A Tribute in Honor of

A Tribute in Honor of:

The Winter Olympics Day 3

Olympics-Figure skating-Champions smile through late collapse

By Laurie Nealin

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The lyrical and technically superb short programme of Russian pair Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze drew gasps from the audience and top marks from the judges in the Olympic figure skating opener on Saturday.

Canada's gold medal co-favourites Jamie Sale and David Pelletier also impressed with their playful tango, accented with comedic touches -- both scripted and not -- to take second place at the Salt Lake Ice Centre.

As Sale bent backwards over his partner's knee in their final pose, the couple lost their balance and collapsed in a heap on to each other.

Showing good humour, the reigning world champions stayed down and improvised another ending from where they lay.

"It was the weirdest thing," Pelletier said. "I didn't know what was happening until I was on the ice. I thought 'I came all the way to the Olympics to do that?"'

In third are China's Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao, who produced a huge throw triple loop and soaring twist lift, but lost their synchronisation on the individual spin.

"It's not our best," Shen said.

Zhao added: "We hope we can perform better in the long programme and I think we can compete with everybody."

Because the two-minute 40-second short programme is worth just one-third of the total score, any of the top three pairs can claim gold with a win in Monday's finale.

Clearly pleased with their performance, which combined high-flying aerial manoeuvres with delicate choreography, Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze embraced at the end of their routine as he pumped his fist in the air.

"I think we did the best on this programme tonight. I was very glad," said Berezhnaya, the 1998 Olympic silver medallist and world champion of 1998 and 1999.

Sikharulidze said: "Many things have happened in the last four years good and bad. To be here and to skate well is just great."

Should they pair prevail on Monday, they would extend Russia's Olympic winning streak to 11 consecutive gold pair skating medals over a 38-year span.

In fourth and fifth place, and within striking distance of the podium, are another Russian duo Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin and Americans Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman.

The partisan U.S. audience booed the judges' marks for the American couple, who delivered an inspired performance on home ice.

"As soon as we got on the ice and the crowd started cheering, the hair on my neck stood up and I got goosebumps," said Zimmerman.

Looking ahead to Monday, Ina said: "Hopefully, we will have the smiles on our face, again."

23:51 02-09-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Pechstein breaks own world record

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Claudia Pechstein of Germany beat her own world record time for the women's speedskating 3,000 metres at the Olympics on Sunday to put her on course for gold.

With only one pair of skaters to go in the event, she timed a provisional three minutes 57.70 to beat her previous mark of 3:59.26 recorded in Calgary on March 2, 2001.

World records are only recognised at the end of individual events.

17:07 02-10-02

LINKS:

NBC Olympics

Day 1 & 2

Olympic-Ice hockey-Slovakia ousted from Olympics by Latvia

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Latvia scored three unanswered goals to claw out a 6-6 tie against Slovakia on Sunday, knocking the Slovaks, once considered a medal threat, out of the Olympic tournament after just two games.

Stunned by a 3-0 shutout loss by Germany, the Slovaks bolstered their offense prior to the game adding forwards Marian Hossa of the Ottawa Senators, Jozef Stumpel of the Los Angeles Kings and Pavol Demitra of the St. Louis Blues.

The move paid off almost immediately as Stumpel scored just 11 seconds into the game on a blast from just inside the blue line.

In all the three combined for six points on the night but they could not make up for the shaky goaltending of Pavol Rybar, who was chased from the game five minutes into the second period after Aleksandrs Macijevskis made it 3-2 Latvia.

The moved spurred the Slovaks to four straight goals and a commanding 6-3 lead.

Replacement Jan Lasak, however, fared little better in than Rybar, as Macijevskis scored his second, followed by goals by Aleksandrs Belavskis and Atvars Tribuncovs.

Florida Panthers defenseman Sandis Ozolins dressed for his first game of the Olympics and had a strong performance notching four assists.

The loss leaves Slovakia winless after two games in Group A and without a chance to advance to the second round since only the top team in the group will move on.

Latvia, with one win and one tie, will face group leaders Germany in their final game on Tuesday needing a win to move on.

23:15 02-10-02

Olympics-Ice hockey-Kravchuk replaces Yushkevich for Russia

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Veteran Calgary Flames defensman Igor Kravchuk has replaced injured Dmitry Yushkevich on the 23-man Russian ice hockey Olympic squad.

"We have decided to go with Kravchuk primarily based on his extensive international experience," Russia head coach and general manager Vyacheslav Fetisov told Reuters on Sunday.

Kravchuk, 35, playing in his 11th NHL season, won two Olympic golds, first with the Soviet Union in Calgary in 1988, then with the Unified Team in Albertville four years later. He also took a silver with Russia at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Kravchuk has also enjoyed great success in the NHL, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, the Edmonton Oilers, the St Louis Blues, the Ottawa Senators before joining Calgary last season.

He had his best season in 1997-98 with the Senators, when he was voted to play in the All-Star game.

Fetisov said, however, it was not an easy choice to make as he had several other worthy candidates to fill the spot.

Russian media mentioned Blues defensman Alexander Khavanov and Alexander Karpovtsev of the Toronto Maple Leafs as the most likely choices.

The Maple Leafs' Yushkevich was ruled out of the 14-team Olympic tournament after doctors found a blood clot in his leg following a game against the Minnesota Wild last Tuesday.

"He (Yushkevich) was very disappointed, but we can't take any risks when it comes to the health of the athlete," said Fetisov.

Russia, one of the six seeded teams in Salt Lake City, begin their Olympic campaign on February 15 against a qualifier.

18:05 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Pechstein puts record straight

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Claudia Pechstein smashed her own world record to win the 3,000 metres speedskating Olympic title on Sunday as high-profile team mate Anni Friesinger saw her challenge blow up in her face.

A jubilant Pechstein timed three minutes 57.70 to win the title for the first time, punching the air after beating her previous mark by just over one-and-a-half seconds.

"I have earned my medal, I am very happy," she said. "I was lucky to be paired with Cindy (Klassen, bronze medallist), I think it was a dream team."

The colourful Friesinger, who had earlier missed the old world mark by just 0.13 seconds to set the pace, saw her medals hopes dashed in the final moments of the competition by Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands (3:58.94) and Klassen of Canada, just three hundredths of a second back.

All three women skated under Pechstein's previous mark of 3:59.26, recorded in Calgary on March 2, 2001.

The 25-year-old Friesinger, in the hunt for four titles at Salt Lake City, shocked the stadium when she could only finish fourth.

She had won every World Cup race over the distance ahead of the Games and is known for performing better in competition than in training.

"I'm so disappointed. The last lap was really hard," she said. "I felt that I got slower. There was no power in me."

The 'wild child' of the sport after posing for risque photographs in newspapers and making equally provocative statements, Friesinger has managed to overshadow Pechstein despite her rival's impressive achievements.

But the limelight was all Pechstein's on Sunday as she went for a lap of honour after her victory, waving a German flag and a bunch of flowers.

JOY AND MEDALS

The 29-year-old's joy -- and her medal set -- was complete after she won the 3,000 bronze in Lillehammer in 1994, followed by the silver in Nagano four years ago.

Pechstein said she had benefited from not having as much pressure going in to the race as Friesinger.

"I think it was difficult on her," Pechstein said. "I don't do photo shoots, I have always gone my own way.

"But I think the image she (Friesinger) has created has been good for our sport."

In winning Sunday's race, Pechstein, who also as two 5,000 titles to her name, also truly emerged from the shadow of compatriot Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann, who dominated women's speedskating for a decade, winning this event in 1998 and 1992.

Niemann-Stirnemann opened the door to the next generation last October when announcing that she was pregnant and would not return to the ice.

Germany has been in the medals in this event since the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, going 1-2-3 in Nagano.

Groenewold maintained her terrific form this season in winning the silver medal. She had already skated a personal best this season and is ranked fourth the World Cup standings.

"This result is a huge surprise," she said. "I lost the gold in the last two laps but silver is beautiful.

"But who would have expected that Anni wouldn't be on the podium at all?"

Klassen, 22, is a former hockey player who first strapped on speed skates in 1997 and is now ranked fifth in the World Cup standings. She had the third-fastest time this season coming in to the Olympics.

"I just went out there and tried to have a blast. I'm surprised and thrilled," said Klassen, who has had trouble sleeping the past few nights.

She said she enjoyed the "cool" atmosphere in the arena. Rock music is played throughout the competition and is even louder during training.

