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Tuesday,
06.02.2001
Race
Report
Men’Combined
14th medal for Kjetil-Andre Aamodt
Kjetil-Andre Aamodt clinched his 14th
medal at a major event since 1991
in the men's combined at St.Anton,
after a spectacular downhill marked
by several spectacular crashes including
those of one of the top contenders,
America’s Bode Miller.
The Norwegian 28-year-old veteran
clinched his third consecutive title
in that event which also brought him
a sixth gold medal since the beginning
of his career without counting his
numerous triumphs as a junior. He
won medals at all great events except
at the 1998 Olympics at Nagano.
He finished by 68/100 of a second
ahead the Tyrolian Mario Matt, while
Switzerland's Paul Accola, was 3rd
with a delay of 1,28 second. It’s
his 3rd bronze medal in the discipline
since 1989. He was the fastest in
the downhill in which Aamodt clocked
the 4th and Matt the 7th times.
Bode Miller, one of the other favorites
for the victory, suffered a bad crash
and injured himself at a knee which
will prevent him to compete in the
coming technical events. He was flown
back home for medical inspection at
Dr. Dick Steadman’s clinic at
Vail.
It’s quite an impressive record
that Kjetil has set in winning his
third consecutive title in the same
event, another unique achievement
in Alpine Ski Racing. With 14 medals,
he leads now the list of medal winners
ahead of his friend Lasse Kjus and
Austrian born Marc Girardelli who
used to race for Luxemburg who won
13 medals during their career.
The Norwegian has won gold and World
Cup titles in all specialties except
downhill, but along three other famous
skiers including Switzerland’s
Pirmin Zurbriggen and Girardelli,
he has won World Cup races in all
events.
He desperately needed this success
to enhance a quite disappointing season
so far. He only reached two podiums
this season and he has no chance to
challenge Hermann Maier in the Overall
World Cup as in recent years.
“It was important for me to win
this competition and I was quite nervous
today, the conditions on the downhill
course were quite brutal” he
said.
“I went for a tactical run but
Matt did a strong race too.”
“I’m happy to have increased
my numbers of medals and I hope to
win many more in the coming years.
I plan to compete until the 2006 Olympics
if I remain healthy. I still hope
to improve my technique and I want
to win gold in downhill too.”
“This success is a strong boost
for my moral for the slalom on Saturday.
I was quite down in the last weeks,
but now I can charge again.”
The next men’s race in scheduled
on Wednesday morning – the downhill
postponed from last Saturday.
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