CANADA: WINTER OLYMPICS VANCOUVER 2010 - Bode Miller takes Olympic gold in super combined

Record ID: 1526195

  • Title: CANADA: WINTER OLYMPICS VANCOUVER 2010 - Bode Miller takes Olympic gold in super combined
  • Date: 23rd February 2010
  • Summary: WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (FEBRUARY 21 2010) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SKIER BODE MILLER SAYING: "I think this has been an inspiring Olympics, this is the kind of stuff that kids get fired up about. They recognise it right away. I mean last year, if you compare this to the world championships last year in Val d'Isere, it's not even the same thing. You would think it was a different event or different sport or something. Here you really get the chills, you feel the crowd, you feel all the energy, the expectation - you feel everything."
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2010 02:04
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Canada
  • Country: Canada
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA3QZPMESGICEIECT3GPT87Q9S6
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: American Bode Miller wins the men's super combined event to complete his set of Olympic medals with a long-awaited first gold, and the most gold medals won by a US Alpine skier.
    Bode Miller turned on the slalom style on Sunday (February 21) to win the super combined event and in the twilight of his career, complete his set of Olympic medals with a first gold.
    The 32-year-old American, who had taken a silver in super-G and bronze in downhill earlier in the week, knew he would never have a better chance and threw everything at it.
    "It was exciting. I'm not much of a crier but it was pretty cool. I think it means a lot ot my family to be here and I have a lot of friends and coaches and ski team people that have helped me out. So I think it was a really cool moment for a lot of people," Miller told reporters at a press conference.
    After beating Ivica Kostelic into second place, on a tricky course set by the Croatian's father Ante, Miller had to wait for tall Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal to make a mistake before the celebrations could begin.
    "He set a phenomenal course. It was really technical, fast tons of combinations and not at all what I was really hoping for. When i came out of the downhill my legs were cooked and you see a really quick, super quick dynamic slalom where all the trouble is right over the break overs...really high speeds into the break overs and tough turns. But the conditions held up way better than i thought. They salted and that worked really well in that snow. When I went I was still able to do just about what I wanted on that snow, which is the most important thing for me. And I skied unbelievable," Miller said.
    A roar went up from the 6,143 strong crowd lining the course, many waving stars and stripes flags, as Miller finally struck gold -- and his fifth Olympic Alpine medal -- in his fourth Games.
    Miller, who supposedly hated the Turin Games, now believes there really is something special about the Olympics that raises performances.
    "I think this has been an inspiring Olympics, this is the kind of stuff that kids get fired up about. They recognise it right away," Miller said.
    "I mean last year, if you compare this to the world championships last year in Val d'Isere, it's not even the same thing. You would think it was a different event or different sport or something. Here you really get the chills, you feel the crowd, you feel all the energy, the expectation - you feel everything." he added.
    Miller's third medal in Whistler, the fifth of his career, was his first gold. His five Olympic medals is the most won by an American Alpine skier. Miller said his chances of earning more medals are slim, but that doesn't mean he won't be giving it his all.
    "For me the measure of a ski racer is how close to five events can you become proficient at. Obviously in an overall World Cup season you can prove that where you win in all four disciplines, all five disciplines in one season. That was a huge accomplishment for me that was something I was proud of. And to do it in one Olympics, it's different. It requires a lot of luck, it requires a lot of things. That's why no one has done it before. Not because they are not capable, it just requires a lot of things to go your way. But I am in a good position to do it but that doesn't guarantee me anything. But I am racing the other two so that leaves me a chance."
    Miller will next compete in the Slalom race on February 27th.
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