19:34 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Leading women's downhill practice times

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Leading times on Sunday in the second and final practice run for the Winter Olympics women's downhill on Monday:

1. Renate Goetschl (Austria) one minute 40.27 seconds

2. Michaela Dorfmeister (Austria) 1:40.67

3. Melanie Turgeon (Canada) 1:41.14

4. Hilde Gerg (Germany) 1:41.27

5. Brigitte Obermoser (Austria) 1:41.31

6. Martina Ertl (Germany) 1:41.46

7. Picabo Street (U.S.) 1:41.55

8. Daniela Ceccarelli (Italy) 1:41.57

- Isolde Kostner (Italy) 1:41.57 10. Pernilla Wiberg (Sweden) 1:41.64 11. Regina Haeusl (Germany) 1:41.67

- Selina Heregger (Austria) 1:41.67 13. Melanie Suchet (France) 1:41.71

- Caroline Lalive (U.S.) 1:41.71 15. Corinne Rey Bellet (Switzerland) 1:41.81 16. Tanja Schneider (Austria) 1:41.82 17. Kirsten Clark (U.S.) 1:41.86 18. Jonna Mendes (U.S.) 1:41.90 19. Carole Montillet (France) 1:41.93 20. Kathleen Monahan (U.S.) 1:41.97

18:16 02-10-02

Olympics-Policeman Strobl steals Games glory

By Paul Radford

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The host nation won its first gold medal and another speedskating world record fell but it was Austrian policeman Fritz Strobl who stole the show at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

The 29-year-old zipped down the Grizzly piste at Snowbasin to slope off with the gold medal in the blue riband event of the Games, the alpine skiing men's downhill.

The United States won its first gold when Kelly Clark snatched victory with an almost perfect final run in the women's snowboarding halfpipe.

Germany's Claudia Pechstein smashed her own world record in the women's 3,000 metres speedskating, the second record to fall in two races on Salt Lake's super-quick Olympic Oval, and young Swiss ski jumper Simon Ammann pulled off a shock victory on the normal hill.

In the men's downhill, most predictions had pointed to a win for the on-form Stephan Eberharter but it was his fellow-Austrian Strobl who shone on the day.

The 29-year-old with a sound if unspectacular past record, snatched a narrow victory by just 0.22 seconds over Norway's Lasse Kjus, silver medallist at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano while Eberharter had to settle for bronze.

Strobl put a superstitious spin on his unexpected triumph. "Here I had room One-One-One and I came first. In Nagano, I had room 11 and I came 11th. So somehow it fits together."

The American hosts' hopes of a first gold finally came good in Park City thanks to the 18-year-old Clark who switched her routine for the second and last run to beat France's Doriane Vidal who had led comfortably after the first.

Clark added a more difficult twisting air manoeuvre and, roared on by a partisan crowd, bagged a score of 47.9, the best mark of the day.

NEW RECORD

At the Olympic Oval, Pechstein clocked three minutes 57.70 to beat her previous mark by just over one-and-a-half seconds and leave favourite and compatriot Anni Friesinger out of the medals.

The last two skaters, Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands and Cindy Klassen of Canada, snatched silver and bronze and were also under Pechstein's previous mark of 3:59.26.

The 25-year-old Friesinger, seeking four titles at Salt Lake City, could only finish fourth.

Ammann's ski jumping victory was an even bigger shock, the fresh-faced 20-year-old stunning even himself as he beat hot favourite Sven Hannawald of Germany into second place.

Hannawald, who this season became the first man to win all four competitions in the annual Four Hills series, produced the longest jump of the day, 99 metres, with his second and last effort but it was not enough to beat Ammann.

The cool Swiss who had taken a shock lead after the first round with a 98-metre leap, responded with another remarkable 98.5-metre jump to clinch a gold medal few had anticipated.

Hannawald's expected main rival, Poland's Adam Malysz, took the bronze.

Salt Lake City could hardly have asked for more gripping battles on the second day of competition at the 16-day Games.

Nor could Utah have prayed for better weather as spectators basked in glorious sunshine on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

The first gold medal of the day went to Finland's Samppa Lajunen who won the individual Nordic combined after a brilliant victory in the 15-km cross-country skiing section.

For Lajunen, third overnight after the ski jumping, it was a long-awaited individual gold after winning silver four years ago in Nagano and silver again in the last two world championships.

It was Finland's first gold medal in the individual event since Heikki Hasu won in St Moritz in 1948 and, for good measure, another Finn Jaakko Tallus took silver ahead of Austrian Felix Gottwald.

18:27 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Pechstein puts record straight

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Claudia Pechstein smashed her own world record to win the 3,000 metres speedskating Olympic title on Sunday as high-profile team mate Anni Friesinger saw her challenge blow up in her face.

A jubilant Pechstein timed three minutes 57.70 to win the title for the first time, punching the air after beating her previous mark by just over one-and-a-half seconds.

"I have earned my medal, I am very happy," she said. "I was lucky to be paired with Cindy (Klassen, bronze medallist), I think it was a dream team."

The colourful Friesinger, who had earlier missed the old world mark by just 0.13 seconds to set the pace, saw her medals hopes dashed in the final moments of the competition by Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands (3:58.94) and Klassen of Canada, just three hundredths of a second back.

All three women skated under Pechstein's previous mark of 3:59.26, recorded in Calgary on March 2, 2001.

The 25-year-old Friesinger, in the hunt for four titles at Salt Lake City, shocked the stadium when she could only finish fourth.

She had won every World Cup race over the distance ahead of the Games and is known for performing better in competition than in training.

"I'm so disappointed. The last lap was really hard," she said. "I felt that I got slower. There was no power in me."

The 'wild child' of the sport after posing for risque photographs in newspapers and making equally provocative statements, Friesinger has managed to overshadow Pechstein despite her rival's impressive achievements.

But the limelight was all Pechstein's on Sunday as she went for a lap of honour after her victory, waving a German flag and a bunch of flowers.

JOY AND MEDALS

The 29-year-old's joy -- and her medal set -- was complete after she won the 3,000 bronze in Lillehammer in 1994, followed by the silver in Nagano four years ago.

Pechstein said she had benefited from not having as much pressure going in to the race as Friesinger.

"I think it was difficult on her," Pechstein said. "I don't do photo shoots, I have always gone my own way.

"But I think the image she (Friesinger) has created has been good for our sport."

In winning Sunday's race, Pechstein, who also as two 5,000 titles to her name, also truly emerged from the shadow of compatriot Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann, who dominated women's speedskating for a decade, winning this event in 1998 and 1992.

Niemann-Stirnemann opened the door to the next generation last October when announcing that she was pregnant and would not return to the ice.

Germany has been in the medals in this event since the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, going 1-2-3 in Nagano.

Groenewold maintained her terrific form this season in winning the silver medal. She had already skated a personal best this season and is ranked fourth the World Cup standings.

"This result is a huge surprise," she said. "I lost the gold in the last two laps but silver is beautiful.

"But who would have expected that Anni wouldn't be on the podium at all?"

Klassen, 22, is a former hockey player who first strapped on speed skates in 1997 and is now ranked fifth in the World Cup standings. She had the third-fastest time this season coming in to the Olympics.

"I just went out there and tried to have a blast. I'm surprised and thrilled," said Klassen, who has had trouble sleeping the past few nights.

She said she enjoyed the "cool" atmosphere in the arena. Rock music is played throughout the competition and is even louder during training.

19:34 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Friesinger finds nothing sexy in losing

By Steve Keating

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - With quiet elegance German speedskater Claudia Pechstein powered her way to Olympic gold in the 3,000 metres on Saturday, teaching pin-up teammate Anni Friesinger a bit about sex appeal along the way.

And the lesson is -- losing isn't very sexy.

Billed as the hottest thing to hit Olympic ice since compatriot Katarina Witt sent pulses racing at the 1988 Calgary Games, Friesinger arrived in Salt Lake City expecting to capture three gold medals and the hearts of millions male spectators.

While the sight of the statuesque blonde German in a skin-tight racing suit caught the attention of her target audience, Friesinger could not deliver the gold, finishing a disappointing fourth as Pechstein bettered her own world record to take top place on the podium.

It was also a moral victory of sorts for the down-to-earth Pechstein, who is rumoured to at odds with her flamboyant team mate over her sexy magazine layouts and erotic talk.

But after collecting her third Olympic gold medal Pechstein, who lives in a quiet neighbourhood and says she likes to relax in peaceful surroundings when not training and competing, downplayed any rift.

"I don't want to copy her (Friesinger), I don't think I have a bad image," said Pechstein. "In the press we are having some so-called quarrels.

"But, as far as image is concerned, Anni has created her own and I think it is good bringing attention to our sport and skating."

A winning combination of sex appeal and substance, the stunningly attractive Friesinger was unbeaten in the World Cup this season at every distance from 1,500 to 5,000 metres but insists that looks matter as much as times.

As proud of her sculpted body as of her results, Friesinger is already a familiar figure to German tabloids, having posed semi-nude in several newspapers in the build-up to the Salt Lake Games.

