in the world last year's world championship bronze medalist Sarah Reid CAN, and the co-leader silver medalist from last year's worlds Noelle Pikus-Pace USA and world leader this year Lizzy Yarnold GBR.

Yarnold in action today Picture from Bobsleigh and Skeleton TV

Reid first of all went into the leader's box after completing her run, though slower this time than Thees she had enough in hand from the first run. The co-leaders were both going for their third win in this season's world cup. Pikus-Pace opened up a gap over Reid of over half a second on the top before seeing it edge away from a few errors at the bottom. Her third of a second buffer after the first heat was reduced to a mere 6 hundredths by the time she crossed the line.

Then up stepped Yarnold in the yellow world leader's bib. Her start was faster than anyone else on the day, equaling the one Sarah Reid managed on the first run. But then she hit every timing split down the run in a time that was faster than anyone, including her first run had managed. In the end she was clean and smooth 0.35 secs faster on here second run and strengthening her grip on that worlds cup leader's position.

German 1-2 in Winterberg Bobsleigh

The first 4-man bob event of the weekend in Winterberg certainly proved spectacular.

In the first run the sled of American driver Cory Butner flipped in turn nine and self righted further down the track. While the home crowd favourite Maximillian Arndt took the lead off the world cup leading American Steven Holcomb.

In the second run with the ice cutting up as the top sleds went off last there were some of those who didn't do so well on the first run making progress on the second. Beat Heaft was one of those he started 22nd on heat, had the 11th best time and ended up climbing into the top five. But it was the battle between the Germans that ended up being interesting U23 world Champion Francisco Freidrich came out of the start gate aiming for the time of his compatriot Thomas Florschuetz, after a good start he lost some time on the top half, but miraculously gained it back at the end. Then he watched as one of the Russian favourites for their home track in the Olympics went ahead of him on intermediate times to end 0.03 secs behind him on the finish line.

Next up was Holcomb, who started well and was looking good before getting high in turn nine. His upper runners leaving the track and by the time force pushed them back unto the ice it was too late and his men followed the same misfortune has they had in training earlier in the week and at Butner has earlier.

Final sled down the track was that of Arndt who consolidated his lead in the first leg by recording the second fastest time in run two, only 0,02 behind his younger countryman Freidrich

Today in Sport 4th January 2014

Today there are 200 days until the start of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The FIS Cross Country Skiing Tour de Ski travels to Val de Fiemme for the weekend. Today it is the men's 10km followed by the women's 5km. Russia's Nikita Kriukov is currently leading the men's sprint rankings and Germany's Denise Herrmann leads the ladies.

In ski jumping the men move to Innsbruck for the third competition in this year's Four Hills Competition. Thomas Diethart of Austria is currently leading the competition but didn't lead qualification, that honour went to Swiss jumper Thomas Fannamel. The women meanwhile are preparing for their debut at next month's Winter Olympics with a trip to another Russian hill at Chaikovsky. Sara Takanashiof Japan won the first of two events there this week yesterday, she has won all four of the events so far and has maximum points on the women's world cup tour. Behind her the competition is between Daniela Iraschko (AUT), Carina Vogt (GER) and Irina Avvakumova (RUS).

Today in Freestyle skiing the women are taking on the Moguls in Calgary.

In Winterberg Germany the 4 men bob (heat 2) and women's skeleton (heat 1 and heat 2)are taking place. Current leader of the 4-man bob world cup is Steven Holcomb USA, from Max Arndt GER, Chris Spring CAN and Alexander Kasjanov RUS. While in the women's skeleton Liz Yarnold GBR leads from her compatriot Shelly Rudman then Anja Huber GER and Noelle Pikus-Pierce USA.

Meanwhile athletics in the form of Cross Country comes to Northern Ireland with the Antrim IAAF International event. The men's field is headed by World Champion Japhet Korir KEN, he will face tough competition from his countryman Emmanuel Bett and Ugandan Thomas Ayeko. In the women's race Ireland's Fionnula Britton is looking to defend her title against opposition that included Gemma Steel GBR and Bahrain two time 1500m world champion Maryam Jamal.

Debut nations at the 2014 Winter Olympics

When the Winter Olympics roll into Sochi next month there will be some nations that for the first time will be wrapping up warm for the opening ceremony. So who are they and who is representing them:

Dominica

The tiny Caribbean island nation with a population of under 72,000 is sending its first team to the Winter Olympics and they are keeping it in the family. Husband and wife duo Gary and Angelica di Silvestri are taking part in the cross country skiing. They have taking part in ski camps in Oregan in the USA since 2005. He played American Football and wrestled at High School in New York and will be 47 by the time he competes in his first Olympics. They were approached by the NOC in November when the IOC noticed a lack of nations from the Caribbean who had entered delegations for Sochi.

Malta

The tiny islands state in the Mediterranean rarely if ever sees snow, but it is sending a skiier to take part in the women's Alpine programme. Elise Pellegrin was born in France, although it was her great grandfather who was Maltese born who moved to France to seek work. See was born in May 1991 so will be only 22 when she realises her Olympic dream. She finished 80th in last year's World Championships.

Paraquay

The South American nation, which like Malta is not a snowy nation, are taking benefit from one of the new sports appearing in 2014 to make their Winter Olympic debut, slopestyle skiing. The women who parade one of only two flags in the world with two distinct sides is Julia Marino. She was born in Paraquay, but adopted at the age of six months by a family in the USA and lived in Winchester, Massachusetts. She trains alongside the American team and is a serious contender for a medal. If she were it would be her nations second and first by a woman to go alongside the men's football team's silver in
 2004.

Timor-Leste

For the first time since they became independent Timor-Leste have a qualified athlete coming to any Olympics rather than as the result of a wild card. The man who successfully qualified in the last slalom race of 2013 in Serbia is 19-year-old Yohan Goutt Goncalves whose father is French but through his mother qualifies for Timor-Leste. It was growing up in France that he developed his love for the slopes. He started competing at the age of 14 and while told his parents that he wanted to take part in the Olympics. They thought he meant as part of the French team which would have been a hard ask, but he knew how important it was for his mother who fled her homeland when she was 12 as a refugee to establish her newly independent nation on the world stage. With no snow in Timor the newspapers refer to what he does as snow skating, but hopefully by the end of Sochi they will know a little more about just what it is he does as he takes part in the men's slalom.

