Bobsledder Holcomb gaining ground

U.S. bobsled driver Steven Holcomb took several steps in the right direction Thursday in training for the defense of his gold medal in Saturday's four-man competition: He helped push the sled despite a calf injury. He had spent the rest of training riding and not pushing.

"I was able to take a few steps and load in right at the crest of the hill," Holcomb said. "I was not putting a lot of pressure on my leg, just enough. The best thing to do is stay off it and get treatment."

Steve Langton, who won bronze with Holcomb in two-man in Sochi and was in on the gold medal four-man ride with Holcomb in Vancouver, said Holcomb's injury isn't slowing the American team much.

"It's definitely not optimal," he said. "If there's any slack we'll be there to pick it up. But he's a gamer, he'll be the best he can possibly be by race day."

The boss criticizes skater Asada

The criticism of Japanese figure skater Mao Asada's performance in the women's short program came right from the top Thursday. Asada, a silver medalist in 2010 in Vancouver, finished 16th after falling.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who became the Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizing committee's chairman last month, said Asada has a habit of "always falling at the most critical time" of a competition. He blamed Asada's short program shortcomings on her participation in the earlier team event at Sochi., in which she also fell.

"We shouldn't have taken part in the team competition," Mori said. "The psychological damage incurred must have remained."

Mori was also critical of Japanese ice dancers Chris and Cathy Reed, who were born in the United States but compete for Japan.

"They live in America," Mori said. "Although they are not good enough for the U.S. team in the Olympics, we included these naturalized citizens on the team."

Ukrainian withdraws to join protest

A Ukrainian skier withdrew from the Olympics in response to the deaths of anti-government protesters in her country.

"I don't want to participate when in my country people die," Bogdana Matsotska said.

Matsotska, 24, was to ski Friday in the slalom, her third and best event of the Games.

Matsotska wants to leave the Olympics immediately to join protesters in the camp known as Maidan in Kiev's Independence Square, but said she has been unable to book a flight home.

"I am in Maidan, but just with my soul," she said.

NEWS SERVICES