"There is nothing as sexy as a speed skater's bottom," the 25 year-old told newspaper Bild am Sonntag. "My sport is extremely sexy, pure eroticism."

With her pierced navel framed by a flame tattoo and bright pink toe nails, Friesinger has become talk of German beer halls and the focus of photographers lenses in Salt Lake.

But Friesinger has quickly discovered that, when it comes to the Olympics at least, results do matter and looks can only get you so far.

"I'm disappointed," admitted a humbled Friesinger, who will now concentrate her efforts on 1,000, 1,500 and 5,000 metres. "But I can't turn back time.

"I have no excuses."

20:31 02-10-02

Olympics-Ice hockey-U.S. still undecided on top goaltender

By Alan Crosby

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The United States is still undecided on who will start in goal when it takes the ice for its first game in the Olympic tournament on February 15 against Finland.

New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter said in an interview on CNBC television on Sunday that a decision has yet to be made on whether he, Nashville Predators goalie Mike Dunham or Tom Barasso of the Carolina Hurricanes will start.

"We have three goalies on the team that all are capable of starting. To me that is one of the things that makes our team strong...But no, I have not heard who is starting and it doesn't bother me," he said.

Goaltending has already proven to be key in the Olympic tournament, with Germany's Marc Seliger playing the game of his life to lead his team to a 3-0 upset of heavily favoured Slovakia on Saturday.

Reigning champions Czech Republic rode the play of Detroit Red Wings All-Star goalie Dominik Hasek all the way to the gold medal in 1998.

"It's a short tournament and there's a one game knockout at the end. You saw how well Dominik Hasek played in the last Olympics and they won the gold so there is no question about that (the difference a goalie makes)," Richter said.

The United States is not the only team with a simmering controversy over who will be the starting netminder.

Canada has yet to choose who will be its starter, though coach Pat Quinn has said Curtis Joseph of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils will play in the preliminary round. Quinn will settle on one for the medal round.

This leaves Dallas Stars goalie Ed Belfour as the third stringer.

Quinn said earlier this week that the final decision will largely be his on who will be in goal when Canada is facing elimination.

"The end decision will ultimately be mine. When it comes to the time when I think he's the guy to go with, that's the guy I'm going with," Quinn said.

But Quinn will seek advice. "I'm not going to do it in a vacuum. I've never operated that way, whether it's here or any team that I've been involved with. We have lots of people who will have a good opinion," he said.

21:14 02-10-02

Olympics-Luge-Hackl faces grilling in historic bid

By Adrian Warner

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Veteran German Georg Hackl, the most successful luger in history, was reminded on Sunday that earning a special place in the story of the Winter Olympics will not be easy.

Hackl, bidding to become the first winter Olympian to win four consecutive gold medals in the same individual event, was trailing Italian Armin Zoeggeler by 0.041 seconds after the first two runs of the men's singles event at the Salt Lake Games.

The 35-year-old Bavarian, nicknamed the "speeding sausage" because of the way his stocky frame fits into a tight racing suit, now faces an intense grilling from the Olympic silver medallist when the title is decided in the final two runs on Monday.

Hackl beat Zoeggeler with ease at the 1998 Nagano Games with the fastest times in all four runs. But the Italian is clearly not going to make life easy for the German this time in one of the few sports where thousandths of a second can make all the difference.

Zoeggeler, who has shown superb form in the last two seasons, clocked a track record of 44.546 seconds for the first run, 0.068 seconds faster than Hackl with American Adam Heidt third (44.660) and Austria's twice silver medallist Markus Prock fourth, 0.152 behind the leader.

Hackl , who earned a silver medal at his first Olympics in Calgary in 1988 before winning in 1992, 1994 and 1998, narrowed the gap on the Italian when he was faster in the second run with another track record of 44.494 compared to Zoeggeler's 44.521.

Zoeggeler led overnight with an aggregate 1:29.067 with Hackl second with 1:29.108 and Prock third with 1:29.338. Heidt was fourth with 1:29.410.

Unusually the first two runs were held in the late afternoon and early evening instead of the morning since the men's normal hill ski jumping event was being decided at the Utah Olympic Park complex on Sunday morning.

Officials said two ticketed events could not take place at the same time at the complex.

The racers faced a quick turnaround before the third run at 0900 local (1600 GMT) on Monday.

Hackl has an extra desire to win at the Salt Lake Games as a tribute to his father who died recently after a heart attack.

But the German was unhappy with his form.

"I was not entirely satisfied with that first run, " he said. "I knew it was not going to be enough to hold off Armin Zoeggeler."

21:27 02-10-02\

Olympics-Figure skating-World champion has ace up his sleeve

By Laurie Nealin

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Men's world figure skating champion and gold medal favourite Yevgeny Plushenko has an ace up his sleeve and it is not the evasive quadruple lutz.

In his first practice on the Olympic ice on Sunday, the Russian skater whirled through an impressive triple combination not previously executed in competition.

Though less risky than the quadruple lutz, it would still score well if landed successfully in his free programme on Thursday.

Plushenko was not talking to the media after practice, but his coach Alexei Mishin suggested that the Olympics was not the place to be gambling on the quadruple lutz.

"To get good results, I think people don't need a quad lutz," Mishin said.

That leaves Canadian Elvis Stojko to attempt that record-making lutz as he did in his practice on Sunday.

Stojko's attempt was close but he was unable to get his feet uncrossed after the four revolutions to push out on the landing.

Also on Sunday, observers got their first look at Plushenko's new and yet untested long programme set to the familiar strains of Carmen.

The decision to ditch the previous programme he skated through the autumn internationals came following Plushenko's loss to big rival Alexei Yagudin at December's Grand Prix Final and the generally lukewarm response to that routine.

Plushenko has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered at the Grand Prix Final, Mishin said, but he is still suffering from a groin pull.

"The place where Yevgeny is injured is a problem for him in his life. For me, this would not be problem," the 60-something coach quipped.

21:59 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Kostelic sets sights on super-G

By Patrick Lang

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Overall World Cup champion Janica Kostelic has set her sights on a super-G medal at the Winter Olympics even though she has never finished on the podium in the Alpine discipline.

"Most of all I would like to have a medal in super-G," the Croat said on Sunday after the second training run for Monday's women's downhill.

"It sounds quite strange but so far this year my super-G is not that bad. My best chance is in the combined and slalom but we'll see.

"It's not what I expect, it's what I want," she added of the super-G. "I don't have an Olympic medal but I have victories in the slalom so I want something else."

Kostelic might have claimed a victory in super-G at Cortina d'Ampezzo last month after starting first but she finished fourth after inadvertently hitting the timing wand before leaving the starting hut.

The move cost her about two tenths of a second, which would have been enough for victory.

As a 16-year-old, she competed in four events at the Nagano Games in 1998, finishing eighth in combined.

Last season, she won eight slaloms in a row in the World Cup but trailed in fifth at the world championships and was sidelined by knee injuries and back problems.

She has yet to win this season, finishing only once on the podium -- a third in Berchtesgaden, Germany -- in slalom while her older brother Ivica has won twice.

Janica and her team are staying in a private house, with their own chef to cook for them, where they will be joined by her brother and mother on February 14.

The 20-year-old, competing in her second Olympics, is also the favourite for the women's combined along with Austria's Renate Goetschl, winner this winter in Saalbach and Are, but she put her fitness still at only 80 percent.

Although she completed two training runs for the downhill, Kostelic decided on Sunday with her trainers and father not to compete in Monday's race in order to preserve her energy.

"It's nice but it's not that fast," she said of the piste. "I don't have a feeling for this piste. It's different to super-G.

"If I'm going to be 35th or whatever then it doesn't make any sense really to ski it."

17:52 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Pechstein puts record straight

By Lynda Dugdale

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Claudia Pechstein smashed her own world record to win the 3,000 metres speedskating Olympic title on Sunday as high-profile team mate Anni Friesinger saw her challenge blow up in her face.

A jubilant Pechstein timed three minutes 57.70 to win, punching the air after beating her previous mark by just over one-and-a-half seconds.

The colourful Friesinger, who had earlier missed the old world mark by just 0.13 seconds to set the pace, saw her medals hopes dashed by the final pair as Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands (3:58.94) and Cindy Klassen of Canada, just three hundredths of a second back, took silver and bronze.

All three women skated under Pechstein's previous mark of 3:59.26, recorded in Calgary on March 2, 2001.

The 25-year-old Friesinger, in the hunt for four titles at Salt Lake City, shocked the stadium when she could only finish fourth.

She had won every World Cup race over the distance ahead of the Games and is known for performing better in competition than in training.

The 'wild child' of the sport after posing for risque photographs in newspapers and making equally provocative statements, Friesinger has managed to overshadow Pechstein despite her rival's equally impressive achievements.