Togo

One of the smallest African nations a thin slither between Ghana and Benin, Togo will have a competitor in the cross-country skiing. No jokes about finding a small nation to be able to ski across it please. Their competitor is Mathilde-Amivi Petitjean who lives in France. She was born on 19 February 1994 meaning that when she lines up in the 10km classical start on the 13th February she will 6 days shy of her 19th birthday. She is actually going quite well in the junior women's events this year and while not likely to feature in the medals this time around could be one to watch in 2018 in Pyeongchang.


Tonga

The Pacific island Kingdom of Tonga is sending their first delegation to the Winter Olympics thanks to a top 38 finish in the 2013-14 Luge World Cup by Bruno Banani. Banani, whose was born Fuahea Semi in December 1987, was one of two athletes chosen by the Tongan Olympic Committee to try and qualify for the 2010 Games in luge. He did however qualify for the 2011 World Championships and picked up a sponsorship deal with German company Makai. It was they who introduced him as Bruno Banani (the name of a racy German underwear company) and he has been part of the World Championships ever since. He trains in Germany alongside some of the best lugers in the world where they are fascinated by the Tongan.Thomas Bach, the new IOC President said the name change was in bad taste but that if the name on his passport was Banani and he qualified there was would no option but to accept him by that name, in 2013 he legally changed his name and now Bruno Banani is heading to Sochi.

Zimbabwe

A second African state will be making their debut at this year's Winter Olympics and like the majority of the nations who are doing so it is in the skiing disciplines. Unlike some of the other nations making their debut there has been snow recorded in Zimbabwe, though that was last in the 60s. Harare born Luke Steyn was first introduced to snow at the age of two, and since the age of nine has been training from his father's European base for Alpine skiing. He has more recently gone to the University of Bolder Colorado in the USA where he joined their racing team, but is on a year out as first he set about qualifying and now competing the the Games.

Disclaimer: The author does not condone Russia's record on human rights particularly on LGBT rights, but does recognise the skills and abilities of all athletes who have qualified for the XXII Winter Olympics and will covering their acheivements.

Olympians we lost in 2013 Part 2 July to December

As I said in part 1 I love the Olympics and the various sports that only really get highlighted then. However, last year as most years saw the sad demise of many Olympians. Here is a record of those we lost from July to December under the years they competed, details are under first medal, or year if not a medalist.


1936

Basil Dickinson (Aus) 25 April 1915 - 7 October 2013 Athletics 16th in Triple jump was oldest surviving Australian Olympian and last of their 1936 delegation

1948

Nilo Floody (CHI) 16th July 1921 - 2 July 2013 Modern Pentathlon 9th
Erik Ahldén (SWE) 4 September 1923 - 6 July 2013 Athletics 4th men's 5,000m
Jimmy McColl (GBR) 1924 - Aug 2013 Football beaten in the bronze medal men's team match
Gianni Rocca (ITA) 13 June 1929 - 11 August 2013 Athletics finalist in men's 4x400m relay and flag bearer
Henny ter Weer (NED) 7 August 1922 - 12 August 2012 Fencing competed in mens's team foil and sabre
Christopher Barton (GBR) 21 November 1927 - 18 August 2013 Rowing silver medalist men's eight
Dezső Gyarmati (HUN) 23 October 1927 - 18 August 2013 Water polo silver medalist men's team
Wacław Kuźmicki (POL) 27 April 1921 - 19 August 2013 Athletics 16h in decathlon he was last member of his nation's 1948 delegation
Henry Rebello (IND) 17 November 1928 - 27 August 2013 Athletics failed to record a mark in the triple jump
Bob Kurland (USA) 23 December 1924 - 29 September 2013 Basketball gold medalist men's team
Branko Vidović (YUG) [Croatian] 1922 - 5 October 2013 Swimming 5th men's 4x200m freestyle
Rodolfo Rivademar (ARG) 19 October 1927 - 15 October 2013 Sailing silver medalist 6m class
Thomas Summers (GBR) 3 January 1924 - 21 October 2013 Swimming competed in men's 100m backstroke
Ettore Perego (ITA) 11 April 1913 - 23 October 2013 Gymnastics 5th men's team, 12th pommel horse
Ebbe Parsner (DEN) 6 June 1922 - 24 October 2013 Rowing silver medalist double sculls
Hakon Barfod (NOR) 17 August 1926 - 4 November 2013 Sailing gold medalist Dragon class
McDonald Bailey (GBR) 12 August 1920 - 4 December 2013 Athletics 6th men's 100m
Harry Boland (IRE) 1925 - 18 December 2013 Basketball competed in men's event
Wilbur "Moose" Thompson (USA) 6 April 1921 - 25 December 2013 Athletics gold medalist men's shot put

