February 2002 News Updates: Continued
February 25-28 Updates
February 24 Updates
February 23 Updates
February 22 Updates
February 21 Updates
February 20 Updates
February 19 Updates
February 14-18 Updates
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February 24 Update
2002 Winter Olympics: Women's 30km Classic
Lazuntina Tops Italian Duo For Final Gold Of SLC 2002
The woman at the center of ThursdayÕs explosive relay developments, RussiaÕs Larissa Lazuntina, took out her frustrations in todayÕs 30km classic winning gold in 1:29:09. Lazuntina came in a full 1:48 ahead of Italian Gabriella Paruzzi who edged teammate Stephania Belmondo (+1:52) for the silver. Norwegian skiers Bente Skari (+2:27) and Anita Moen (+2:28) finished fourth and fifth.
For North America, Nina Kemppel proved right on the money with her pre-Games prediction that the 30km classic would probably be her best race. After a couple weeks of results below what the U.S. veteran and all-time National Championship title holder wanted, Kemppel hung tough on a very tough day to come in an outstanding 17th. U.S. skier Wendy Wagner also had her best race of the Games finishing a super 25th. Other North Americans...Amanda Fortier (30th), Milaine Theriault (33rd), Jaime Fortier (36th), and Barb Jones (37th). Canadian Sara Renner and U.S. skier Aelin Peterson did not start. University of Nevada-Reno skier Katerina Hanusova (skiing for the Czech Republic) finished 42nd on a day where it was apparent she had little to no kick. Showing some serious toughness (she ended up +19:43 when normally a threat for the top 20), Hanusova refused to quit the race saying ÒHey, this is the Olympics. You canÕt drop outÓ.
Conditions for the race were pretty much the ultimate waxing nightmare for everyone with fresh wet snow falling just up to race start...then a pause in the snow just long enough to make everyone think twice about wax/ski selection...and then light snow throughout the race. Temperatures at or just above freezing, a wicked hard melt/freeze base with roughly an inch or two of fresh, warm snow on top. Just your basic nightmare. Kemppel showed reporters the skis she used with ÒhairiesÓ, a homemade waxless technique first used on the World Cup by Bill Koch. (Note: With ÒhairiesÓ, technicians created tiny hairs with sandpaper-like tools giving the ski, hopefully, much of the kick of a store-bought waxless skis but significantly fasters skis than normal waxless versions. ItÕs hard to get hairies right even for top technicians and it takes just the right conditions for it to work. Fresh wet snow is ideal.) Teams tried numerous klister/kick wax combinations but according to the skiers we talked to, few teams could get traditional wax to get grip.
Although Lazutina obviously had adequete skis, even the ripsaw Russian was clearly muscling up the final uphills. At least one Norwegian skier used hairies and it looked like Skari and Moen had ÒOKÓ skis on the toughest uphills...but both had to get out of the tracks on a consistent basis to get grip. The Italians also confirmed that they went with hairies and seemed to have gotten the mix right...at least better than most other teams...as both Belmondo and Paruzzi were visably able to climb and glide better than nearly the entire field.
After the race, Nina Kemppel said...ÓThat was the hardest race of my life. All I have to say is thank you Jim Galanes (her longtime Gold 2002/APU Coach) for making me ski all those days in the slush up at Eagle Glacier!Ó Even with her career-best Olympic finish in her fourth Games (and final race at that), KemppelÕs day started out far from ideal. ÒI was called for the random doping control (same random control that forced Lazuntina and the Russians out of the relay) so I didnÕt get to test my skis hardly at all. Ten minutes before the race I had zero kick. I looked at Lars our wax technician and he held up two other pairs of skis. He said he didnÕt know which would work better. I ran on the hairies pretty much on faith and hoping it would keep snowing. Then IÕm out early and it stops snowing. I had to be really tough mentally at that point. After awhile I found I was getting good kick in different spots and when I was out of the track on the fresh snow I could get them to work. Even as hard as it was, it turned out to be a super day. ItÕs a great feeling to end my Olympic career with a good race. Especially nice because the 30km is long enough that I could notice all the support along the way. That really meant a lot to me.Ó
Pre-Race Report
In a race that may very well end up being more intense afterwards than out on the race trails, a 53 skier field is listed for today's finale to the 2002 Winter Olympics...the women's XC 30km classic.