But the limelight was all Pechstein's on Sunday as she went for a lap of honour after her victory, waving a German flag and a bunch of flowers.

The 29-year-old's joy -- and her medal set -- was complete after she won the 3,000 bronze in Lillehammer in 1994, followed by the silver in Nagano four years ago.

In winning Sunday's race, Pechstein also truly emerged from the shadow of compatriot Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann, who has dominated women's speedskating for a decade, winning this event in 1998 and 1992.

Niemann-Stirnemann opened the door to the next generation when she announced last October that she was pregnant and would not return to the ice.

Germany has been in the medals in this event since the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, going 1-2-3 in Nagano.

17:47 02-10-02

Olympics-Medals table on the third day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Medals table after the final medal event on the third day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Sunday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1. U.S. 1 2 0 3

2. Austria 1 1 3 5

3. Germany 1 1 1 3

4- Finland 1 1 0 2

4- Netherlands 1 1 0 2

4- Norway 1 1 0 2

7. Switzerland 1 0 1 2

8- Spain 1 0 0 1

8- Italy 1 0 0 1

10- France 0 1 0 1

10- Russia 0 1 0 1

12- Canada 0 0 1 1

12- Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

12- Japan 0 0 1 1

12- Poland 0 0 1 1

17:41 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Austrian women top in training

By Julia Ferguson

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Austria's top duo Renate Goetschl and Michaela Dorfmeister posted the fastest times in final training on Sunday for Monday's Winter Games women's downhill.

Goetschl mastered the steep and undulating Wildflower course in a time of one minute and 40.27 seconds under a cloudless sky to edge out reigning downhill world champion Dorfmeister by 0.40 seconds.

"It's good to be at the front as it means I can be relatively laid back going into the race tomorrow," the 26-year-old Goetschl said.

"I wasn't skiing full throttle. I've still got a bit of reserves left," she added.

However, the Austrian pair will not be resting on their laurels from the dress rehearsal for Monday's race.

The other medal contenders including local heroine Picabo Street and World Cup downhill leader Isolde Kostner of Italy all clocked competitive times down the technically-challenging course before braking ahead of the finish line.

Street, hoping to take advantage of the home snow and pumped-up crowd to become the first U.S. Alpine skier to win three Olympic medals, placed seventh after setting the pace in Saturday's practice.

But first the bubbly American has to ski past a barrage of contenders -- and the two Austrians will be difficult to beat.

Dorfmeister leads the overall World Cup standings, while Goetschl is second after winning the last two downhills before the Olympics.

LARGE HAUL

As an all-rounder competing in all five Alpine skiing disciplines, Goetschl is hungry to snatch the only trophy missing from her large haul. She is an overall World Cup winner and a double world champion.

The all-or-nothing racer has notched up 12 victories so far in the speed discipline -- one more than arch-rival Kostner.

But to date she has had scant luck at the Winter Games. Debuting at Lillehammer in 1994, she crashed out in the downhill and again in Nagano in both the downhill and combined.

"I'm not letting myself be put under any pressure. Of course I'm a favourite, but all I can do is ski my best."

Germany's Hilde Gerg proved she is one of the best-placed to thwart Austrian domination of the downhill.

The Nagano slalom gold medallist placed fourth in training, and as a speed specialist with four wins this season, the Wildflower's sweeping turns suit her aggressive style.

Canada's Melanie Turgeon came third in training, while Austria's Brigitte Obermoser secured qualification for the last slot on the national team by placing fifth.

17:32 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Strobl's summer job helps him win title

By John Mehaffey

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - In summer Fritz Strobl walks the beat as a policeman in the small Austrian town of Hallein.

During the winter he flies down the slopes in a controlled free fall fast enough on Sunday to take him to the coveted Olympic downhill title.

Strobl, whose previous best result in a world championships or Winter Olympics was fourth place in the Sestriere worlds five years ago, was not expected to win on Sunday.

Instead his team mate Stephan Eberharter, conqueror of all he has surveyed this season in the absence of the injured Hermann Maier, started as race favourite on a perfect winter's day in the Rocky Mountains.

Eberharter, the ninth starter, streaked down the precipitous Grizzly course in one minute 39.13 seconds to take a short-lived lead.

Strobl, next up, finished his run 0.22 of a second faster and held his arms up in the air in triumph. Although there were 44 more competitors still to attack the piste, he knew he had more than likely already done enough to win the most prestigious of the Alpine ski titles.

The 29-year-old Austrian was up at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday to make breakfast. "And then I went as fast as possible up the hill and as fast as possible down," he said. "I felt good during the morning. On the course I was feeling it would be very fast. I was never nervous until after the race."

VICTORY CALLS

After his victory was confirmed, Strobl rang his wife Bettina and 4-year-old son Mario. "Then I called my parents but they were probably out partying. I talked to the answering machine," he said.

Strobl made his World Cup debut in 1991 at the age of 19. He competed on both the World Cup and Europa circuits before making his breakthrough in the 1996-97 season with the first of two wins in Kitzbuhel.

The Grizzly piste has been compared in technical difficulty to the Hahnenkamm, but on Sunday Strobl said it reminded him more of St Moritz where the powerful Austrian team had trained just before travelling to the United States.

Eberharter agreed. "It's a bit shorter than Kitzbuhel, It's more of a roller-coaster, I would compare it to St Moritz."

Strobl said he had not consciously set out to beat Eberharter and had not thought of the missing Maier.

"I don't go out to beat anybody, I just want to ski well," he said. "When I ski as well as I should on the day then the result is excellent."

He said he had also never thought of ever becoming the Olympic downhill champion, preferring to keep his feet literally on the ground.

Strobl has been a policeman for the past seven years, both on the beat and in a squad car.

"I'm a policeman in summer, a skier in winter," he said. "Working as a policeman helps me keep my mind strong for competition."

17:24 02-10-02

Olympics-Snowboarding-Factfile on Kelly Clark

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Factfile on Kelly Clark, winner of the snowboarding women's halfpipe at the Winter Olympics on Sunday:

Age: 18 (Born July 26, 1983)

Country: United States

Started skiing at the age of two in Vermont and switched to snowboarding when she was still in elementary school. Has deferred her entry to the University of Rhode island. Has been on the U.S. team for nearly two years. Enjoys surfing and played high school tennis to a good standard. Known for her aggressive style.

Previous Olympics: None

Other successes: World junior halfpipe champion in 2000. Took silver in the halfpipe and bronze in the snowboard cross at the inaugural Goodwill Games in Lake Placid the same year. Claimed her first World Cup success last season at Sapporo, Japan.

Reaction: "It's really awesome."

17:20 02-10-02

Olympics-Ski jumping-Ammann leaves favourites clutching at air

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Sven Hannawald versus Adam Malysz of Poland - that was supposed to be the ski jumping storyline at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

On Sunday Simon Ammann tore that script into little pieces by out-jumping both men on the normal hill to win his first major title and Switzerland's first ever ski jumping gold.

Ammann, making his comeback after a nasty back injury, was beside himself with joy as his final score appeared on the board. Cow bells rang out in jubilation as Swiss jumpers and coaches danced, hugged and stared at each other in amazement.

"For me a medal was a dream. It's unbelievable - I have won it, I have done it," Ammann shouted into the lens of every camera he saw.

Hannawald was the first to offer his congratulations and he insisted he was not disappointed to miss out on the gold. But the long faces among German coaches told another story.

"No way did I expect this, it was a big surprise," Hannawald said later.

The warning signs were there right from the practice jump shortly after dawn when Ammann, just 20 but with the face of a 15-year-old, equalled Hannawald's effort of 97.5 metres.

Malysz, the World Cup champion, jumped one metre longer but his landing was poor and he repeated this mistake on his opening attempt when the real competition started.

Ammann jumped 98.00 metres first up, one metre more than Hannawald who was the first man to win every round in the Four Hills championship six weeks ago, enabling the Swiss to open up a small lead over his two main rivals.

ELDERS TRUMPED

With no wind in almost perfect conditions, the second round would be a case of who held their nerve best - and it was the youngster who again trumped his elders.

Ammann had thrown away victory in Predazzo, Italy, in December to finish second to Malysz but his second jump here was only 0.5 metres shy of Hannawald's competition best 99.0, and 0.5 better than Malysz's, so the gold was his.

The Swiss put his victory down to a combination of coolness under pressure, technique and raw energy.

"I used my skill today but I was as nervous as I have ever been," he said, trembling still three hours after his win.

"I obviously knew I was first but I tried to concentrate on my performance and not to think about the possibilities of what it all might mean." Ammann finished 35th in the normal hill at the 1998 Games and is seventh in this season's World Cup.

Malysz knew he had been untidy in his technique. "It's not the first time what people predicted would happen, didn't happen. I'm happy with the bronze."