1952

Nilo Floody (see above) Modern Pentathlon 17th
Torbjørn Falkanger (NOR) 8 October 1927 - 16 July 2013 Ski jumping silver medalist individual large hill, also took the athletes oath.
Gianni Rocca (see above) took part in the men's 4x400m relay
Judit Temes (HUN) 10 October 1930 - 11 August 2013 Swimming gold medalist women's 4x100 freestyle relay, bronze medalist 100m freestyle
Dezső Gyarmati (see above) gold medalist men's team
György Gurics (HUN) 27 January 1929 - 10 September 2013 Wrestling bronze medalist middleweight
James Bradford (USA) 1 November 1929 - 13 September 2013 Weightlighting silver medalist heavyweight
Jack Britto (PAK) 16 August 1926 - 16 September 2013 Hockey beaten in the bronze medal match
Birger Kivelä (FIN) 24 December 1920 - 27 September 2013 Diving 13th 10m platform
Bob Kurland (see above) Basketball men's gold medalist 
Noel Harrison (GBR) 29 January 1934 - 20 October 2013 Skiing 58th downhill, 71st giant slalom, DNF slalom
Viktor Tsybulenko (USR) [Ukrainian] 13 July 1930 - 19 October 2013 Athletics 4th in men's javelin
Ebbe Parsner (see above) eliminated in repechage in double sculls
Arne Johansen (NOR) 3 April 1927 - 25 October 2013 Speed skating bronze medalist  men's 500m
Hakon Barfod (see above) sailing gold medalist Dragon class
Carl Lovsted (USA) 4 April 1930 - 8 November 2013 Rowing bronze medalist coxed four
André Filippini (SWI) 13 September 1924 - 19 November 2013 Bobsleigh bronze medalist 4 man bob
Baldassarre Porto (ITA) 19 January 1923 - 30 November 2013 Athletics competed in men's 4x400m relay
McDonald Bailey (see above) bronze medalist men's 100m
Eero Kohelmainen (FIN) 24 March 1918 - 7 December 2013 Cross-country skiing silver medalist men's 50km
Raymond Paul (GBR) 21 November 1928  - December 2013 Fencing quarter finalist foil men's individual and team



1956

Nilo Floody (see above) Modern Pentathlon 24th
Gordon McKenzie (USA) 26 June 1927 - 19 July 2013 Athletics DNF men's 10,000m
Bob Bignell (AUS) 14 March 1922 - 11 August 2013 Football beaten quarter finalist men's team
Dezső Gyarmati (see above) gold medalist men's team
Wellington Burtnett (USA) 26 August 1930 - 21 August 2013 Ice hockey silver medalist men's team
Kauko Hänninen (FIN) 28 January 1930 - 26 August 2013 Rowing bronze medalist coxless four
Lennart Risberg (SWE) 16 April 1935 - 4 September 2013 Boxing KO in first round of light heavyweight
Faith Leech (AUS) 31 March 1941 - 14 September 2013 Swimming gold medalist women's 4x100m freestyle relay, bronze medalist 100m freestyle
Denis Brodeur (CAN) 12 October 1930 - 26 September 2013 Ice hockey silver medalist men's team
Noel Harrison (see above) 47th slalom, 54th giant slalom
Viktor Tsybulenko (see above) bronze medalist javelin
Albie Thomas (AUS) 8 February 1935 - 27 October 2013 Athletics 5th men's 5,000m
Raimondo D'Inzeo (ITA) 8 February 1925 - 25 November 2013 Equestrian silver medalist individual show jumping, silver medalist team show jumping
Vladis Muižnieks (USR) [Latvian] 22 February - c. 29 November 2013 Basketball silver medalist men's team
Yevgeny Yatsinenko (USR) [Russian] 8 January 1925 - 15 December 2013 Canoeing silver medalist men's K-2 1,000m, 5th men's K-2 10,000m
Pyotr Bolotnikov (see below) 9th men's 5,000m
Raymond Paul (see above) 8th men's foil individual, 4th men's épée team, tied 5th men's foil team, tied 7th men's sabre team

1960

Gordon McKenzie (see above) 48th in the Marathon
Bill Hoskyns (GBR) 19 March 1931 - 4 August 2013 Fencing silver medalist men's team épée
Anatoly Albul (USR) [Russian] 1 June 1936 - 13 August 2013 Wrestling bronze medalist men's light heavyweight 
Dezső Gyarmati (see above) bronze medalist men's team
Kauko Hänninen (see above) semi-finalist coxed four
Carl van Gerber (SWE) 23 August 1931 - 8 September 2013 Canoeing semi-finalist K-1 4x500m relay
Josef Němec (CZE) 25 September 1933 - 10 September 2013 Boxing bronze medalist heavyweight
James Bradford (see above) silver medalist heavyweight
Owe Lostad (SWE) 27 June 1922 - 12 October 2013 Rowing cox in coxed pairs, coxed four and eight
Viktor Tsybulenko (see above) gold medalist javelin
Imre Nagy (HUN) 21 February 1933 - 20 October 2013 Modern Pentathlon gold medalist men's team. silver medalist individual
Albie Thomas (see above) competed in men's 1,500m and 5,000m
Walt Bellamy (USA) 24 July 1939 - 2 November 2013 Basketball gold medalist men's team
Nikolai Karpov (USR) 8 November 1929 - 7 November 2013 Basketball bronze medalist men's team
István Telegdy (HUN) 4 December 1927 - 11 November 2013 Sailing 12th Star Class
Raimondo D'Inzeo (see above) gold medalist individual show jumping, bronze medalist team show jumping
Paul Gnaier (GER) 8 March 1926 - 25 November 2013 Fencing 4th individual épée, 5th team épée
Attilio Bravi (ITA) 9 September 1936 - 27 November 2013 Athletics 10th men's long jump
Vladis Muižnieks (see above) silver medalist men's basketball
Pyotr Bolotnikov (USR) [Moldovian] 8 March 1930 - 20 December 2013 Athletics gold medalist 10,000m
Eero Mäntyranta (FIN) 20 November 1937 - 30 December 2013 Cross-country skiing gold medalist men's 4x10km

1964

Claude Arabo (FRA) 3 October 1937 - 3 July 2013 Fencing silver medal individual sabre
Hassan Pakandam (IRN) 19 May 1934 - 16 July 2013 Boxing participated in lightweight division
Bill Hoskyns (see above)  silver medalist individual épée
Dezső Gyarmati (see above) gold medalist men's team
Kauko Hänninen (see above) eliminated in repechage coxless four
Stanislav Stepashkin (USR) [Russian] 1 September 1940 - 4 September 2013 Boxing gold medalist featherweight -57kg
Carl van Gerber (see above) 5th K-4 1000m
Masae Kasai (JAP) 14 July 1933 - 3 October 2013 Volleyball gold medalist women's team
Imre Nagy (see above) bronze medalist men's team modern pentathlon
Albie Thomas (see above) competed in men's 1,500m and 5,000m
Raimondo D'Inzeo (see above) bronze medalist team show jumping
Taisia Chenchik (USR) [Ukrainian] 30 January 1936 - 19 November 2013 Athletics bronze medalist women's high jump
Paul Gnaier (see above) 17th individual épée, 6th team épée
Vladis Muižnieks (see above) silver medalist men's basketball
Pyotr Bolotnikov (see above) 25th men's 5,000m
Eero Mäntyranta (see above) gold medalist men's 15km, gold medalist men's 30km, silver medalist men's 4x10km relay
Eleanor Montgomery (USA) 13 November 1946 - 28 December 2013 Athletics 8th women's high jump

