US maintains skiing dominance

Bode Miller takes gold in the men’s super-combined on day nine in Vancouver.

Bode Miller wins men''s super-combined
Miller has now won gold, silver and bronze medalsat the Vancouver Olympics [AFP]

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, the reigning world super-combined champion, led after the downhill portion of the event but skied out of the slalom in sight of the finish line, while American reigning Olympic champion Ted Ligety came fifth.

32-year-old Miller will face Svindal and Ligety again on Tuesday in the giant slalom.

Belief

In the women’s 12.5km mass start biathlon, Germany’s Magdalena Neuner won for her third medal of the games to go with the gold she captured in the pursuit and silver in the sprint.
 
“It is a surprise for me , but I know what I can do and I believe in myself, I have three now and it is unbelievable for me,” she said.

The 23-year-old, who has been the focus of intense media attention at home, later pulled out of Tuesday’s 4x6km relay in order to give other teammates a chance to taste success.

“After three medals, it’s important not to go overboard. And there are still three in the team that do not have medals. It would be sad if they didn’t get one because of me,” Neuner said.

She said that she had been left drained by the constant rounds of interviews, training and functions.

“We are pulled from place to place and I did get a bit down before this race, because it was all getting a bit too much for me,” Neuner said.

Domination

Day nine of the Vancouver games also brought a third gold medal for the Netherlands speedskating team.

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Magdalena Neuner won her third medal of the games in the 12.5km mass start biathlon [AFP]

Ireen Wust upgraded her 2006 Olympic bronze in the 1,500m to gold, in the process shattering the home nation’s hopes of gold for Kristina Groves.

Wust, who had finished seventh in the 3,000m and an eighth in the 1,000m, helped the Netherlands become the first nation in 46 years to win the men’s and women’s 1,500m at the same Games.

Mark Tuitert won the men’s version on Saturday. 

In the two-man bobsleigh, Andre Lange proved his total domination of the sport, hardly scraping a wall during four smooth drives on a course that has produced several high-speed crashes on Saturday.
   
Lange, known as the Teddy Bear for his affable nature off the track, has now won the last four Olympic bobsleigh golds, two-man and four, dating back to Salt Lake City in 2002.

“What I have achieved hasn’t really yet sunk in and I think it won’t until tomorrow’s victory ceremony,” Lange said.

Source: News Agencies