Hannawald, who has now added three consecutive second places to five consecutive victories, admitted the pressure of being expected to win had taken its toll.

"He (Ammann) handled the pressure very well but he's a nice guy so I can't be jealous of him," Hannawald said. "I have no problem with finishing second - in the Olympic Games only medals count."

The "a medal is a medal" mantra was repeated by German coach Reinhard Hess. He insisted he was not sad his 27-year-old jumper had not won, even if his body language said otherwise.

"Yes, that was a surprise but on the other hand it wasn't," said Hess. "But Ammann deserved it because he held his nerve."

17:17 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Pechstein wins in record time

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Claudia Pechstein smashed her own world record to win the 3,000 metres speedskating Olympic title on Sunday as rival and team mate Anni Friesinger saw her challenge backfire.

A jubilant Pechstein timed three minutes 57.70 to win, beating her previous mark by just over one-and-a-half seconds.

Friesinger, who had missed the world mark by 0.13 seconds and who looked set for silver, saw her medals hopes dashed by the final pair to skate as Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands (3:58.94) and Cindy Klassen of Canada (3:58.97) took silver and bronze.

The 25-year-old Friesinger, in the hunt for four gold medals at the Games and unbeaten over 3,000 metres in World Cup races this season, had been expected to win but her stamina failed her in the final third of the race after being well inside world-record pace.

17:26 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Austrian women top downhill training

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Austria's Renate Goetschl and Michaela Dorfmeister posted the fastest times in final training on Sunday for Monday's Winter Games women's downhill.

Goetschl mastered the steep and undulating Wildflower course in a time of one minute and 40.27 seconds under a cloudless sky to edge out reigning downhill world champion Dorfmeister by 0.40 seconds.

Dorfmeister leads the overall World Cup standings, while Goetschl lies second after winning the last two downhills before the Olympics.

Germany's Hilde Gerg proved she is one of the best-placed to thwart Austrian domination of the speed discipline.

The Nagano slalom gold medallist placed fourth in training, and as a speed specialist with four wins this season, the Wildflower's sweeping turns suit her aggressive style.

Canada's Melanie Turgeon came third, while other potential medallists -- notably the local heroine Picabo Street -- took it easy and placed comfortably within the top 15.

16:44 02-10-02

Olympics-Snowboarding-Clark wins women's halfpipe gold

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Medal winners in the women's snowboarding halfpipe at the Winter Olympics on Sunday:

Gold - Kelly Clark (U.S.)

Silver - Doriane Vidal (France)

Bronze - Fabienne Reuteler (Switzerland)

16:12 02-10-02

Olympics-Figure skating-Boo-boys bamboozled by nationless judges

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Booing the judges is a popular sport for figure skating crowds, but for the first time at an Olympics fans do not know whether they are directing their displeasure at a Canadian, Russian or Italian judge -- or even one from outer Mongolia for that matter.

The International Skating Union decided just over a year ago not to display judges' nationalities on scoreboards or result sheets at ISU events.

But the decision came under fire when it was first introduced at the 2001 European championships, with charges of secrecy being levelled.

The ISU defended the move by suggesting the removal of the judges' national affiliations would quell emotional reaction to posted scores and speculation about the integrity of the judging.

Fans at the Salt Lake Ice Centre, who want to know which country each judge represents, will have to rely on post-event media accounts of the proceedings.

After being bombarded by complaints from journalists, the ISU agreed to provide them with a list of the judges' home countries.

15:44 02-10-02

Olympics-Cross country-Skiers switch nations and net medals

By Gennady Fyodorov

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Johann Muehlegg and Mikhail Botvinov shared a place on the podium following Saturday's 30 km cross-country race at the Winter Olympics.

But the two skiers had something else in common.

Already being established international skiers, both gold medallist Muehlegg and third-placed Botvinov decided to change nationality and compete for new countries a few years ago after bitter rows with their respective skiing federations.

Muehlegg, who beat the rest of the field by more than two minutes in Saturday's race to take the gold, competed for Germany at the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Games, while Botvinov, who came in third, took part in the Olympics of 1992 and 1994 for Russia.

Muehlegg, 31, moved to Spain after the 1998 season after a series of disputes with the German federation and eventually became a favourite with the Spanish public, who nicknamed him "Juanito."

After winning Spain's second ever Winter Olympic gold Muehlegg, who plans to give the medal to King Juan Carlos, said: "I won this medal for Spain and I feel 100 percent Spanish."

Asked what kind of reception he thought he would get in Sapin, Muehlegg said: "I don't know. We still have more races here but today we had a lot of Spanish people and tonight we going to have 'una granda fiesta'."

Any doubts about how his adopted countrymen feel about him would have vanished on Sunday after Spanish media compared his efforts to those of five times Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain, the most respected sportsman Spain has ever produced.

Winning a bronze in Salt Lake City was also a dream come true for Botvinov, who had an even tougher fight with the Russian ski federation.

"This is really a dream for me because I didn't even think I would be competing here, let alone winning a medal," said Botvinov, 34, who underwent a knee surgery just a month ago.

PARTICIPATION VETOED

The Russians denied Botvinov the opportunity to participate at the 1998 Olympics, vetoing his attempt to ski for Austria after the outspoken skier moved to the Alpine country in 1996.

While Botvinov is still on friendly terms with all the Russian skiers, particularly former team mate Alexei Prokurorov, he does not see eye to eye with the Russian skiing officials.

When asked if winning the medal for his adopted country was important to him, Botvinov -- who led Austria to the world championship relay gold at Ramsau in 1999 -- said that in his view it was the athletes, not the countries who were competing in the Olympics.

"This is my first Olympic medal and I'm going to enjoy it no matter what," said Botvinov, who twice finished fourth in Lillehammer in 1994 competing for Russia.

"After all the years in the sport, in probably my last Olympics I finally made it to the podium. It feels great."

15:41 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Silver-tongued? Not gentle giant Kjus

By Patrick Vignal

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A gentle bear of a man, Lasse Kjus had the right profile to shine on the Grizzly piste where he collected the latest in his collection of silver medals in the Olympic downhill on Monday.

One of the quietest men on the skiing circuit, the massive 31-year-old hardly raised his voice after splitting the mighty Austrians on the podium of the Games' showcase Alpine event.

"I've come a long way for this," said the gifted all-rounder, who has struggled lately but used his experience to master a treacherous course and finish behind Fritz Strobl but ahead of favourite Stephan Eberharter.

The combined gold medallist on home snow at the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994, the veteran Norwegian has a long history of coming second, boasting 10 silver medals from Olympics and world championships.

Four years ago he left Nagano with two silvers from the combined and the downhill.

While his second place behind Frenchman Jean-Luc Cretier had been a disappointment, he was not complaining on Sunday at Snowbasin.

"This is much better than I had expected," said the two times overall World Cup champion, who has recorded three World Cup podium finishes this winter.

"I have struggled a bit this season but today was a good day for me.

"I was very aggressive and I made several mistakes but I was able to find a good rhythm for the finish section."

TOUGH WINTERS

The last two winters, indeed, have been tough on Kjus, who has posted a total 14 World Cup wins in all disciplines but the slalom in a prolific career spanning over a decade.

Pneumonia and whooping cough made him sit out of most of the 1999-2000 season and during the following one he had to be content with just one victory, in the combined in Kitzbuehel.

By living up to his reputation as a big-event specialist, he brought his total of medals from Olympics and world championships to 14 -- one short of fellow Norwegian Kjetil Andre Aamodt's record.

Catching Aamodt, who narrowly missed out on a medal by finishing fourth on Sunday, would be tough.

"That record is a goal but Kjetil is for sure going to win some medals here," he said.

The two, who used to be room mates and were once described by Aamodt as an "old married couple," have four more events to contest.

Kjus may dream of repeating his record feat from the 1999 world championships -- five medals, two golds and three silvers -- but he is realistic.

"It will be hard to get five but one more would be nice," he said.

15:35 02-10-02

Olympics-Policeman Strobl steals Games glory

By Paul Radford

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Austrian policeman Fritz Strobl stole the show at the Winter Olympics on Sunday, sloping off with the gold medal in the blue riband event of the Games, the alpine skiing men's downhill.

Strobl, a 29-year-old with a sound if unspectacular past record, zipped down the Grizzly piste at Snowbasin to snatch a narrow victory by just 0.22 seconds over Norway's Lasse Kjus, silver medallist at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano.

The overwhelming favourite, Strobl's compatriot Stephan Eberharter, had to settle for the bronze medal.

Strobl put a superstitious spin on his unexpected triumph. "Here I had room One-One-One and I came first. In Nagano, I had room 11 and I came 11th. So somehow it fits together."

There was another major upset at the other main event of the morning, the normal hill ski jumping.