1968

Saturnino Rustrián (GUA) 29 November 1942 - 14 July 2013 Cycling 21st Road Race, 22nd Individual Time Trial 
Ahmed Ishtiaq Mubarak (MAS) 6 February 1948 - 9 August 2013 Athletics competed in 110m hurdles
Vladimir Vikulov (USR) [Russian] 20 July 1946 - 9 August 2013 Ice hockey gold medalist  men's team
Petr Kment (CZE) 20 August 1942 - 22 August 2013 Greco-Roman Wrestling bronze medalist heavyweight
Kauko Hänninen (see above) eliminated in repechage coxless pair 
Viktor Zinger (USR) 29 October 1941 - 24 September 2013 Ice hockey gold medalist men's team
Igor Romishevsky (USR) 25 March 1940 - 28 September 2013 Ice hockey gold medalist men's team
Sergei Belov (USR) [Russian] 23 January 1944 - 3 October 2013 Basketball bronze medalist men's team
Vladimir Musalimov (USR) [Ukrainian] 31 December 1944 - 3 November 2013 Boxing bronze medalist welterweight
Stephen Rexe (CAN) 26 February 1947 - 12 November 2013 Ice hockey bronze medalist men's team
Paul Gnaier (see above) 4th team épée
Eva Davies (GBR) 25 December 1924 - 2 December 2013 Fencing women's team foil
Eero Mäntyranta (see above) silver medalist men's 15km, bronze medalist men's 30km, bronze medalist men's 4x10km relay
Eleanor Montgomery (see above) 19th women's high jump

1972

Flemming Hansen (DEN) 11 September 1948 - 14 July 2013 Handball 13th in men's team
Paul Côté (CAN) 28 January 1944 - 19 July 2013 Sailing bronze
Ahmed Ishtiaq Mubarak (see above) competed in 110m hurdles
Vladimir Vikulov (see above) gold medalist  men's team
Edith Master (see below) 9th Team Dressage and 18th= individual
Matti Murto (FIN) 9 April 1949 - 19 August 2013 Ice hockey 5th men's team
Stanisław Szozda (POL) 25 September 1950 - 23 September 2013 Cycling silver medalist 100km Team Time Trial
Igor Romishevsky (see above) gold medalist men's ice hockey
Sergei Belov (see above) gold medalist men's basketball
Raimondo D'Inzeo (see above) bronze medalist team show jumping


1976

Ahmed Ishtiaq Mubarak (see above) competed in 110m hurdles and Malaysia's flagbearer
Edith Master (USA) 25 August 1932 - 18 August 2013 Equestrian bronze medal team dressage
Matti Murto (see above) 4th men's ice hockey
Stanisław Szozda (see above) silver medalist 100km Team Time Trial
Sergei Belov (see above) bronze medalist men's basketball
Jindřich Balcar (CZE) 22 March 1950 - 21 November 2013 Ski jumping 27th individual normal hill
Jörg Spengler (FDR) 23 December 1938 - 26 November 2013 Sailing bronze medalist Tornado class
Nadezhda Ilyina (USR) [Russian] 24 January 1949 - 7 December 2013 Athletics bronze medalist women's 4x400m relay

1980

Sergei Belov (see above) bronze medalist men's basketball and cauldron lighter
Ian Davies (AUS) 1 January 1956 - 7 November 2013 Basketball 8th men's team



1984


Ibrahim Youssef (EGY) 1 January 1959 - 10 July 2013 Football quarter-finalist in men's event
Todd Bennett (GBR) 6 July 1962 - 16 July 2013 Athletics silver medalist men's 4x400m relay
Det de Beus (NED) 18 February 1958 - 21 July 2013 Hockey gold medalist in women's team
Marco Bucci (ITA) 29 November 1960 - 6 August 2013 Athletics injury prevented him throwing a qualifying distance in discus
 Ian Davies (see above) 7th men's team basketball


1988

Todd Bennett (see above) 5th in men's 4x400m relay 
Det de Deus (see above) bronze medalist in women's hockey
Lázaro Rivas (see below) 5th mne's 52kg Greco Roman wrestling

1992

Alexander Rennie (RSA) 28 September 1959 - 4 December 2013 Slalom 36th men's K-1 

2000 

Lourembam Brojeshori Devi (IND) 1 Jan 1981 - 21 July 2013 Judo semi-finalist in the women's 52kg 
Shinya Taniguchi (JAP) 23 March 1981 - 4 September 2013 Swimming 8th men's 400m individual  medley
Kazem Sarikhani (IRN) 5 April 1978 - 10 October 2013 Judo beaten in semi-final repechage men's Half-Middleweight -81kg
Lázaro Rivas (CUB) 4 April 1975 - 22 December 2013 Greco-Roman wrestling silver medalist men's 54kg

2004

Meskerem Legesse (ETH) 28 September 1986 - 15 July 2013 Athletics competed in women's 1,500m
Wang Kenan (CHN) 3 August 1980 - 5 October 2013 Diving 8th synchronised 3m springboard ]

2008

Christian López (GUA) 30 March 1984 - 6 November 2013 Weightlifting 16th -105kg
Iryna Charnushenka-Stassiuk (BLR) 9 March 1979 - 5 December 2013 Athletics 18th women's long jump
Besik Kudukhov (RUS) 15 August 1986 - 29 December 2013 Wrestling bronze medalist men's 55kg


2012

Billy Ward (AUS) 16 July 1993 - 4 August 2013 Boxing beaten in first men's light flyweight bout
Abdelrahman El-Trabely (EGY) 7 September 1987 - 19 August 2013 Greco-Roman Wrestling competed in men's super heavyweight category
Christian López (see above) 15th +105kg weightlifting
Besik Kudukhov (see above) silver medalist men's freestyle wrestling 60kg

As I said before there are bound to be more, but history does only tend to record those who win (or come close to it) or have longevity in thier sport of a starrling short life. 

