Frost Bites: Home win raises eyebrows, stone-cold hockey classic, unwanted Biebs and Bernie backs Vlad

FROST BITES: RUSSIA has won its first ever women’s figure skating gold, but the judges’ marks have raised plenty of eyebrows.

RUSSIA has won its first ever women’s Olympic figure skating gold, but not everyone is celebrating Adelina Sotnikova’s remarkable win.

Defending champion Kim Yu-Na of Korea, who took silver, had some pointed words after being squeezed out despite a flawless round that many assumed would be enough for gold when Sotnikova faltered during her routine.

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Russia's Adelina Sotnikova in action on her way to gold in the figure skating.

“I can’t do anything about this. I did all I could,’’ said Kim, 23, who later confirmed it was her final competition.

“The result was good because I made no mistake. The scores are given by the judges so I’m not in the right position to comment and there is nothing that will change with my words. The most important thing for me is to participate in these Games.’’

AUSSIE SHEEHAN BOMBS OUT IN HALFPIPE

Despite an error when she two-footed a double loop in her combination jump, Sotnikova was given the second best score ever in the free skate, just 0.11 off the world record mark Kim achieved on her way to gold in Vancouver four years ago.

Adelina Sotnikova waves to fans after her winning score was announced.

“Any questions are for the judges, not for me. I did my job. I gave a gift to Russia,’’ said the skater from Moscow.

Bronze medallist Carolina Kostner of Italy also gave an error-free performance. “I just have faith that the judges made the right decision,’’ the former world champion diplomatically said afterwards.

A less than thrilled Kim Yu-Na (left) poses on the figure skating podium with gold-medallist Adelina Sotnikova and Italy's bronze medallist Carolina Kostner (right).

American Ashley Wagner, who became an internet sensation after refusing to hide her bemusement during scoring during the team event last week, was typically forthright about the verdict.

“I think we’re all very surprised,’’ Wagner — who placed seventh — said after watching Kim’s routine.

“I saw a lot of very nice, decent landings (from Kim) and I am speechless.’’

Ashley Wagner still can’t quite believe it.

VETERAN AUSSIE: ‘IT’S A BITCH FIGHT OUT THERE’

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OH CANADA! WHAT A MATCH!

IT was a sweet sweet night for the hockey-loving Canucks after a last-gasp victory over the US in the women’s final.

Marie-Philip Poulin scored an equaliser with just 54 seconds left in regulation and went on to net the game winner in overtime as Canada rallied from 2-0 down to beat its neighbours 3-2.

After pulling one back with less than three minutes on the clock, the Canadians went for broke, pulling their goalie out and somehow forcing overtime before Poulin secured legend status with the overtime winner.

Marie-Philip Poulin of Canada scores the golden goal against the US in the women’s hockey final.

The goal touched off wild celebrations on the ice as she was mobbed by her teammates while the crowd sang the national anthem O Canada.

Spare a thought for the Americans though, this wasn’t exactly an underdog triumph — it was Canada’s fourth straight Olympic women’s title and 20th straight victory in the Winter Games dating back to 2002.

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin enjoys the taste of gold.

The Americans had a chance to tuck the game away late in regulation but a long shot at an empty Canadian goal by Kelli Stack deflected off the post and out of harm’s way. Just moments later Poulin scored her first of two on the night.

The heartbreakingly slim margin between victory and defeat was nicely illustrated in this tweet from the Team USA account.

#TeamUSA was THIS close: pic.twitter.com/vPFGO1U94a

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BIEBER THE BOOBY PRIZE

Speaking of hockey, this billboard allegedly seen in Chicago promoting the men’s version of the USA v Canada rink rivalry is stone-cold hilarious.

A billboard in Chicago ahead of the USA vs. Canada ice hockey match (via @reddit). pic.twitter.com/F6AEHY4T41

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UKRAINIAN SKIER SLAMS IOC AFTER WITHDRAWAL

Try as they might to keep sport and politics separate, Olympic organisers can’t always keep the real world from crashing the party.

Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska has pulled out of today’s slalom event, saying she did not want to represent a country whose authorities’ used deadly force against protesters in Kiev.

But on the way out she also had a pop at the IOC for not allowing her to wear a black armband to pay tribute to the dozens killed in the waves of violence that broke out in the city this week.

“We wanted to wear black armbands to mourn the people who have died in Kiev, but the IOC told us it was not allowed,” the 24-year-old said.

“In these conditions it is simply not possible to compete. We don’t feel comfortable here and we can’t compete.”

Ukrainian skier Bogdana Matsotska has slammed the IOC after withdrawing from the Games.

The IOC has decreed that athletes cannot display anything during the Games that could be construed as a political statement.

They even banned Australia’s Torah Bright from sporting a sticker paying tribute to her late friend and fellow competitor Sarah Burke, who died in 2012 after a training run accident.

IOC spokesman Mark Adams insisted that the organisation had not specifically banned black armbands, saying the Ukrainian delegation itself had not asked to wear them.

However, the Ukrainian delegation issued a statement on its website saying that it had indeed asked to wear armbands, and were told by the IOC that that was inappropriate.

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F1 SUPREMO BACKS PUTIN GAY STANCE

While multiple athletes have been subtly protesting Russia’s ant-gay propaganda laws by sporting rainbow colours, president Vladimir Putin has at least one backer on the issue.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone — whose credibility was questioned by a judge yesterday despite winning a multimillion-dollar case at London’s High Court relating to the sale of Formula 1 in 2005 — told CNN that he has “great admiration” for Putin and “completely agrees” with his views on homosexuality.

Bernie Ecclestone tells it like he assumes it is.

“He hasn’t said he doesn’t agree (with homosexuality) just that he doesn’t want these things publicised to an audience under the age of 18,” Ecclestone said, before seeing fit to speak on behalf of 6.43 billion people.

“I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you’d find 90% of the world agree with it as well.”

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PIC OF THE GAMES

After a crash-tastic couple of weeks, what better way to sign off than with this image glorious in its simplicity. See you all in Pyeongchang.

Brita Sigourney of the United States falls during women's ski halfpipe final.