The plot points for today break down as follows...
- Team Russia is back in full force, at least on the start list, with Savialova, Danilova, Lazutina, and Tchepalova going out with bibs 39, 43, 46, and 47 respectively. The Russian delegation's claim that they would skip the 30km, after the Thursday relay circus, apparently proving to be a bluff. Any one of these four Russian starters could be your race winner...best bets being Danilova or Lazutina.
- The entire venue will be holding a collective breath both at the start to see if all the Russians actually toe the line...and also afterwards, if form holds, and one or more are on the podium. This is one press conference that promises big time fireworks.
- Norwegian Bente Skari and Svetlana Nagejkina from Belarus look to be the top contenders to battle the Russians for the podium. Italian Stephania Belmondo and Slovenian Petra Majdic may also play roles. Fifteen red group women are listed for the day.
- American Nina Kemppel, arguably the most successful U.S. female skier in history, will start her final Olympic race today...and may have her best chance for a top 20 placing. Kemppel starts number 27 with a full crew of North American gals listed on the start list...Canadian's Renner (1), Amanda Fortier (13), Theriault (28), Jaime Fortier (30) and U.S. skier's Peterson (4), Jones (14), Wagner (31).
Due to travel schedules, we will have a brief post-race report up this afternoon and more complete info posted (hopefully) tomorrow afternoon. A complete summary on the Games will be posted later in the week.
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8:30am MST - Breaking News: Muehlegg Caught With EPO-Like Substance
Eurosport.com is reporting and other international sources confirm that triple Olympic gold medallist Johann Muehlegg has tested positive for a new blood-boosting drug with similar properties to EPO (erythropoietin).
In a Radio Nacional interview with IOC medical committee member Jordi Segura late on Sunday, the substance reportedly detected in the German-turned-Spainard skier's urine was darbepoetin. Segura said the substance was not specifically named on the IOC's list of banned substances but that the IOC would seriously look at whether or not the substance would be considered a doping agent anyways.
According to information on Eurosport.com..."This substance from the pharmacological point of view has the same effects as EPO," Segura said. "It has been developed recently and is very similar to EPO but lasts much longer in the body and its effects are delayed. Many people believed that it could not be detected in laboratories but it can."
Segura also said that an "adverse" report affecting three athletes, one of whom was Muehlegg, was in the hands of the Olympic Committee. He refused to name the other athletes. Other international sources tell xcskiworld.com that the IOC will review the situation and make a recommendation to the FIS whether or not Muehlegg and the other athletes are to be suspended, stripped of medals, etc.. If darbepoetin is determined to constitute a banned substance, Muehlegg reportedly would be stripped of any medals won on or after the date of the test. Medals won before the test date would apparently not be taken away. This point would be critical in Muehlegg's case given that he is a multi-medalist over the past two weeks.
Due to race coverage and subsequent travel schedules, xcskiworld.com may or may not be able to continue posting updates on this potentially devastating story later today. We will make every effort to have whatever information we can gather up by Monday afternoon.
2002 Winter Olympics: Men's 50km Classic
Juanito Powers To The Hat Trick
SpainÕs favorite German import, Johann Muehlegg, came back on the third 16.7km loop to overtake Russian Mikhail Ivanov and claim his third gold medal of the 2002 Olympics in the menÕs 50km classic today. Muehlegg won in a headspinning time of 2:06:05.9, beating Ivanov by a scant 14.9 seconds. With 3.5km to go, Muehlegg was leading by only 3.3 seconds showing just how late in the game ÒJuanitoÓ made his move to the top. In another late run, Estonian Andrus Veerpalu poured it on over the second half of the final lap to grab bronze, +38.6.
As evidence of just how interesting the final half hour was today, at the 40.5km point, Muehlegg was trailing Ivanov by 16.4 seconds with Veerpalu out of the lead by a whopping 1:26. But the Russian started to hit the wall right around that 10km to go mark and it was impressive enough that he hung on to silver with the charge that both Muehlegg and Veerpalu put on late in the game.