Today in Sport 2 January 2014

Today sees the start of the first six day track race of 2014. The six days of Rotterdam (6 Daagse van Rotterdam) enters its 32nd year, these events based around Madison races used to attract some of the top road cyclists in the world, but with the UCI World Tour now including the Santos Tour Down Under and Tours in the Middle East at this time of year that is not going to happen these days and that has led to the decline in the six days circuit.

The riders don't ride solidly on each day, but the Madison will take a certain amount of each days itinerary but now there are other events that fit in around the main reason for being there. That is the reason that Rotterdam is one of the six days that survives because of the diversity in the schedule.

Olympians we lost in 2013 Part 1 January to June

Those who follow my blog will know I love the Olympics and the various sports that only really get highlighted then. However, last year as most years saw the sad demise of many Olympians. Here is a record of those we lost from January to June under the years they competed.

1936

Elvi Svendsen (DEN) 8 January 1920 - 7 February 2013 Swimming 7th women's 4x100m relay, heats of the women's 100m freestyle
Hans Schnitger (NED) 5 August 1915 - 2 March 2013 Hockey bronze medalist men's hockey
Thérèse Blondeau (FRA) 4 December 1913 - 28 June 2013 Swimming competed in first round of women's 100m backstroke

1948

 Elvi Carlsen née Svendsen (see above) took part in the heats of the women's 4x100m, but not in the final where Denmark won a silver medal but under the rules of the time not Elvi.
Bill Smith (USA) 16 May 1924 - 8 February 2013 Swimming gold medalist men's 400m freestyle, gold medalist men's 4x200m freestyle relay
Bill Irwin (CAN) 24 March 1920 - 9 Feb 2013 Skiing competed in downhill, slalom, combined, 18km cross-country, nordic combined and ski jumping.  
Don Scott (GBR) 23 July 1928 - 13 February 2013 Boxing silver medalist light heavyweight  
Cummin Clancey (IRE) 9 November 1922 - 15 February 2013 Athletics competed in discus  
Donald Thompson (USA) 15 January 1928 - 26 February 2013 Fencing competed in epée  
David Bond (GBR) 27 March 1922 - 23 March 2013 Sailing gold medalist swallow class
Hjalmar Andersen (see below) took part in the 10,000m men's speed skating but did not finish
Anton Bühler (see below)  
Johnny Lunde (NOR) 26 October 1923 - 2 April 2013 Skiing DNF in downhill
Gordon Thomas (GBR) 18 August 1921 - 10 April 2013 Cycling silver medalist team road race 
Alberto Valdés (MEX) 25 June 1919 - 14 April 2013 Equestrian gold medalist team show jumping  
Alfred Bieler (SWI) 18 April 1923 - 24 April 2013 Ice Hockey bronze medalist men's ice hockey
Keith Carter (USA) 30 August 1924 - 3 May 2013 Swimming silver medalist men's 200m breaststroke, 4th men's 100m breaststroke
William Havens (USA) 29 January 1929 - 5 May 2013 Canoeing competed
Ottavio Missoni (ITA) 11 February 1921 - 9 May 2013 Athletics 6th in 400m hurdles
Nino Babbia (ITA) 15 March 1922 - 28 May 2013 Skelton/Bobsleigh gold medalist skeleton, 6th in four-man bob, 8th in two-man
Cathy Gibson later Brown (GBR) 21 March 1931 - 25 June 2013 Swimming bronze medalist women's 400m freestyle, also took part in 100m backstroke, 400m individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay
Nilton Pacheco de Oliveira (BRA) 26 July 1920 - 26 June 2013 Basketball bronze medalist men's event
Alain Mimoun (FRA) 1 January 1921 - 27 June 2013 Athletics silver medalist men's 10,000m
Iván Ruttkay (HUN) 3 February 1926 - 30 June 2013 Speed skating 10th men's 1,500m, 13th 5,000m, 15th 10,000m, 37th 500m

1952 

Petronella "Nel" Büch (NED) 6 December 1931 - 3 February 2013 Athletics 6th women's 4x100m relay
George Wearring (CAN) 2 June 1928 - 3 March 2013 Basketball eliminated in group stages
Deliana Meulenkamp (USA) 3 July 1933 - 13 March 2013 Swimming semi-finalist women's 400m freestyle
Mirja Hietamies-Eteläpää (FIN) 7 January 1931 - 14 March 2013 Cross-country skiing silver medalist women's 10km
Ernest Chapman (AUS) 11 April 1926 - 21 March 2013 Rowing silver medalist men's eight
Jean Pickering née Desforges (GBR) 4 July 1929 - 25 March 2013 Athletics bronze medalist women's 4x 100m
Hjalmar Andersen (NOR) 12 Mar 1923 - 27 March 2013 Speed skating gold medalist men's 1,500m, gold medalist men's 5,000m, gold medalist men's 10,000m
Johnny Lunde (see above) 20th in downhill
Aleksei Komarov (USR) [Russian] 10 December 1921 - 10 May 2013 Rowing silver medalist men's eight
Maurice Marshall (NZL) 12 January 1927 - 16 May 2013 Athletics competed in men's 800m and 1,500m
Edward Stevens (USA) 15 September 1935 - 9 June 2013 Rowing gold medalist men's eight
Ingvar Rydell (SWE) 7 May 1922 - 20 June 2013 Football bronze medalist men's event
Vasile Tiţă (ROM) 21 February 1928 - 24 June 2013 Boxing silver medalist middleweight
Alain Mimoun (see above) silver medalist men's 5,000m, silver medalist men's 10,000m

