Where to Ski And Snowboard - Miller makes it gold

Miller makes it gold

21st February 2010, by Chris Gill

Winning trio in the super combined

Bode Miller has won his first ever Olympic gold medal, taking the top spot in the men’s super combined event at Whistler.

American Miller sealed his third medal of the Games, having already won a silver in the super-G and bronze medal in the downhill. Sunday’s competition put him in seventh place after the downhill, with Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal leading the group into the slalom. But a clean, fast line in the slalom put Bode into the lead with a combined time of 1:53:91 – well ahead of eventual silver medallist Croatia’s Ivica Kostelic. Switzerland’s Silvan Zubriggan took the bronze medal, with a good slalom run that put defending champion Ted Ligety from the US out of the podium positions.

What’s more, it was soon apparent that Miller had moved closer to gold as the main contestants faltered on the slalom course. First, Janka, then Dominic Paris – who was lying in second place. Svindal was going for his second gold of the Games, but straddling a gate on the top section of the course put him out of the race.

So, the super combined title was Bode Miller’s: ‘I skied with 100% heart. I didn’t hold anything back. It’s just awesome. There’s nothing else to say.’

Britain’s Ed Drake completed the super combined with two clean runs to finish 29th overall.