MuehleggÕs victory was not only his third gold of these Games...and the first time any male XC skier has won three individual golds in one Olympics...but it also continued MuehleggÕs uncanny streak of winning on North American snow. Going back to the American Birkiebeiner several years ago, Muehlegg has remained undefeated in distance races against formidable fields at both the 2001 Pre-Olympic World Cups and here at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Though often labeled a skating specialist. Muehlegg has won 2.5 classic races (the first half of the Olympic same-day pursuit a 10km classic) during the streak against virtually all of the best classic skiers in the world. What can we say? The dude loves it over here.
For triple golden boy Muehlegg, hobbling and clearly stiff in his joints at the post-race press conference, today represented his hardest race ever. "For me this was the toughest race ever. IÕve done a lot of hard races, including the Vasaloppet, but for me this was the toughest one. I knew before the race that the race would be decided in the last 5-10km and that would be the hardest part of the day. The last 5-6 days IÕve been on a special diet which is pretty normal for me before a long race like this. The first two days I ate only proteins with really hard training and the last three days only carbohydrates. never had problems in the race. I knew from experience in Lahti (Muehlegg won last year's World Championship 50km) that my special diet will help me in the last 5-10km. For me, it was easier for me to ski behind Ivanov because I was able to get the best information about his times. I knew from my technicians that Ivanov was not getting good grip in uphills towards the end but I continued to focus on my own race. Even when I was able to pull ahead, only until I saw the final result on the scoreboard did I know I would win this race."
Even with the spectre of an unprecedented third individual gold in one Olympics, Muehlegg's day very nearly ran into the same roadblock that confounded the Russian women's relay team and subsequently set off a global shouting match over clean and fair sport. You guessed it, at pre-race blood screening, Muehlegg reportedly had a blood value test over the legal limit for hemoglobin. According to Muehlegg's own version of events, after the first blood sample came up higher than the legal limit, the testers took another sample from his arm. (Note: xcskiworld.com has now confirmed with FIS authorities that the international rules at pre-event blood screening allows one retest within five minutes of the original test...not ninety seconds as previous reports stated.) On the (one allowed) retest, says Muehlegg, the testers told him that his values appeared below the legal limit and thus he was allowed to race.
About his testing situation Muehlegg said, "I don't think of it as having problems at the testing. I was the first one to have my blood tested this morning so I don't know if there was a problem with the machine or not on the first test. If not, the problems were probably related to the special diet I have been on as well as the altitude we are at. Both push blood numbers up. Last night I also had problem with diarrea which also pushed the numbers up. In the end it was only really close but both tests were done within five minutes and I was allowed to race. It was no problem."
No FIS or doping control representatives have verified or added to Muehlegg's account of what happened at his pre-race blood screening...and if the women's relay situation is any indication, no information will be forthcoming at any future date. Muehlegg said that he would not disclose the values of either test calling such information "secret".
Despite his close call, Muehlegg was still in favor of the pre-race blood screening and festering international cynicism over testing (on both sides of the fence)..."I donÕt know if the tests are reliable but I never have problems when IÕm tested. I think the testing before the races is good because it is very important for the health of the athletes. I think all the athletes should be tested even though it is very expensive."
For silver medalist Ivanov, a warm wind might have tanked his run for gold today.
The race today was indeed very interesting," said a candid Ivanov at the press conference. "You have a lot of time to think over 50km. I felt fine and thing were very easy for first two laps. Before the race I thought I could fight for a gold medal today but I thought it would be more difficult for me. I knew that I was in the lead and I knew I was going faster and faster until the lead hit 40 seconds, but then something happened. IÕd like to ask Muehlegg if he thought something changed on the course because I certainly felt things change. There was a warm wind that started blowing and all of a sudden the snow became damp and I knew that my speed decreased because of that. On the last long uphill on the final lap I calculated that I lost about 60 meters compared to the first two laps. On the last lap when the skis were not doing well I had to fight with myself (mentally) to keep up. For the final lap I think Muehlegg's skis were better prepared. That was probably the biggest factor between gold and silver."
Was Ivanov disappointed after leading until 5km to go? "I would have been much more disappointed if I had lost by one or two seconds but 14 seconds is quite a bit. I think Muehlegg won on the last two long uphills. That tells you he is better prepared to finish the race strong. But on the other hand, IÕm just 24 years compared to Muehlegg who is 31 and I have more races in the future. My coach told me after the race that now I have my work cut out for me in the future. If I would have won gold, I wouldnÕt have that to work towards."