1956

Timir Pinegin (see below) 8th Star Class
Vladimir Yengibaryan (USR) [Armenian] 24 April 1932 - 1 February 1913 Boxing gold medalist light welterweight
Ragnar Heurlin (SWE) 6 August 1928 - 3 February 2013 Canoeing eliminated in heats K-2 1000m
Toby Graham (GBR) 24 July 1920 - 8 March 2013 Cross-Country Skiing competed in men's 50km
Mirja Hietamies-Eteläpää (see above) gold medalist women's 3x5km relay
Hjalmar Andersen (see above) 6th in the men's 10,000m
Gene Campbell (USA) 17 August 1932 - 8 April 2013 Ice hockey men's silver medalist
Luis Molina (USA) 11 October 1938 - 20 April 2013 Boxing defeated in quarter finals of the lightweight 60kg division
John Somers Payne (IRE) 25 January 1926 - 24 April 2013 Sailing 16th Finn Class
Tony Byrne (IRE) 6 July 1930 - 27 April 2013 Boxing bronze medalist lightweight 60kg division
Petrus Kastenman (SWE) 15 August 1924 - 10 June 2013 Equestrian gold medalist individual eventing
Alain Mimoun (see above) gold medalist men's Marathon

1960

Günther Maritschnigg (GER) 7 November 1933 - 22 January 2013 Wrestling silver medalist welterweight

José Colomer (SPA) 10 June 1935 - 24 January 2013 Hockey bronze medalist men's hockey
Timir Pinegin (USR) [Russian] 12 June 1927 - 31 January 2013 Sailing gold medalist star class
Vladimir Yengibaryan (see above) lost in third round
Ludwig Leitner (GER) 24 February 1940 - 21 March 2013 Skiing 4th slalom
Jimmy Lloyd (GBR) 5 July 1939 - 22 March 2013 Boxing bronze medalist welterweight 67kg
Yuri Radonyak (USR) [Russian] 8 October 1935 - 28 March 2013 Boxing silver medalist welterweight 67kg
Anton Bühler (SWI) 15 June 1922 - 29 March 2013 Equestrian silver medalist team eventing, bronze medalist individual evening
Stan Vickers (GBR) 18 June 1932 - 17 April 2013 Athletics bronze medalist men's 20km walk
John Somers Payne (see above) 18th Finn Class
Frank Salvat (GBR) 30 October 1934 - 24 April 2013 Athletics competed in men's 5,000m
Margret Göbl (FDR) 26 June 1938 - 21 June 2013 Ice skating 5th in pairs
Harry Parker (USA) 28 October 1935 - 25 June 2013 Rowing 5th single sculls
Alain Mimoun (see above) 34th men's Marathon

1964 

Timir Pinegin (see above) 5th Star Class
František Gregor (CZE) 8 December 1938 - 10 March 2013 Ice Hockey bronze medalist men's
Ludwig Leitner (see above) 5th in slalom and 5th in downhill
Hans-Joachim Walde (FDR) 28 June 1942 - 18 April 2013 Athletics bronze medalist decathlon
Judit Ágoston-Mendelényi (HUN) 21 January 1937 - 12 May 2013 Fencing gold medalist women's team foil
Arquímedes Herrera (VEN) 8 August 1935 - 30 May 2013 Athletics 6th men's 4x100m relay, semi-finalist in men's 100m and 200m
Sharon Stouder (USA) 9 November 1948 - 23 June 2013 Swimming gold medalist women's 100m butterfly, gold medalist women's 4x100m freestyle relay, gold medalist women's 4x100m medley relay, silver medalist women's 100m freestyle

1968 

Timir Pinegin (see above) 16th Star Class
Alexis Nihon Jr. (BAH) 10 January 1946 - 24 February 2013 Wrestling took part in the light heavyweight 97kg freestyle
Ronnie Smith (USA) 28 March 1949 - 31 March 2013 Athletics gold medalist men's 4x100m relay
Nicolae Martinescu (ROM) 24 February 1940 - 1 April 2013 Greco-Roman Wrestling bronze medalist light heavyweight
Hans-Joachim Walde (see above) silver medalist decathlon

1972 

Timir Pinegin (see above) 7th Soling Class
Pietro Mennea (ITA) 28 June 1952 - 21 March 2013 Athletics bronze medalist men's 200m
Anton Bühler (see above)
Nicolae Martinescu (see above) gold medalist heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestling
Shirley Firth (CAN) 31 December 1953- 30 April 2013 Cross-country skiing 10th women's 3x5km relay, 24th women's 10km, 35th women's 5km

1976 

John Wood (CAN) 7 June 1950 - 25 January 2013 Canoeing silver medalist C-1 500m
Stefano Simoncelli (ITA) 12 November 1946 - 20 March 2013 Fencing silver medalist men's team foil
Angela Voigt (DDR) 18 May 1951 - 10 April 2013 Athletics silver medalist women's long jump
Shirley Firth (see above) 7th women's 4x5km relay, 27th women's 5km, 29th women's 10km
Vladimir Romanovsky (USR) [Belarusian] 21 June 1957 - 13 May 2013 Canoeing gold medalist men's K-2 1000m, silver medalist men's K-2 500m

1980 

Pietro Mennea (see above) gold medalist men's 200m, bronze medalist men's 4x400m relay
Shirley Firth (see above) 8th women's 4x5km relay, 24th women's 10km, 28th women's 5km
Yordon Angelov (BUL) 28 August 1953 - 6 May 2013 Volleyball men's silver medalist 
Donna Hartley (GBR) 1 May 1955 - 7 June 2013 Athletics bronze medalist women's 4x400m relay  

1984 

Sabine Bischoff (FDR) 21 May 1958 - 5 March 2013 Fencing silver medalist women's team foil
Shirley Firth (see above) 22nd women's 10km, 25th women's 20km, 28th women's 5km
Laslo Babits (CAN) 17 April 1958 - 12 June 2013 Athletics 8th men's javelin  