Swiss student Simon Ammann's victory was anything but normal, the fresh-faced 20-year-old stunning even himself as he beat hot favourite Sven Hannawald of Germany into second place.

Hannawald, who this season became the first jumper ever to win all four competitions in the annual Four Hills series, produced the longest jump of the day, 99 metres, with his second and last effort but it was not enough to beat Ammann.

The cool Swiss who had taken a shock lead after the first round with a 98-metre leap, responded with another remarkable 98.5-metre jump to clinch a gold medal few had anticipated.

Hannawald's expected main rival, Poland's Adam Malysz, took the bronze.

Salt Lake City could hardly have asked for more gripping battles on the second day of competition at the 16-day Games.

Nor could Utah have prayed for better weather as spectators basked in glorious sunshine on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

The first gold medal of the day went to Finland's Samppa Lajunen who won the individual Nordic combined after a brilliant victory in Sunday's 15-km cross-country skiing.

For Lajunen, third overnight after the ski jumping, it was a long-awaited individual gold after winning silver four years ago in Nagano and taking silver in the last two world championships.

It was Finland's first gold medal in the individual event since Heikki Hasu won in St Moritz in 1948 and, for good measure, another Finn Jaakko Tallus took silver ahead of Austrian Felix Gottwald.

Two more gold medals will be awarded later on Sunday in the snowboarding women's halfpipe and the women's 3,000 metres on the speedskating Olympic Oval.

15:15 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Sensational Strobl wins downhill

By Alan Baldwin

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Austrian Fritz Strobl skied the race of his life to win the men's Olympic downhill on Sunday, upstaging big favourite and team mate Stephan Eberharter.

Eberharter, still smiling despite his disappointment, had to be content with bronze in the blue riband event while Lasse Kjus of Norway repeated his silver of four years ago in Nagano.

Strobl had never won a medal at a major championships before but had been sizzling in training.

In a bizarre twist, the 29-year-old policeman said the omens had looked good for him from the moment he arrived in Utah.

"It's sensational. I didn't expect it," he declared, celebrating a 'perfect day' in the mountain sunshine after dominating the treacherous Grizzly run.

"Here I had room one-one-one and I came first. In Nagano, I had room 11 and I came 11th."

His official time of one minute 39.13 seconds was 0.28 faster than Eberharter, who had been expected to lead the Austrians home in what some of their rivals had feared would be a podium sweep.

"I'm not surprised Fritz did so well," said the 32-year- old World Cup champion who has won five out of eight downhills this season but whose only other Olympic medal was a silver in the 1998 giant slalom.

"He was the toughest competition at the training runs and I knew he was the one to beat.

"Anyway, I want to congratulate him. It was a good race for him," added Eberharter, who remains a favourite for the super-G gold on the same piste next week.

KJUS SPLITS AUSTRIANS

The Austrians had several potential winners in their team, even without double Olympic gold medallist Hermann Maier whose injuries in a motorcycle accident prevented him from competing at Salt Lake City.

World champion Hannes Trinkl, who attempted a comeback after fracturing his skull, was also absent after failing to qualify for the team.

Strobl has twice triumphed at Kitzbuehel, the most feared downhill on the World Cup calendar, and has also won a downhill and super-G this season.

More surprising was the fact that Austria did not sweep the podium but Strobl's victory certainly ended a run of Olympic downhills won by rank outsiders such as now retired Jean-Luc Cretier of France in Nagano and American Tommy Moe in Lillehammer.

Kjus split the Austrians, starting after both and pushing Eberharter down the podium by just 0.06.

It was the Norwegian's fourth medal of a career spanning four Olympics and his 14th from major events, one shy of the record held by team mate Kjetil Andre Aamodt.

"I have come a long way for this, now my goal is Kjetil's record," said the Norwegian.

Aamodt, who has won major medals in every Alpine discipline, missed out on his 16th after finishing fourth but he will also have several more chances.

France's Claude Cretier, no relation to the 1998 champion, was a surprising fifth while Christian Greber gave Austria three skiers in the top six.

American Daron Rahlves, the reigning super-G world champion, was a distant 16th and also failed to claim supremacy in his team, with Marco Sullivan coming ninth after starting 31st of 55 runners.

The race started after a 10 minute delay to fix safety fencing after a forerunner crashed on the icy piste.

14:59 02-10-02

Olympics-Ski jumping-Factfile on Simon Ammann

SALT LAKE CITY "Olympics-Ski jumping-Factfile on Simon Ammann story." In para three please replace...last year's...with...this year's...(corrects year) and in para remove..."because of injury" (removes erroneous phrase):

A corrected repetition follows:

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Factfile on Simon Ammann who won the ski jumping normal hill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday:

Age: 20 (Born June 25, 1981)

Country: Switzerland

Simi started jumping at the age of nine. His schoolwork limited his participation in the sport in his teens, but after he graduated, he seemed set for a successful career.

But head and spine injuries suffered in training for this year's World Cup in Willingen were a serious setback.

His other interests include skiboarding, skating, volleyball, mountain biking and the works of German fantasy author Wolfgang Hohlbein.

Previous Olympics: Competed at Nagano as a 16-year-old and was 35th in the normal hill, 39th in the high hill and sixth in the team event.

Other successes: Was 26th in the normal hill at the 1999 world championships. Best overall World Cup finish was 45th in 1999-2000. Missed the 2001 worlds in Lahti. Had four World Cup top-five finishes in late 2001 and is currently ninth in this season's standings.

Reaction: "Unbelievable. I've done it. I've done it."

14:44 02-10-02

Olympics-Ski jumping-Swiss youngster eclipses the stars

By Adrian Warner

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Unheralded Swiss youngster Simon Ammann returned from injury to ambush ski jumping's biggest names in the normal hill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

Sidelined in early January after a training crash, the 20-year-old took a shock lead after the first round when he jumped 98.0 metres for 133.5 points ahead of German Sven Hannawald and Pole Adam Malysz, the pre-event favourites.

The Swiss kept his nerve under intense pressure in the second decisive round with a jump of 98.5 metres to win with an aggregate total of 269.0 points, Switzerland's first Olympic gold in the history of one of the most spectacular events at the Games.

Hannawald, who made history last month by winning all four of the prestigious Four Hills competition, had to settle for silver with 267.5 points ahead of World Cup leader Malysz who took the bronze with 263.0.

Ammann, who competed at the 1998 Nagano Games as a 16-year-old, has been out of action for the last month after suffering head and back injuries while training in Germany.

The slight Swiss was clearly shocked by the victory and was picked up and held aloft by his team mates in wild celebrations at the end.

The conditions were perfect for the event and the enthusiastic 20,000 crowd enjoyed calm conditions and bright sunshine at the highest World Cup venue in the sport.

LOST INITIATIVE

Hannawald and Malysz lost the initiative in the first round. The German jumped one metre shorter than the winner, while the Pole went further with 98.5 but lost points for style after a poor landing.

Hannawald, jumping just before Ammann, produced the longest jump of 99.0 in the final round but it was not enough to get past Ammann, who many expected to lose his nerve in the second round.

Hannawald was gracious in defeat and went over to congratulate Ammann even before the final result was confirmed.

"It is a little disappointing but the best man won today," he said. "At such a major event, a surprise is always possible."

German coach Reinhard Hess added: "It was a surprise but somebody said to me yesterday: 'You can't rule out Ammann'."

14:50 02-10-02

Olympics-Nordic skiing-Lajunen gets it right at last

By Alison Wildey

SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Finland's Samppa Lajunen finally converted silver to gold by winning the individual Nordic combined at the Winter Games with an impressive cross-country display on Sunday.

Individual silver medallist at Nagano and runner-up at the last two world championships, Lajunen crossed the line in 39 minutes 11.7 seconds to win the 15 km cross-country race by 25 seconds from his compatriot Jaakko Tallus.

It was Finland's first gold medal in the individual event for 54 years since Heikki Hasu won in St Moritz in 1948.

Austrian Felix Gottwald staged a remarkable comeback, after starting 11th, to snatch the bronze from Germany's Ronny Ackermann.

Lajunen, who will also compete in the sprint and team events, said winning the gold meant he could relax now.

"I'm not going to stress anymore," the 22-year-old told reporters. "This will make me stronger."

The Finns were the only skiers in contention for most of the race and once Lajunen had shaken off Tallus, he cruised home, even having time to grab a Finnish flag from the crowd and expose his dyed blue hair as he celebrated on his run-in.

The new Olympic champion was full of praise for his 20-year-old team mate Tallus, who was competing in his first Olympics.

"Jaakko skied very well. It was one of the best pieces of skiing I've seen from Jaakko," Lajunen said.

A beaming Tallus was delighted with his silver.