How did he react to the Russian delegation's threat of leaving the Games early? "My thinking was 'oh no, IÕm not going to win my gold medal if IÕm sent home'. But now I think we will just not go to the final ceremony in the end.
For bronze medalist Veerpalu, the late run was more a matter of skis than an overt effort to turn it on late..."I chose a pair of skis that would work towards the end when the temps would be warmer. IÕm satisfied with third place though I went out to win the gold. I think Johann is the strongest skier of the Games, it's really hard to compete with him. I was also aware of Ivanov before the race because weÕve seen really good classic results from him...as in Lahti. Of course gold feels better (Veerpalu won the 15km classic last week) but bronze feels good, too."
Some of the prominent names that figured to be in the mix for the podium simply could not match the pace set by the top boys. Team Norway was led by Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset who finished fourth (+2:35). Although Norge put all four starters in the top eleven, no doubt the 50km represented a deep bummer for a nation that prides itself on having incomprehensible depth in classic skiing. Yet no nation at the 2002 Games may be more bummed than Sweden. Star Per Elofsson said he was feeling better heading into the 50km but looked very mortal against the power of skiers like Veerpalu and Muehlegg. Elofsson ended up finishing second from his own squad just behind early starting Magnus IngessonÕs 17th place effort. For a team that came to SLC 2002 hoping for a pile of hardware, Sweden has been out of the mix from the start.
As is somewhat of a tradition in World Championship or Olympic 50km races, at least one skier that everyone would never suspect always seems to slide into the top ten. Today that skier was Hiroyuki Imai from Japan who started with bib 9, skied most of the race with little to no help from other skiers, and ended up finishing a very, very impressive 7th (+3:35).
North American racers had a tough day struggling with everything from kick wax to equipment failures to illness. The top result was turned in by U.S. skier John Bauer who finished in 35th place (+13:29). Canadian Donald Farley finished 41st (15:20) and American Andrew Johnson came in 53rd (+26:38). Patrick Weaver was a late scratch from starting due to stomach flu. But the hardluck award has to go to Justin Wadsworth who had things moving over the first lap but had a binding literally pull out of a ski on lap two and subsequently was forced to drop out of the race. Wadsworth entered the Games one of the top U.S. prospects for big results but was sick for the first three men's races...had his one bright spot in the relay as he hung in there for a solid third leg in the relay...and then ends things with a binding failure in today's 50km. Ouch.
Even though he was able to make it to the finish line, top North American John Bauer wasn't a whole lot more fortunate than the rest of the NorAm contingent. Bauer's summary on the race: "It was a tough out there. I had a basket fall off one of my poles on the first lap and then a couple kilometers into the third lap I was slipping so bad with my kick that I had to stop and throw on some red klister. I probably lost about 30-40 seconds putting on the klister but IÕm pretty sure I made the time up. I donÕt think IÕd have been able to finish it I hadnÕt rewaxed. Not sure what happened to make the kick get so bad. Overall IÕd definitely say this race wonÕt be the highlight of the Olympics for me. IÕm just happy I finished really. The break since the relay (last Sunday) might have actually hurt me because IÕm used to being really busy with training and work...I tend to get bored if I have too much time on my hands. For some reason today I just didnÕt have the energy I had on the other days.Ó
How does Bauer sum up his final Olympics? ÒIÕm very thankful for everything that I was able to achieve here. We had a good relay and some good individual results. I donÕt know how much time IÕll be able to put into racing in the future but IÕll come away really happy from this Olympics. This was a great experience.Ó
Pre-race Report
Hardcore Scandinavians call this the "real race of champions" and given the brutal course plus loaded field today, that might be the perfect description. A 16 skier red group will head out in the smack dab middle of the interval start seeds but a healthy collection of 20-30 other skiers in the total start list of 64 have top 30 results in major distance races in the recent past. Make no mistake, this could very well be one of the deepest fields of the entire Olympics.