1988

Helga Arendt (FDR) 24 April 1964 - 11 March 2013 Athletics 7th women's 400m, 4th women's 4x400m relay

1992 

Philippe Gaumont (FRA) 22 February 1973 - 17 May 2013 Cycling bronze medalist men's team time trial
Hervé Boussard (FRA) 8 March 1966 - 25 June 2013 Cycling bronze medalist men's team time trial

1996

Ingrid Visser (NED) 4 Jun 1977 - Bet 13&27 May 2013 Volleyball 5th women's event
Chechen-Ool Mongush (RUS) 28 May 1972 - c. 9 June 2013 Wrestling lost bronze medal match in -52kg category

2000

Soraya Jiménez Mendivil (MEX) 5 August 1977 - 28 March 2013 Weightlifting gold medalist women's -58kg (her nation's first female gold medalist)
Andreas Kiligkaridis (GRE) 5 August 1976 - 11 June 2013 Canoeing eliminated in the heats of men's C-1 500m DQed in C-1 1000m

2004 

Adberrahim Goumri (MOR) 21 May 1976 - 19 January 2013 Athletics 13th men's 5000 metres
Andreas Kiligkaridis (see above) semi-finalist in men's C-1 500m & 1,000m  
Meamea Thomas (KIR) 11 September 1987 - c. 23 June 2013 Weightlifting 13th men's -85kg division

2008

Adberrahim Goumri (see above) 20th men's Marathon  
Acer Nethercott (GBR) 28 November 1977 - 26 January 2013 Rowing silver medalist men's eight (coxwain)  
Andrew Simpson (GBR) 17 December 1976 - 9 May 2013 Sailing gold medalist men's Star class
Andreas Kiligkaridis (see above) semi-finalist in men's C-1 500m & 1,000m

2012 

Andrew Simpson (see above) silver medalist men's Star class

I know this list is probably not complete, it is largely weighted to the medalists as they are the ones that people will remember.

Besik Kudukhov 1986-2013

The Olympic torch relay continues to meander its way across Russia ahead of the Sochi Games next month but one man who was scheduled to help it along its way will no longer be able to take his place in that long line of torch bearers.

On the 29th December it was announced that Besik Kudukhov who has been the silver medalists at 60kg in Wrestling during the 2012 London Games having won bronze four years earlier at 55kg had died in a car crash in Southern Russia. As well as his Olympic medals he had been world champion four time in 2007 at 55kg and from 2009-11 at 60kg.

During his run from 2009 to 2011 he was considered by many in the wrestling world as the best pound for pound wrestler in the world, but his defeat by Toghrul Asgarov or Azerbaijan ended that period of dominance and in the end denied him an Olympic gold to add to his honours.

As it is the 27 year-old Russian has become another sad statistic of those killed on the roads in Russia instead of looking for a third attempt to win the elusive Gold at Rio 2016.

Below is his last gold medal winning performance in the 2011 World Championships



Besik Serodinovich Kudukhov 15 August 1986 – 29 December 2013

Today in sport 1 January 2014

Today see's the second of this season's Four Hills Ski jumping events taking place at Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Ammann delighted to be winning again

In the first of the Four Hills at Obertsdorf, Germany on the 29th December Simon Ammann of Switzerland took the win jumping 139m in the first round and 133m in the second and a points score of 301.9. Although this is his third career win in a Four Hills event it is his first World Cup win since 2011. It could be a sign that the 32 year double Olympic Champion from 2002 and 2010, nicknamed Harry Potter,  is coming into form just in time in Olympic year once more.

In second on Saturday was Norway's Anders with leaps of 133 and 133.5m for a total of 297.9, followed by a tie for third between Peter Pevc of Slovenia and Thomas Diethart of Austria both on 297.3 points. Last season's tour champion Austria's Gregor Schlierenzauer only managed 9th and will be looking to improve today.

Østberg recording her first win yesterday

In cross country skiing today the tour heads to Lenzerheide, Switzerland where the women's 10km and men's 15km will take part today. Although Marit Bjørgen of Norway had been leading the women's world cup standings but in a shock announcement this morning announced that she was withdrawing from the Tour saying "when my shape is not good enough to fight for the victory in the Tour de Ski, it is more important for me to focus on the Olympics putting all my efforts in for the Sochi Games." The team doctor has announced that she is suffering from a viral infection.

Today's races come after the sprint events saw the Tour de Ski come to Lenzerheide for the first first time. In the women's sprint Ingvild Flugstad Østberg of Norway recorded her first win in a World Cup event, in second had been Bjørgen and in the men's event it was a similar first time win for USA's Simeon Hamilton.

Fourteen events to look forward to in 2014

A new year of sport will soon be upon us so here are some of the highlights from my sporting year ahead. As you know I look beyond the major sports on this blog, though I do of course have to include one of them in this list, it will dominate our newspapers and screens for a month later this year though as you can see there are other sports that will be happening at the same time.

