Latest from Turin

HUMAN SKI LIFT: Ligety of Park City, Utah, gets a ride from teammates after winning the gold medal. His final slalom run of 43.84 was the day’s fastest. “It’s something that I never would have expected,” the 21-year-old said.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Zhang Dan is helped off the ice by partner Zhang Hao after injuring her knee during the finals of the pairs competition Monday. After a two-minute regrouping period, the Chinese pair returned to the ice and won the silver medal.  (Wally SKalij / Los Angeles Times)

Zhang Dan prepares to catch partner Zhang Hao during the pairs competition on Monday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Parsons, front, is happy after scoring her second goal of the game in the U.S. women’s hockey team’s 7-3 win over Finland.  (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

Kazusa Tabata, 4, left, and her brother Gakusi, 6, show their support for Japanese speedskaters during the women’s 500 meters.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Witty of the U.S. chases Svetlana Radkevich of Belarus during the women’s 500-meter speedskating competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jiang Chunli of China competes in the women’s cross-country team sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Bjoern Lind of Sweden, right, finishes just ahead of Tor Arne Hetland of Norway to win the gold medal for his country in the men’s cross-county team sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko competes during the men’s figure skating short program. Plushenko has a commanding lead over second-place Johnny Weir of the U.S.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Frederic Dambier of France falls during the men’s figure skating short program.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Johnny Weir of the U.S. is in second place after the men’s figure skating short program.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Team Canada Executive Director Wayne Gretzky makes his way through a crush of photographers.  (Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press)

Finland’s Lauri Pyykonen leads the pack during the Cross-Country Men’s Team Sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Canada’s Meaghan Simister is helped into an ambulance after crashing in her third run in the Women’s Singles Luge.  (Michael Sohn / Associated Press)

Second place German luger Silke Kraushaar, first place Sylke Otto and third place Tatjana Huefner, from left, celebrate after the Olympic Women’s Single Luge.  (Michael Sohn / AP)