CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Frank Del Duca and Josh Williamson quickly began icing down after their first two runs of the two-man bobsled event at the Milan Cortina Games.
It was not in a recommended fashion. They didn't even use ice.
The American bobsledders — who are fourth at the midway point of the two-man competition, just one-tenth of a second from a bronze medal spot — had one tiny problem after their second run Monday.
Well, four tiny problems, to be exact.
They lost their shoes.
So, they went through most of their 20-minute post-race media gamut outside, in subfreezing temperatures, on cold gray concrete — barefoot. They carried their racing spikes but didn't want to wear them on the concrete in order to avoid damage.
“In between runs, we plan ahead," Del Duca said. "We put our shoes in something called a down bag. We have layers to stay nice and warm and be comfortable. We pack a lot of stuff in that bag and then we normally don’t leave it at the top.
"Today, we left it at the top.”
Sliders wear very little during their actual runs: super-thin speed suit, spikes and helmet are about it. Their jackets, warm-up gear, sneakers and big gloves tend to be kept in those “down” bags, named because they're supposed to come “down” the mountain with someone while the sliders, you know, go down in their sled.
They tried to make the best of the situation Monday.
“We're just trying to be tough,” Williamson insisted, though the smile on his face suggested otherwise.
Anyway, before their journey through what's called the mixed zone — the area just off the finish line where athletes take questions from broadcasters and reporters — Del Duca and Williamson got saved.
Curt Tomasevicz, USA Bobsled's Director of Sport Performance, retrieved their down bags and briskly went through the area to deliver the sneakers and warm clothes to Del Duca and Williamson. They quickly bundled up and ended up walking away with their normal gait, instead of the rather tentative steps they were taking on their way to the interviews.
“I'm telling everyone it was intentional,” Del Duca said. “We were taking an ice bath from the ground up.”
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' Frankie del Duca, right, and Joshua Williamson start for a two man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
United States' Frankie del Duca, front, and Joshua Williamson arrive at the finish during a two man bobsled run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
MILAN (AP) — Russian figure skater Adeliia Petrosian said she is feeling “excellent” after a practice session at the Winter Olympics on Monday with her controversial coach, seemingly dispelling injury concerns.
Petrosian was joined by coach Eteri Tutberidze for a half-hour session at the practice rink next to the venue where she will compete in the women's short program Tuesday against the likes of Amber Glenn and Alysa Liu.
“Mood is excellent,” Petrosian said when asked how she was feeling after the skate.
Petrosian seemed comfortable on the ice as she rehearsed her free skate routine and landed numerous clean triple jumps. After finishing her program she had a couple falls on jumps late in the session but seemed unshaken.
Petrosian is due to compete as an “individual neutral athlete” at the Milan Cortina Olympics due to restrictions on Russia's participation during its war in Ukraine.
She's only competed once in a senior competition outside of Russia and her fitness had been uncertain following comments about injuries last month in a recent Russian documentary.
The International Skating Union vetted Petrosian before granting her neutral status for the Olympic qualifier she won in September, when Tutberidze wasn't listed in her entourage.
The International Olympic Committee manages coaches' accreditations for the Olympics, where Tutberidze is also present as a coach for a Georgian men's skater.
The ISU said in a statement issued during Petrosian's practice that it had “a robust series of protocols” covering the vetting of athletes and coaches for the qualifiers.
“The Olympic Winter Games and related rules are the responsibility of the IOC,” the ISU added.
Tutberidze has coached numerous Russian women’s skating champions including Kamila Valieva, whose doping case overshadowed the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The World Anti-Doping Agency's president said this month that an investigation found no evidence Tutberidze was implicated in that case but that he was personally not “comfortable with her presence here in the Olympic Games.”
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
Individual Neutral Athlete Adeliia Petrosian performs during a figure skating practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Individual Neutral Athlete Adeliia Petrosian skates during a figure skating practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Individual Neutral Athlete Adeliia Petrosian skates during a figure skating practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Individual Neutral Athlete Adeliia Petrosian, left, speaks with choreographer Daniil Gleikhengauz, center, and coach Eteri Tutberidze, during a figure skating practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Individual Neutral Athlete Adeliia Petrosian skates during a figure skating practice session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
