Figure skating lost a star Thursday when Russian legend Evgeny Plushenko announced his retirement after withdrawing from the Winter Olympics due to an injury. But the show must go on: Day seven of the Sochi Olympics was full of athletes fighting to be the top brass.
Team USA's Noelle-Pikus Pace won the silver in women's skeleton, redeeming herself after a near miss in Vancouver four years ago and a devastating injuring before Torino in 2006. Olympians also clamored for worldwide recognition in figure skating and ski jumping, among other sporting events.
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More notable moments from Thursday's games included a second gold medal win for Belarusian cross biathlon competitor Darya Domracheva, an unexpected victory for Swiss skier Sandros Viletta in the super combined downhill event and a first place win for cross-country skier Dario Cologna, also of Switzerland.
Volunteers flatten the snow prior to the start of the men's alpine skiing super combined slalom at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Feb. 14.
Maciej Kreczmer of Poland competes during the men's cross-country 15km class on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics Friday.
Sweden's Loui Eriksson and Switzerland's Mathias Seger fight for position as a puck flies along the glass in the second period of the men's ice hockey preliminary round group C game on Feb. 14 in Sochi.
Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain celebrates winning the gold medal during the women's skeleton event on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics at the Sanki Sliding Center Sanki Friday.
Zhanbota Aldabergenova of Kazakhstan practices ahead of the women's freestyle skiing aerials finals on Feb. 14.
(From left to right) Silver medalist Selina Gasparin of Switzerland, gold medalist Darya Domracheva of Belarus and bronze medalist Nadezhda Skardino, also of Belarus, celebrate on the podium during the women's biathlon 15km individual flower ceremony Friday.
A skier inspects the men's downhill ski course at dawn in preparation of the men's alpine skiing supercombined event Friday at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Norway's Chris Andre Jespersen competes in the men's cross-country skiing 15km classic on Feb. 14. Athletes wore apparel not usually associated with skiing, such as T-shirts instead of the normal long-sleeves while others even bared their legs.
Rico Peter of Switzerland pilots a run during a men's two-man bobsleigh training session on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Russia's Assoli Slivets reacts after a jump during the women's freestyle skiing aerials qualifying event on Feb. 14.
Matthias Mayer of Austria competes during the men's alpine skiing super combined slalom Friday.
Graham Bell of the BBC wears shorts while reporting during the men's alpine skiing super combined slalom on Feb. 14.
Forerunners inspect the course before the men's cross-country 15km classic on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits USA House in the Olympic Village on Feb. 14.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) raises a pair of mittens as he stands with Chairman of the Canadian National Olympic Committee Marcel Aubut during a visit to Canada House in the Olympic Village Friday.
Xu Mengtao of China competes in the women's freestyle skiing aerials qualification event on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
South Korea's Hansin Lee starts a run during the men's skeleton heats at the Sanki Sliding Center Friday.
Kim Jisun of South Korea yells to her sweepers as China's Zhou Yan (left) and Qingshuang Yue look on at the 2014 Sochi Olympics on Feb. 14.
Italy's Dominik Paris competes during the men's alpine skiing super combined slalom Friday in Sochi.
Men's alpine skiing supercombined slalom gold medal winner -- Switzerland's Sandro Viletta -- leaves the podium after the event's flower ceremony Friday.
Michael Frolik of the Czech Republic stops in front of Edgars Masalskis of Latvia in the first period of the men's ice hockey preliminary round group C game on day seven of the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Olga Krichevtcova (left) and Ulyana Ukolova wear halos while passing out paper hearts at the Olympic Plaza to celebrate Valentine's Day Friday.
Scotty Venus of the United States (top) and Rewk Patton of Canada watch the alpine skiing men's supercombined slalom wearing monkey masks on on Feb. 14.
The Norwegian men's curling team wears pants with a rosy design as part of their uniform. They competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics against Canada Friday.
Jorik Hendrickx of Belgium waits for his scores after skating in the men's figure skating free skate at the Iceberg Skating Place on Feb. 14.
Australia's Laura Peel competes in the women's Freestyle skiing aerials finals at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park Friday.
(From left to right) Gold medalists Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the luge team relay on Feb. 14.
Kazakhstan's Denis Ten performs in the men's figure skating free skate on Feb. 14 in Sochi.
American Katie Uhlaender finishes her run during the final heat of women's skeleton Friday.
Thomas Mermillod-Blondin of France crashes during the alpine skiing men's super combined slalom on Feb. 14.

Women's supercombined bronze medal winner Julia Mancuso, left, celebrates with grandmother Sheila Tuffanelli at the Alpine ski venue, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.
Lauren Anderson, mother of U.S. snowboarder Jamie Anderson, celebrates with fans after her daughter won the women's snowboard slopestyle final, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.
Canada's Alex Bilodeau, left, celebrates with his brother Frederic after winning the gold medal in the men's moguls final, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.
United States' Julia Mancuso celebrates her bronze medal win in the women's supercombined with her sister, Sara, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.
Switzerland's Iouri Podladtchikov celebrates with his father Yuri, right, and mother Valentina after he won the gold medal in the men's snowboard halfpipe final, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014.
Erin Hamlin of the United States hugs her parents Ron and Eileen Hamlin after the flower ceremony during the women's singles luge, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014.
Twin brothers from the Netherlands, gold medallist Michel Mulder, second right, and bronze medallist Ronald, right, hug, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014.
Canada's Justine Dufour-Lapointe, right, is congratulated by sister Chloe after taking the first place in the women's moguls final at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014.
Deborah Christensen congratulates her son, men's ski slopestyle gold medal winner Joss Christensen of the United States, Feb. 13, 2014.
Aart Groothuis takes a picture of his son, men's 1000-meter speedskating gold medalist Stefan Groothuis of the Netherlands, during the medals ceremony, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014.
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