Simon Brotherton
Skating commentator on BBC Two

Image source, Getty Images

Sander Eitrem has smashed the Olympic record. He has annihilated it!

Eitrem broke the world record this winter, and he came into this winter with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He has absolutely delivered in the biggest race of his life.

World champion Sander Eitrem with a stunning performance - an Olympic record! He's smashed it by more than two seconds as well!

There's another pair to go but the Norwegian has surely got the gold medal wrapped up now.

Metodej Jilek of the Czech Republic also beat the previous Olympic record but he has to settle for the silver medal spot for now.

One pair still to go.

1. Sander Eitrem, Norway - 6:03.95 (OR)
2. Metodej Jilek, Czech Republic - 6:06.48
3. Riccardo Lorello, Italy - 6:09.22
4. Davide Ghiotto, Italy - 6:09.57
5. Peder Konshaug, Norway - 6:11.31
6. Chris Huizinga, Netherlands - 6:11.58

Simon Brotherton
Skating commentator on BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

A relieved figure of Riccardo Lorello, he must have assumed that he had lost the top spot there.

So close for Davide Ghiotto!

But he comes in 0.35 seconds behind his fellow Italian Riccardo Lorello. The skater from Milan is still on for the gold medal - just.

But here come Cezech Republic's Medodej Jilek and Norway's Sander Eitrem, two of the big hitters...

1. Riccardo Lorello, Italy - 6:09.22
2. Davide Ghiotto, Italy - 6:09.57
3. Peder Konshaug, Norway - 6:11.31
4. Chris Huizinga, Netherlands - 6:11.58
5. Casey Dawson, USA - 6:11.88
6. Stijn van de Bunt, Netherlands - 6:12.94

It doesn't look like it's going to be Felix Bloch's weekend.

The veteran German, winner of this event at the 2010 and 2014 Games and the leader in this season's World Cup standings, finishes with the quickest of his three runs with a time of 53.160 seconds.

The 36-year-old remains in eighth though, having not closed the gap to the leaders.

Wilf O’Reilly
Former British short track speed skater on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Davide Ghiotto is making an effort and pushing to the side.

The more power you can generate to the side, the quicker you can get going forward.

Simon Brotherton
Skating commentator on BBC Two

That will get the crowd going the fact that Davide Ghiotto is in the ballpark and that he is in range.

Image source, Getty Images

Three pairs to go and Italy's Riccardo Lorello is still in the gold medal position.

His fellow countryman Davide Ghiotto is among the next to try and displace him. Casey Dawson of the US also goes in the eighth pair...

1. Riccardo Lorello, Italy - 6:09.22
2. Peder Konshaug, Norway - 6:11.31
3. Chris Huizinga, Netherlands - 6:11.58
4. Stijn van de Bunt, Netherlands - 6:12.94
5. Gabriel Gross, Germany - 6:14.40
6. Marcel Bosker, Netherlands - 6:17.47

The leaders are heading out first on run three, meaning standings topper Max Langenhan starts us off.

The German finishes with a time of 52.705 seconds, the fastest of his three runs, taking his accumulated time to 2:38.531.

Second-placed Jonas Mueller of Austria and third-placed Dominik Fischnaller of Italy put in times of 52.837 and 52.949 respectively.

Their accumulated times are 2:38.825 and 2:39.073, it's an event decided by fine margins.

Netherlands' Chris Huizinga is into the bronze medal position after a strong skate. It's highly unlikely he'll still be there by the end of this final but he's given himself a chance...

1. Riccardo Lorello, Italy - 6:09.22
2. Peder Konshaug, Norway - 6:11.31
3. Chris Huizinga, Netherlands - 6:11.58
4. Stijn van de Bunt, Netherlands - 6:12.94
5. Gabriel Gross, Germany - 6:14.40
6. Marcel Bosker, Netherlands - 6:17.47

Wilf O’Reilly
Former British short track speed skater on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

We are now seeing an influx of talented athletes into this sport.

Nils van der Poel has put a new view of how speed skating should be done.

Van der Poel won gold medals in the 5,000 metres and the 10,000 metres at the Beijing Games before retiring just a month later at the age of 25.

Fans of hurtling down a track feet first at 80mph, your time is now - it's almost time for the last two runs of luge's men's singles.

After two runs yesterday, Germany's Max Langenhan leads the way with an accumulated time of 1:45.826.

The reigning world champion is above Austria's Jonas Mueller, winner of three World Cups this season, who is second with 1:45.988.

Dominik Fischnaller of Italy is third with 1:46.124, while Langenhan's compatriot and two-time Olympic champion Felix Loch is eighth of 25 athletes with a time of 1:46.745.

They're almost ready to go again in the men's 5,000m speed skating final.

Next up are Chris Huizinga of the Netherlands and Austria's Alexander Farthofer. Will either be able to knock Riccardo Lorello out of the gold medal position?

Jackie Lockhart
Four-time Olympic curler on BBC Two

Team GB have got to close the door in that game. Go back to camp, refuel and speak to the coaches, then come out strong.

Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat have to bring their A game against Italy tonight.

Lindsey Vonn may have crashed out but USA still took the gold with Breezy Johnson edging out Germany's Emma Aicher by 0.04 seconds, while Italian home favourite Sofia Goggia secured bronze.

While we wait for the speed skating final to resume, a reminder of the day's biggest - and most heart-breaking story...

Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn was competing despite rupturing her ACL, had completed two practice runs in recent days but there was to be no dream ending.

The USA skier crashed out early in the downhill final and had to be airlifted off the piste in Cortina after being tended to for a lengthy period.

Italy's Riccardo Lorello still has the time to beat at the halfway stage of this 5,000m final.

The fourth and fifth pairs never came close to challenging his impressive time.

There will be a 20-minute break as the ice gets a bit of TLC to make sure it's in top condition for the remainder of the final.

When things resume, we'll start to see some of the big medal favourites....

1. Riccardo Lorello, Italy - 6:09.22
2. Peder Konshaug, Norway - 6:11.31
3. Stijn van de Bunt, Netherlands - 6:12.94
4. Gabriel Gross, Germany - 6:14.40
5. Marcel Bosker, Netherlands - 6:17.47
6. Sigurd Henriksen, Norway - 6:18.24

Team GB

Image source, Getty Images

Team GB's Bruce Mouat, speaking to BBC Sport after their loss against Switzerland: "We learn a lot from every game we play. Probably overthrows, that is the key learning for us, and we will come back in a couple of hours and play better against Italy."

On facing the Games hosts Italy later today: "Looking forward to it. The energy will be quite electric, and we will thrive off that. Looking forward to playing them and causing some drama in the stands, hopefully.