Olympic Aerials Olympics Schedule 2014: TV Info, Day 7 Medal Predictions
The freestyle skiing action at the 2014 Winter Olympics is gearing up as the women's aerials are set to take place on Friday in Sochi.
North America has dominated events in freestyle skiing as of late, as Canada took two of three medals—gold and bronze—in the women's slopestyle and Team USA swept men's slopestyle while nabbing a silver in women's.
The aerials competition is always one of the most exciting events of the Winter Olympics, as skiers get huge air while flipping seemingly uncontrollably, only to nail it perfectly on so many occasions. This year's field is loaded with talent, so don't expect anything less in Sochi.
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Here is a look at the viewing information for the remaining aerials events and a preview of Friday's competition.
When: Friday, Feb. 14 at 8:45 a.m. (qualifications) and 12:30 p.m. (finals)
Where: Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, Sochi, Russia
Watch Live: NBC Olympics Live Extra
Watch Primetime: NBC (qualifications 3 p.m., finals 8 p.m.)
Note: All times ET
Here is an updated look at the medal count.
Preview and Medal Predictions
Plenty of women's aerials finalists are making noise as contenders, but it's undeniable that one name sticks out far from the rest.
Lydia Lassila out of Australia took the women's aerials event in Vancouver's 2010 Games, so she'll enter Friday's event as the defending champion with the chance to win a second straight gold in the event.
The 32-year-old Lassila is one of the most experienced participants at these Olympics in any sport, as she is competing in her fourth Games. She was without a medal until her 2010 feat.
China boasts the strongest contender to Lassila's throne, as Xu Mengtao looks to be a near lock for a medal. In 2010's Vancouver Games, the 23-year-old had the highest score in the women's aerials final through one run but crashed on the second, ending up in sixth place.
However, Mengtao has experienced plenty of success in FIS Freestyle World Championships in two appearances since. After winning silver in aerials in 2011, she took home the gold medal in 2013, putting herself into one of the driver's spots for top aerials contenders in Sochi.
Russia doesn't boast freestyle skiing as one of its strong suits as a nation by any means, but Veronika Korsunova looks like she could put her country on the podium in the sport. She finished just behind Mengtao in the FIS with the silver in 2013.
Each of these three skiiers should be at or near the podium when it's all said and done, but it's hard to avoid going with the defending champion on a stage that she has proven able to excel in.
Prediction—Gold: Lydia Lassila (AUS), Silver: Xu Mengtao (CHI), Bronze: Veronika Korsunova (RUS)
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