Weather this morning is a departure from the perfect weather we've enjoyed most of the last two weeks, with high overcast, moderate humidity (60%), and moderately warm temps...predicted high this afternoon in the 40s. Originally a snow/rain mix was predicted to come in today but, for the time being anyways, the forecast has the small system coming thru overnight. With the warm temps and sunshine of the last couple days, the rocket-fast trails guarantee a klister mix for kick today. The biggest worry for technicians is wear over the 50km distance. Skiers losing kick late today will most certainly not enjoy the ride! The race plan is 3 x 16.7km using almost every inch of the main Soldier Hollow trail system.
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American Birkie Goes To Pozzi And Wall
HAYWARD, Wis. -- (by Leslie Hamp) "Let the Games Begin" took on special meaning when announcer John Schmitt opened Birkie 2002 festivities on Thursday, Feb. 21. Race organizers, skiers, volunteers and area residents were ecstatic with the "miracle" of Birkie 2002 -- snow just in time for the Johnson Bank American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet ski races on Saturday, Feb. 23.
Maurizio Pozzi, Italy, captured the Birkie title with a time of 1:57:09.2. Stephane Passeron, Gap, France, placed second with a time of 1:57:33.7, and Carl Swenson, Boulder, Colorado,placed third with a time of 1:57:56.6
Jeannie Wall, Bozeman, Montana, captured the Birkie title in the female class with a time of 2:24:14.6. Brooke Baughman, Ketchum, Idaho, finished second with a time of 2:26:22.2, and Unni Odegard, Boulder, Colorado, placed third with a time of 2:28:01.4.
In the Kortelopet, Jordan Seethaler of Marquette, MI won the women's race in 1:05:50.8. Carolyn Treacy was second (+3:00) and Courtney Dauwalter third (+3:05). Bryan Cook of Rhinelander, WI won the men's race in 59:34.8 with Andy Liebner second (+2:42), a whisker ahead of Bjorn Batdorf.
On Tuesday, just four days before the running of the largest cross-country ski race in North America,race officials contemplated cancellation of the 29th annual American Birkebeiner and Kortelopet in Cable and Hayward, Wis.It looked unlikely that race officials could out maneuver the rain and inclement weather sent by Mother Nature.
Then rain turned to snow.
The two days of drizzle that had essentially wiped out the start area and much of the race course turned to snow around 10 pm. Tuesday night. By 6 a.m. on Wednesday more than six inches of new snow blanketed the Birkie trail. Another two inches fell during the day.
The new snow allowed plans to proceed for a 46.7K American Birkebeiner with a finish in Duffy's Field and a 23K Kortelopet with a fnish at Telemark Resort in Cable. Both races started at Cable Union Airport. When the cannon sounded, 200 elite men, 60 elite women and 12 waves of citizen skiers began their ski odyssey under cloudy skies, light rain, and 33 degree temps. While the top skiers were off the course by 10:15 a.m., many did not complete their journey until late in the afternoon.
Race organizers battled mild weather all winter. Cracking the 5,900 mark with a total of 5,903 skiers for the Birkie and Kortelopet was very good news even though a typical race year would find 6,500 skiers registered for both races.
Many skiers talked all day Friday and Saturday about "gutting it out" on race day since most midwest skiers had not spent much time on their skinny skis all season due to an unfortunately poor snow year. Even with an international presence and representation from throughout the U.S., most Birkie participants come from the central region of the U.S. ski community. Despite the lack of training for those midwest skiers, smiles were the look of the day and spirits were high before and after the race.
"People were happy to be out there on skis but expectations were that it was going to be extremely slow because of the rain," said Bill Pierce, chairman of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation board of directors. "Conditions got slower as the day went on and temperatures went up, but it was still a very good event that will generate many more ski stories for the future."
With another successful Birkie in the history books, organizers almost immediately begin preparations for the 30th anniversary next February. For more information and the latest updates, log onto www.birkie.com.