1. Superbowl XLVIII 2 February: To be held in MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It means that the AFC and NFC Champions will be looking at the weather reports as much as scouting reports of their opponents in the days before the Game. This is the first time that the Superbowl will be held outdoors in a cold weather location. Meaning this would well be a game that looks different from previous Big Games to the once a year viewer, but could bring all the drama that snow and the cold brings to Football aficionados 
2. Sochi Winter Olympics 7-23 February, Paralympics 7-16 March: I know there has been controversy over the human rights record of Russia and indeed the environmental concerns over the building of infrastructure to create a winter sports centre on the coast of the Black Sea. But for the last four years the world's winter athletes have been looking forward to taking centre stage once again. Women's ski jumping, a figure skating team event, mixed relay biathlon, luge relay, ski half pipe, ski & snowboard slopestyle and parallel snowboard special slalom are all making their debut in the Olympics. Coverage of the Olympics will be on BBC and the Paralympics on Channel 4.
3. Women's Tour of Flanders 6 April, La Flèche Wallonne Féminine 23 April: With the absence of any female Grand Tours on the UCI's road race calendar for women these two springs classics run at the same venue and same weekend as the men's equivalent are the biggest contests on the women's itinerary for women. Brian Cookson who took over the UCI Presidency in 2013 has said he wants to raise the profile of Women's Cycling so it will be interesting to see what gets added to the list for 2015.
4. World Curling Championships Women 15-23 April Saint John, Canada, Men 29 April - 6 May Beijing, China: The major event here is that for the first time in history the World Curling Championships are being held outside of North America or Europe the traditional homes of the sport, the first time they will be hosted by the Pacific-Asia zone. The men's championships are taking place in China at the Capital Indoor Stadium which hosted the volleyball at the 2008 Olympics. China have only be a member of the World Curling Federation since 2002.
5. Giro d'Italia 9 May - 1 June: For the first time the Giro is leaving mainland Europe for its start. The fact that this is happening in Belfast and the first three stages start in Northern Ireland mean that I am really looking forward to watching the worlds top cyclists come to places I know well. Mark Cavendish won all the bunch sprints last year and I'm wondering if he will secure a win in Belfast and Dublin at the start of this year's race. 
6. French Open Tennis 26 May - 8 June: But for one day on 31 May 2009 when he later admitted he was suffering from tendinitis in both his knees this year could have seen an unprecedented achievement of a 10th straight win at Roland Garros for Rafael Nadal. As it is he starts 2014 as the World Number one and that day in 2009 is the only one he has even lost on the clay here. As a result that year it allowed Roger Federer to complete a career slam. But will anyone ever be able to beat a fully fit Rafa here? Novak Djokovic needs this one to complete his career slam. This is the one that Andy Murray will always find it hardest to win, indeed from 13-26 January he will maybe on his return from injury have won the third of that set. However, I think that both of them will have to wait another year to try and wrest this from Rafa he is going for 5 in a row to surpass the open era record of four he currently holds jointly with Bjorn Borg.
7. FIFA World Cup 12 June - 13 July: Brazil is hosting Football's biggest event for the second time, previously it hosted in 1950. The hosts would no doubt like to win their 6th title on home soil, but there is at the time of writing still concern about some of the stadium being completed in time. But before anyone gets their hopes up too high, I don't think England are going to end 48 years of hurt this time, in fact they are in such a tough group they may not even get out of it.
8. Wimbledon 23 June - 6 July: Ok so last year Andy Murray ended the 77 years of waiting for a British man to lift the men's singles trophy. Hopefully he has recovered from his back surgery, he seems to be doing ok in his come back games this week, but the last time a British man retained the title was also that 1936 win of Fred Perry, of the last time any Brit retained a title was in 1984 when John Lloyd retained his mixed singles title with Wendy Turnbill (Aus). We also saw the Laura Robson make it to the 4th Round of the Ladies Single last year, her and Heather Watson are looking to become the first women since Virginia Wade in 1977 to win here at home and Dan Evans made the 3rd Round of the US Open last year and may well start to take some of the attention off Andy as the sole flag bearing in the men's draw.
9. Tour de France 5-27 July: Yorkshire host's this year's Grand Depart so two of cycling's Grand Tours are starting in the UK this year. The last two years have seen a British winner on a British team, when Dave Brailsford announced Team Sky ProCycling in 2009 he said that within five seasons of competing he would expect to see a British winner of the tour. This is the fifth season that Sky have taken part in Le Tour, what are the odds of them making it a hat trick as Chris Froome eyes up a repeat.
10. Commonwealth Games 23 July - 3 August: Glasgow will host the 20th Commonwealth Games, 17 sports will be contested across the city some in purpose built stadia like the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, others updated like the Tollcross International Swinming Centre. One has even seen Commonwealth Games action twice before, the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh will host Tom Daley, Matthew Mitcham and the other divers. It is possible that some of the Tour de France cyclists will be looking to do what Sir Bradley Wiggins did in 2012 and add gold to a good performance in the Road Race on 3 August or time trial on 31st July. One to watch could be Mark Cavendish who won his GB national jersey on the streets of Glasgow in 2013.
11. FEI World Equestrian Games 23 August - 7 September: Another sport on its four year world cycle is equestrian sport coming this time from Normandy, France. Combining para dressage plus some none Olympic sport it is the first qualifying tournament for Rio 2016. Britain currently has the top two show jumpers in world rankings, the top dressage pairing of Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro, as well as multiple Paralympic dressage champions and our Eventing team is always there of thereabouts plus a variety of individual capable on their day.
12.  FIBA Basketball World Cup 30 August - 14 September: The other World Cup in 2014 is that for Basketball being held in Madrid, Spain. But after these championships they will be splitting from their four year cycle to align away from the same years as FIFA's rather bigger version. So the next World Cup in Basketball will take part in 2019. Spain won this event in 2006 but last time out it was the USA, who although they invented the sport and largely have the Olympics all their own way, haven't in the FIBA World Cup. Indeed they need one more title to equal the defunct nation of Yugoslavia. Although Serbia lost out in the last bronze medal match and Croatia took bronze in 1994 so there is still strength in that region that could deny the USA and cause all sorts of issues as to who is the strongest historically.
13. FIVB Volleyball World Championships Men 3-21 September Poland, Women 23 September - 12 October Italy:  It may not be as big as the other prize that Brazil has their eyes on in July, it may not be as glamourous as its beach counterpart, but Brazil's men are going for an unprecedented 4th straight victory in the World Championships. Spanning 13 years of domination no team male or female has ever achieved not even in the height of Soviet Union domination. In Italy the women's event could see a third successive final between Russia and Brazil, with the Brazilian women hoping to finally overcome their nemesis from the last two World Champs on both occasions losing 3-2.
14. Grand Prix of Russia 12 October: Sporting eyes will return to the Olympic Park in Sochi as Grand Prix returns to Russia for the first time since 1914. The last time a Russian Grand Prix was held in St. Petersburg it was won by German Willy Schöll, there will be 18 drivers on the grid in Sochi hoping it won't be another German, while three German's will hope is can be just not one with the initials SV. Another highlight on the F1 calendar is the return on 22 June of the Austrian Grand Prix.