"Lajunen was so good today that I had no chance for the gold. I thought I could be on the podium, but this is better than my expectations," Tallus said.

Tallus, who leapt 100.5 metres on Saturday to take the ski-jumping discipline, started 48 seconds ahead of the field.

Austria's Mario Stecher started second with Lajunen a further five seconds back, but the Finn quickly moved into second place and by the 1.9-km mark had closed the gap on Tallus to 33 seconds.

Lajunen had Tallus in his sights by the end of the first of the five-km laps and overtook him early in the second.

Stecher was third at that point, while Ackermann had moved up one place to fourth. This season's World Cup leader Gottwald was seventh, having made steady progress up the field after starting more than two-and-a-half minutes behind Tallus.

Once in front Lajunen gradually extended his lead over Tallus and was 10 seconds in front at the end of the second lap.

But by then the real battle was for third place.

OVERHAUL RIVAL

Ackermann, currently second in the World Cup, looked set to win his first Olympic medal, but a superb final lap from Gottwald saw the Austrian catch up and overhaul his rival inside the last two kilometres to take the bronze by 21 seconds.

"Today was a great race for me," Gottwald said. "I wanted to get a medal and now I have one."

Ackermann, one of the pre-event favourites for gold, was disappointed to miss out, but threatened to make amends in the other Nordic combined events, the sprint and the team.

"I tried to increase my speed, but I couldn't go faster," he said. "It's a pity that I didn't get a medal. I still have two competitions and I'm looking forward to attacking them and having the chance of a medal there."

Lajunen was also surprised the German missed out.

"I was a little surprised Ronny didn't come from behind. Maybe he didn't have a normal day," the Finn said.

Local hope Todd Lodwick, looking to grab the host country's first ever Olympic medal in Nordic skiing, started and finished in 7th place.

14:32 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Disappointed Eberharter looks to super-G

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - A disappointed Stephan Eberharter vowed to do better in the super-G after missing out on downhill gold at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.

"It was not a great run, it didn't go as I had expected," said the Austrian, the newly-crowned World Cup downhill champion and an overwhelming race favourite who finished third in the blue riband event.

"Everyone expected me to get gold but I was prepared for that not to happen, so it's no big problem," he said. "People might think that I failed but I don't see it as such.

"I made some technical mistakes on the iciest section of the course and I couldn't find the best line.

"Of course I am disappointed but this is not the end of the world. I have had good results all season and it should pay off here. I still have the super-G to look forward to."

14:09 02-10-02

Olympics-Nordic skiing-Factfile on Samppa Lajunen

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Factfile on Samppa Lajunen, winner of the individual Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics on Sunday:

Age: 22 (born April 23, 1979)

Country: Finland

Began ski jumping at the age of nine. His father Heimo is his personal coach. He plays in a rock band called Vieraileva Tahti (Guest Star) along with team mate Antti Kuisma. They released a record in October 2000.

Previous Olympics: At Nagano in 1998 he won the silver medals in the individual and the team combined events.

Other successes: Won silver in team combined on his debut at the world championships in 1997. Two year's later he won a gold in the team event and a silver in the individual. Two more silvers in the individual and sprint events at last year's championship, along with a bronze in the team event.

Finland's first ever overall World Cup winner in 1996-97 season. Won title again in 1999-2000. Fifth last year. Currently third in the rankings this season.

Reaction: "That was one of the best competitions I've ever skied. After the last World Cup, I was not feeling very good or very confident, but for the last two weeks my training has been perfect. I had been doubting my jumps, but they were perfect too."

13:25 02-10-02

Olympics-Ski jumping-Ammann wins men's normal hill gold

PARK CITY, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Medal winners in the ski jumping normal hill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday:

Gold - Simon Ammann (Switzerland)

Silver - Sven Hannawald (Germany)

Bronze -Adam Malysz (Poland)

13:24 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Strobl wins men's downhill

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Fritz Strobl produced the performance of his life to win the men's downhill at the Winter Olympics on Sunday, upstaging big favourite and team mate Stephan Eberharter.

Eberharter had to be content with bronze while Lasse Kjus of Norway repeated his silver of four years ago in Nagano.

Strobl, a consistent competitor who had never won a medal at a major championships before, timed a provisional one minute 39.13 seconds after Eberharter, who had been expected to lead the Austrians home, set the pace on the treacherous Grizzly piste.

While Strobl's win in the Games' blue riband event was a surprise -- he had been expected to challenge for a lesser medal -- it did not match the shock of the past two Olympics, won by rank outsiders Jean-Luc Cretier of France in Nagano and American Tommy Moe in Lillehammer.

13:18 02-10-02

Olympics-Nordic combined-Individual results

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Results of the Olympic Nordic combined individual cross-country on Sunday

1. Samppa Lajunen (Finland) 39 minutes 11.7 seconds

2. Jaakko Tallus (Finland) 39:36.4

3. Felix Gottwald (Austria) 40:06.5

4. Ronny Ackermann (Germany) 40:27.8

5. Bjoern Kircheisen (Germany) 40:55.9

6. Mario Stecher (Austria) 41:30.8

7. Todd Lodwick (U.S.) 41:39.4

8. Kristian Hammer (Norway) 41:40.8

9. Andy Hartmann (Switzerland) 41:42.3

10. Nicolas Bal (France) 41:43.3

11. Kenji Ogiwara (Japan) 41:45.6

12. Daito Takahashi (Japan) 42:01.2

13. Andrej Jezersek (Slovenia) 42:02.9

14. Hannu Manninen (Finland) 42:21.1

15. Christoph Bieler (Austria) 42:21.1

16. Pavel Churavy (Czech Republic) 43:11.3

17. Kevin Arnould (France) 43:12.1

18. Matt Dayton (U.S.) 43:12.3

19. Bill Demong (U.S.) 43:18.1

20. Christoph Eugen (Austria) 43:26.1

21. Sebastian Haseney (Germany) 43:37.0

22. Preben Fjaere Brynemo (Norway) 43:50.3

23. Alexej Barannikov (Russia) 44:07.3

24. Jan Rune Grave (Norway) 44:18.5

25. Andreas Hurschler (Switzerland) 44:19.4

26. Ludovic Roux (France) 44:22.3

27. Alexej Zvetkov (Russia) 44:28.2

28. Mikko Keskinarkaus (Finland) 44:38.9

29. Ronny Heer (Switzerland) 44:40.0

30. Satoshi Mori (Japan) 44:40.6

31. Alexej Fadeev (Russia) 44:49.0

32. Sverre Rotevatn (Norway) 45:24.6

Tambet Pikkor (Estonia) DNS

11:49 02-10-02

Olympics-Speedskating-Friesinger begins multi-medal hunt

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Germany's Anni Friesinger begins her hunt for four gold medals at the Salt Lake City Winter Games on Sunday in the women's 3,000 metres.

Friesinger, 25, is unbeaten over the distance in World Cup races this season and was the bronze medallist at the Nagano Olympics four years ago.

Team mate Claudia Pechstein, 29, is her closest rival. Pechstein, who is racing in her fourth Olympics, is the world record holder. She took silver in Nagano and was the bronze medallist in Lillehammer in 1994.

Japan's Maki Tabata, 27, has shown improved form this season and is ranked third in the World Cup. She came fifth in the world single distance championships in Salt Lake City last year and has the fastest time for 3,000 metres this season.

Cindy Klassen, 22, is a former hockey player who first strapped on speed skates in 1997 and is now ranked fifth in the World Cup standings. She has the third-fastest time this season.

Renate Groenewold and Tonny de Jong will represent Dutch hopes in the first women's event of the speedskating competition. Groenewold, who has skated a personal best this season, is ranked fourth and de Jong sixth in the World Cup.

American Jennifer Rodriguez, a former roller-blader, is also in the running.

Favourites:

Anni Friesinger (Germany)

Claudia Pechstein (Germany)

Maki Tabata (Japan)

Race starts 2000 GMT.

03:08 02-10-02

Olympics-Alpine skiing-Home from home for Mormon downhiller

By Alan Baldwin

SNOWBASIN, Utah, Feb 10 (Reuters) - When Australian downhiller Rowena Bright says the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics are her spiritual home Games, she means it literally.

A Mormon from Cooma in the Snowy Mountains, the 21-year-old says she is the only Alpine skier of her faith participating at the Olympics but one of six athletes in all.

The others, entered in Ice Hockey and Luge, are from Venezuela, Japan and Germany.

"This is probably the closest I'll ever get to a home Games, I don't think Australia is ever going to have a Winter Olympics," said Bright, who made her World Cup debut only last month.

"These are my spiritual home Games, I guess," added the cheerful blonde who went to school as a 15-year-old in Salt Lake City, home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, more widely known as the Mormons.

"It really hit me last night in the opening ceremony, just knowing that I've got quite a few people supporting me from my faith.