2002 Winter Olympics: Nordic Combined 7.5km "Sprint"
Lajunen Claims Third Nordic Combined Gold...Lodwick Finishes Fifth
Finn Samppa Lajunen ran the table today, grabbing his third Nordic Combined gold medal of SLC 2002 in the 7.5km Nordic Combined Sprint. Starting out with a lead of 15 seconds over German Ronny Ackermann, Lajunen stretched his lead up to 20 seconds on the second of three 2.5km loops and then cruised to the line to win 9 seconds up on the German. AustriaÕs Felix Gottwald came from the 11th start position in the pursuit format to finish with the bronze medal. After moving up quickly on the XC and battling Gottwald throughout the first two laps, American Todd Lodwick (start spot number 12) lost contact with the fast-skiing Austrian coming out of the stadium on the final lap. Lodwick ended up finishing fifth when Finn Jaakko Tallus caught him on the final horseshoe hill. The fifth place effort was the second time in these Games that Lodwick had established a best-ever U.S. Nordic Combined result. In the individual event Lodwick finished seventh for, at that time, the best-ever U.S. mark. In the team event the U.S. also established an historic high point.
For other North Americans today...Bill Demong of the U.S. finished 14th (from a start spot of 13th). Johnny Spillane and Matt Dayton finished 32nd and 36th respectively.
Afterwards, Lajunen, now sporting a fresh blond crew cut (courtesy of his teammates last night) after his long blue hair do a couple weeks ago, talked about his third golden parade...ÓBefore the competition I thought I wouldnÕt be nervous but last night wasnÕt very good. I woke up very early and had trouble sleeping. Only 15 seconds is not much of a lead. I just tried to ski my own race and not worry about where Ronny was. If he caught up I thought weÕd just ski together. But then at the halfway point that things were going well since I had a slightly bigger lead and still had power in my legs. Today on the World Cup I think it is harder than ever to have top results. I had very good training before the Games and I think that is why I had such success here. With the stretgth of the top people, you cannot win competitions if you are not good in both sports. It take a lot of training and work to do well but that is what you have to do. For example, sometimes I have problems with jumping but in these competitions my jumping has been perfect.Ó
Silver Medalist Ackermann: ÒToday was fairly easy for me because I knew there was only one way to go...to attack. But Samppa showed no weaknesses so I have to be happy with second place. My goal coming into the Olympics was to win two medals, one in the team event plus one individual medal which I had not done yet. IÕve done both so IÕm very happy.Ó Asked about why the German team seems to be so tough in the Nordic disciplines this year Ackermann replied...ÓThere are two reasons, in the federation there is a very good training system from the bottom to the top. And then the other reason is that the athletes are very motivated.Ó
Bronze medalist Gootwald: ÒI knew the situation of coming from behind to the podium as it was the same in the individual race, so it wasnÕt that hard. But I knew I had to ski really fast and start really fast. On the second lap I had a bit of a chance to relax behind Todd Lodwick. I like the uphill after the stadium so I felt I had enough power to make a move there on the start of the third lap. In the end it was only a fight between my legs and me. IÕm very satisfied with three bronze medals since my goal was just one medal here.
U.S. Coach Tom Seitz was clearly pleased with the final day of Nordic Combined competition for the U.S. boys: ÒWe really canÕt ask for a whole lot more than we got today. For the Olympics we had three races and three best-ever results. ThatÕs not bad by any measure. We definitely skied stronger today than any of the other XC days so that was good to see. I think we had much better skis which helped.Ó Asked about the expectations of the Combined team coming into the Games for hardware and what he thought about coming up empty...ÓWeÕve closed the gap and no hardware just means we have something to shoot for in 2006. Overall, when you get your best results ever youÕve got to smile about that. We did hope for medals and had realistic chances for them, but statistically we still were somewhat of a longshot. Since the last Olympics there has been about 240 opportunities for World Cup podiums and weÕve taken 10 of those. ThatÕs not the kind of odds that I would bet a ton of money on. So, we have to keep our expectations in line with those realities and build on what we did accomplish here...which was a lot.Ó
Todd Lodwick: ÒThe wax technicians came through for us today, IÕd say my skis were 9 on a 10 scale. ItÕs a great feeling when you know you can make up 20 meters on a downhill on guys. As for the race, I might have made my move against Gottwald a little early but when I caught him on lap two I didnÕt want to slow down so I took the lead. That might have been a mistake but overall it was a good effort. IÕm happy with today. To be recognized as one of the best in the world is a great feeling. To have been on the podium here would have just been that much better.Ó
Bill Demong: ÒToday was a good race for me. My XC is getting better. I just need to be more consistent with my jumping. The Olympics for me leave some mixed feelings. It was a great experience to know what it is like to be a contender at this level. But we had a chance for some big things here and we didnÕt get exactly what we wanted. The thing is, whenever I get bummed I just remind myself that a few years ago I was the worst jumper in the U.S. and itÕs a good feeling to know IÕve moved so far from that point.Ó
We will return with a pre-race report tomorrow for the men's 50km classic. Spring conditions today (high predicted in the high 40s to low 50s) will give way to a small cold front tomorrow. Venue predictions say that snow and sleet is possible starting in the afternoon...after the 50km would be completed. Waxing technicians and skiers will likely be holding their breath tonight and tomorrow morning to see if those predictions are correct. Sunday's 30km classic for the women should prove to be a less tense situation (at least with the weather) with predictions of colder temps and partly cloudy skies as the Games conclude.
