Image source, AP

The three potential medallists are already standing in a group high-fiving each other. Italy's Christof Innerhofer (above) seems to be the happiest of the bunch - and he's in the silver medal position behind Matthias Mayer. The big names have all been out already. The fat lady is starting to clear her throat.

Graham Bell
Five-time Winter Olympic skier on BBC TV

"Didier Défago is the oldest man in the competition today. Lose arms and a lose body allow him to get great speed. He ran a bit wide, going in with his hip. It's the middle section of the course that's where this race has been decided No man has ever defended his Olympic downhill title. Good start but a disappointing finish. The crucial left hander let him down, he dropped his hip, but didn't carry the acceleration through."

Brighton Boats:, external We're watching the Winter Olympics in the office - addicted.

Andy Kinsey:, external Who knew men's downhill was going to be so close?!

Ian Brown:, external Usually MOTD for me but live Olympic Men's Downhill for me today.

Image source, Reuters

Japan and Sweden are currently goalless in their women's Group B ice hockey match at the Shayba Arena. Sweden are the strong favourites for this one. You can watch it by clicking on the Live Coverage section on this website.

Defago is ahead on the first two splits but makes a hash of the middle section of the course and comes through in a lowly 14th place. No man has ever successfully defended the men's downhill title.

Defending champion Didier Defago, the oldest man in the competition at 36, is on the course...

If you are just joining us, a reminder that we have a shot of a British medal later this morning. Jenny Jones will race second in the women's slopestyle final at 09:17 and 09:50. Watch it here...

Matt Chilton
BBC Sport skiing commentator on BBC TV

"Still to come is the defending champion from Switzerland, number 27 Didier Defago, and also number 28 the Canadian Manuel Osborne-Paradis, who celebarted his 30th birthday yesterday. Both have a chance of getting in the medals."

Image source, AP

Mayer, 23, is competing in his first Olympics. He made his debut for Austria in 2009. His father won silver in the Super-G at the 1988 Games in Calgary. His son is on the brink of going one better here...

Reaction to Jenny Jones qualifying for the slopestyle final at 0915:

Team GB biathlete Amanda Lightfoot:, external Go Jenny Jones - awesome run. Go for gold girl. Cheering you on all the way.

Team GB:, external BIG from Jenny Jones, landing a frontside 720 - great run to take into the final.

Christof Innerhofer, another very un-Italian-sounding name, looks good for the gold medal slot. He's ahead on the first three splits, but loses out in the final section and takes second, 0.06 seconds behind. He's delighted, screaming like a banshee after crossing the line.

Katharine Bennett:, external Loving men's downhill - under the duvet with some chocolate, totally worth waking up early for! Want to hit the slopes.

Lizzy Webster:, external No second chances in downhill. Poor Bode Miller, he looks gutted.

David Shaw:, external Well the king of skiing is out of the medals - this alpine event has just got interesting!

Image source, Getty Images

No Norweigan has ever won the men's downhill title. And that won't be changing today. After a flying start, Aksel Lund Svindal comes unstuck in the middle section and can only take third with a time of 2:06.52. The camera cuts to Matthias Mayer. His chances of gold have just increased tenfold.

Next up in the skiing is Aksel Lund Svindal. He won Super G gold, downhill silver and giant slalom bronze in 2010 and four consecutive world championship golds.

Nick Hope
BBC Sport at Extreme Park in Rosa Khutor

"BBC Sport commentator Ed Leigh believes Great Britain's Jenny Jones can challenge for Team GB's first-ever medal in a snow-sport, but is pleased she has 'done herself justice' by reaching the final.

"'For Jenny, with all of the injuries she has been through and how hard she has worked to be here she really deserves it,' said Leigh.

"'She has dominated the sport for so long and then extended her career to compete in the Olympics for the first time.

"'She deserves the recognition and I'm so pleased she is in a position now to get that'."

Graham Bell
Five-time Winter Olympic skier on BBC TV

"Miller was all over the place and he is distraught. He was quick at the top section but when he went to the control gate, it all went wrong. Matthias Mayer [the leader] knows that was a huge scalp to take. It is a big disappointment for Miller."

Image source, Getty Images

Bode Miller is ahead of the pace on the first two splits, but goes a bit too wide and smashes through a couple of gates. He takes flight towards the end to try to make up time but the damage is done and he can only take sixth place. Miller looks absolutely distraught as he trudges away from the course.

Graham Bell
Five-time Winter Olympic skier

"The top section is the steepest part and is intimidating by its gradient. Out of the start, down the Toboggan, it's pretty steep, not quite Kitzbuhel territory, but fast enough. You then go into this big right-hander that gets you into Accola Valley that has three super-G turns to control the speed before you dive down into this schuss which has a gradient of 46 degrees. That's pretty much as steep as snow will stick to, it doesn't stick after about 50 degrees."

Italy's Peter Fill - doesn't sound very Italian, does he? - bumps around on the ice a bit and loses time in the final section to take fifth place. Next up, it's the playboy of skiing - Bode Miller - in his final Olympic downhill.

Gavin Greenway: The young half of the slopestyle audience will be inspired to try it. The older half, while still impressed, will be wondering what tricks could be possible if the riders only pulled their trousers up properly!