Olympic day of politics and power on slopes

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― The politics got a little hotter. The slopes got a lot slushier.

On a day when the mountain courses seemed better suited for the crawl or butterfly but posed no obstacle to Tina Maze, the Sochi Olympics took a more overt political turn.

Two members of the punk group Pussy Riot ― Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina ― were among nine people detained Tuesday while walking in downtown Sochi. All were later released and no charges were filed.

The two group members burst from the police station wearing trademark ski masks ― one pink, one blue. Police said they were questioned about a theft at the hotel where they were staying.

Pussy Riot has become an international flashpoint for those who contend Vladimir Putin’s government has exceeded its authority in dealing with an array of issues, notably human and gay rights.

“We are constantly surrounded by people ... who are shadowing us, following our every move and looking for any excuse to detain us,” Tolokonnikova said after her release.

Russia dodges hockey elimination

SOCHI, Russia (AP) ― When Alexander Radulov pumped both fists and let loose a jubilant scream, an entire hockey nation also exhaled for a day.

Although the Russians are undeniably laboring through their home Olympics, a few timely goals and two brilliant goalies are keeping them alive in their hunt for gold.

Radulov had two goals and an assist, and Russia survived its first elimination game in Sochi with a 4-0 victory Tuesday over Norway in the qualification round.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 22 saves in the second straight shutout victory for the fifth-seeded Russians, who earned a meeting with Finland in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

“It is do-or-die games right now,” said Alex Ovechkin, who hasn’t scored a goal in three games.

“We don’t have much time to prepare ... but I’m pretty sure everybody on Finland is going to be ready, and we’re going to be ready as well.”

Graabak wins gold in Nordic

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) ― It had been a long time coming for Norway, the birthplace of Nordic combined.

Joergen Graabak took gold and Magnus Moan the silver in the large hill event Tuesday at the Sochi Olympics, giving Norway its first one-two finish in a Nordic combined event in 78 years.

Norway has the most Olympic medals in the sport ― 12 ― but Graabak’s win was the country’s first since Nagano 1998, when Bjarte Engen Vik won the individual and team events.

Graabak, who was initially left out of Norway’s Olympic squad, then added as a large hill specialist, broke away from a five-man group with about 100 meters left in the cross-country race.

Wise takes halfpipe skiing gold

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) ― David Wise soared through sleet and snow and ended up with gold ― a mighty nice present to bring home to his daughter.

Skiing with a heart-shaped rock he got from his wife and in front of a crowd waving pictures of his 2-year-old girl, Nayeli, the 23-year-old from Reno, Nevada, overcame sloppy and wet conditions to win the first Olympic Games ski halfpipe contest.

A high-flying show this was not. But Wise overcame the conditions to score a 92 on his first run, which held up as the weather worsened.