"The best feeling in my life was walking through all the people, I just couldn't believe there were so many people, I don't know how to explain it -- all of your childhood dreams in your face at that moment.

"For the last three years, the Olympics have been in my every thought, that's why it's so weird to be here."

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

The family is a cornerstone of Mormon life and Sunday, when many races are held, is a day for being with relatives and resting.

All of which poses a problem for Bright, who will be training on Sunday for Monday's downhill and will doubtless have to race on that day in the future.

It is something that Bright, who overcame Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a teenager, has agonised over.

"When I made skiing my career when I was about 16 or 17, I decided that it's my job now and it's like a doctor or a farmer would have to work," she explained.

"I thought when I was younger I could go all the way through, like Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, but it proved that I just couldn't."

"I just wasn't getting on teams because of the points systems and things like that. I don't train on Sundays and I only race the important races to me.

Liddell was the Scottish missionary and sprinter who sacrificed his chance to win gold in his strongest event, the 100 metres, in the 1924 Paris Olympics because he refused to race on Sundays.

He won a 400 metres gold and 200 metres bronze and his exploits were immortalised in an Oscar winning film.

Bright said she has watched the film countless times but, unlike her hero, was prepared to perform on Sunday in a training run for her combined downhill.

"I will train here as I definitely need the extra experience on this course. I scared myself a little bit down there," she said.

Skiing also means living out of hotels and extensive travelling, so that Bright must spend time away from her own family -- although they were at Snowbasin to watch her on Saturday.

"It's the saddest story of my life," she said of the time away from home. "I talk to my family all the time."

02:30 02-10-02

Olympics-Timetable for third day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Timetable for the third day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Sunday (all times GMT)

Ski jumping 1515 - Normal hill trial for competition 1630 - Normal hill first round 1730 - Normal hill final round

Nordic combined 1600 - Individual 15km

Alpine skiing 1700 - Men's downhill

Snowboarding 1700 - Women's halfpipe qualification run 1 1755 - Women's halfpipe qualification run 2 2000 - Women's halfpipe final run 1 2035 - Women's halfpipe final run 2

Speed skating 2000 - Women's 3000 metres

Luge 2300 - Men's singles run 1 0050 (Monday) - Men's singles run 2

Ice hockey 2300 - Men's preliminary round - Austria v Germany, Group A 0200 (Monday) - Men's preliminary round - Latvia v Slovakia, Group A.

02:00 02-10-02

Olympics-Medals table on the third day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Medals table at the start of the third day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Sunday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

Spain 1 0 0 1

Italy 1 0 0 1

Netherlands 1 0 0 1

Norway 1 0 0 1

U.S. 0 2 0 2

Austria 0 1 1 2

Russia 0 1 0 1

Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

Germany 0 0 1 1

Japan 0 0 1 1

02:00 02-10-02

Olympics-Oscars meet Olympics at glitzy medals ceremony

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - It was more like the Oscars than the Olympics when the first medals were handed out at the Winter Games on Saturday.

A few years ago, winners of the skiing events were awarded their medals in front of a few hundred spectators minutes after the end of their race.

Not any more. Salt Lake City organisers, praised for their dignified opening ceremony, have let rip where the medals ceremony is concerned and athletes are now part of a Hollywood production involving acrobats, dancers and rock bands.

Around 20,000 people gathered in Olympic Medals Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City to watch the nighttime medals ceremony and the Dave Matthews Band.

Normally they would have paid serious money to watch such a group but tickets were free and everyone was ready to party.

As the lights dimmed, acrobats descended on pieces of silk from a huge arch.

Dancers joined them, acting out the sports involved in the Winter Olympics, before the Child of Light - a key element of the opening ceremony - appeared as the arch opened out revealing an Olympic cauldron.

The cauldron was lit by a torchbearer who had brought the flame from the Rice-Eccles stadium, venue of the opening ceremony, and the spectators were treated to a video resume of the day's action.

Finally, the medallists arrived and the medals were awarded - but even that wasn't like the good old days. For the first time at an Olympics, the gold medal was awarded last in a switch meant to highlight the performances of the runners-up.

The athletes were led off before the next group were brought on after being ferried down to the valley from various mountain venues.

QUALITY ACTS

Organisers hope the razzmatazz will "add to the fun" and the quality of the acts appearing, such as Macy Gray, Sheryl Crow and 'N Sync, ensures the venue will be full every night.

"We knew right away it would be a very popular place," said Scott Givens, in charge of the organisers' 'Creative Group'.

"We are trying to take the experience of Olympic spectators to a much higher level."

Bands are appearing for a "tiny fraction" of their normal fees, according to officials, and the land was donated by the Mormon Church on condition that tickets were free.

The medallists certainly seemed to enjoy themselves, smiling throughout, throwing roses to the crowd and milking every second of a unique moment in their lives.

"It was awesome," said Norwegian Kari Traa, the first to receive her gold medal, won in the freestyle moguls.

"I could hear the crowd and it was a good feeling in front of all those lights.

"The energy in there was amazing," said the silver medallist, American Shannon Bahrke.

"I like it spread out over the whole evening. It was a good idea to have it down here so everyone could see."

00:33 02-10-02

Olympics-Europeans beat out U.S. for gold on first day

By Robert Woodward

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Italian cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo won the first gold medal of the Winter Games on Saturday, triggering a day of European celebration that forced the American hosts to settle for two silvers.

All four golds on the opening day were won by athletes from the traditional European stronghold home of winter sports.

As well as Belmondo, there were victories for Dutch newcomer Jochem Uytdehaage in the men's 5,000 metres speedskating, Spain's Johann Muehlegg in the men's cross country 30-km freestyle and Norwegian Kari Traa the women's freestyle moguls.

Glorious weather carried forward the spirit of goodwill generated by Friday's dignified yet moving opening ceremony but spectators faced long waits to clear security checks.

One Russian skier said the post-September 11 clampdown made her feel like a criminal. "I have been to four Olympics and I've never seen anything like it," said Larisa Lazutina.

But organisers said such measures were necessary following the attacks on New York and Washington and, 24 hours into the Games, they believed it was a case of so far, so good.

"We are feeling very good and we believe we are off to a good start," Romney told a news conference.

Belmondo, at 33 racing in her last Olympics, claimed her eighth Olympic medal by holding off long-time rival Lazutina in a sprint finish in the 15-km event. Czech Katerina Neumannova took the bronze.

But Belmondo had one of the French coaches, Jean-Pierre Burdet, to thank for her victory when she lost one of her poles two-thirds of the way through the race.

"I really cried and screamed," she said. But Burdet thrust another pole into her hand and the Italian was able to struggle on before being given a replacement pole by her own trainer.

Belmondo caught Lazutina with two kms to go and edged past to dash the Russian's hopes of winning a record-equalling sixth gold in the Winter Olympics.

SECOND GOLD

The title was Belmondo's second and Muehlegg's victory over 30 kms freestyle gave his adopted country Spain their second gold in the 78-year history of the Winter Olympics.

The 31-year-old, who switched from his native Germany to become a naturalised Spaniard in 1999, powered away from the rest of the field early on and won by more than two minutes from Austrian Christian Hoffmann.

Muehlegg's career had suffered from continuous battles with the German federation and Juanito, as he is know in Spain, made very clear where his allegiance now lay.

"I won this medal for Spain and I feel 100 percent Spanish," he said, confirming later he would be giving the medal to Spain's king Juan Carlos.

Traa's gold was the least surprising on the first full day of 16 days of competition in 15 events.

She has been virtually unbeatable in the moguls this season and, although she did not show her best form, the Norwegian's technique and speed proved decisive. American Shannon Bahrke took silver and Tae Satoya of Japan the bronze.

Uytdehaage also pushed an American - Derek Parra - into silver in the 5,000 metres speed skating.

But this demotion was far harder to take as Parra had broken the world record during the competition, only to see the Dutchman beat his mark by recording six minutes 14.66 seconds. Germany's Jens Boden took the bronze.

The figure skating pairs went to form in the short programme with Russians Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze wowing the audience and the judges to take the lead ahead of Monday's finale.

Canada's gold medal co-favourites Jamie Sale and David Pelletier hung on to second despite a late error as they collapsed in a heap on to each other.

00:14 02-10-02

Olympics-Medals table after the second day of competition

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Medals table after the second day of competition at the Winter Olympics on Saturday

Gold Silver Bronze Total

Spain 1 0 0 1

Italy 1 0 0 1

Netherlands 1 0 0 1

Norway 1 0 0 1

U.S. 0 2 0 2

Austria 0 1 1 2

Russia 0 1 0 1

Czech Republic 0 0 1 1

Germany 0 0 1 1

Japan 0 0 1 1

23:41 02-09-02