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The Morning After
Another perfect morning here at Soldier Hollow but the mood surrounding the XC/Biathlon venue has shifted 180 degrees the morning after one of the most bizarre days one could ever imagine. To sum up the mood amongst media, athletes/coaches, and even volunteers...disgust.
Disgust at the hand grenade media spin of the Russian Olympic Delegation yesterday defending Lazutina's illegal hemoglobin levels...disgust at what is widely perceived to be continuing rampant use of illegal substances by many top Nordic athletes...and disgust at what is also widely perceived to be a deliberate effort by international governing bodies to ignore and even cover-up doping with big names in the sport. At a venue that has seen incredible racing action and historic results day after day, even on a spring-like morning like this, a cloud hangs over Soldier Hollow...and the entire sport.
Little in the way of new developments can be reported this morning. Russian officials continue to claim that Lazutina's high hemoglobin count was the result of altitude training and her menstrual cycle. In an almost amusing turn of events, Russian officials are also now claiming that Natalie Baranova's positive tests for EPO prior to the Games, resulting in that athlete being pulled before the events started, was also because of a western conspiracy against Russian athletes.
The only official response from Olympic authorities to the entire XC situation was a letter sent late yesterday from Jacque Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to Russian sport and government officials. Rogge insisted in this letter that all the sport federations accused of wrongdoing by the Russian delegation had acted in accordance with the proper rules. Specific to the XC skiing situation, xcskiworld.com has discovered that, indeed, all FIS rules were followed with the Russian and Ukraine relay team withdrawls...with the possible exception of the continuing question regarding multiple retests of Lazutina's blood (see yesterday's update for more). Apparently FIS rules allow for one retest when values are above the legal limit, but only if that single retest is done within 90 seconds of the original sample. Eyewitnesses from several international teams have claimed that multiple retests were done with Lazutina yesterday morning at the insistence of Russian officials. As has become the norm with questions regarding testing and test results, absolutely no confirmation or denial of these allegations has been forthcoming from either IOC or FIS officials.
A great article pointing out a very skeptical sports medicine community regarding the Russian claims is offered in this Salt Lake Tribune link.
Perhaps the most significant question in the immediate future is now what is going to happen on Sunday morning when the women's 30km classic kicks off. Russian women were overwhelming favorites to claim multiple medals in the 30km. However, at this moment, no one has any idea whatsoever whether Russia will enter any skiers in the 30km (or, for that matter, the men's 50km tomorrow). Russian threats to pull out of the hockey semifinal with the U.S. this evening seem to have fallen flat and there are now doubts about their threat to skip the closing ceremonies as well. Yet the XC distance races might just pose a different situation.
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Reactions From Norway On The WomenÕs Relay
The following translated article appeared in the Norwegian paper Aftenposten. Many thanks to Inge Scheve for bringing this material to xcskiworld.com readers.
Norwegian womenÕs team head coach Svein Tore Samdal says that the glory of NorwayÕs silver medal doesnÕt fade because Russia didnÕt start yesterday's women's relay. ÒNo, they didnÕt start. Their loss. We can only deal with the facts. That athletes have been denied start has happened before,Ó says Samdal. "We do, however, recognize that our shot at the gold increased with Russia out of commission. We won the silver, and are content with that. The rules say that if one of the girlÕs blood count was too high, she is not allowed to start. All teams must name four girls to the starting list at least two hours prior to the competition. If the blood count comes out too high after that the case is clear.Ó
Bente Skari got the news about Russia and the Ukraine before her start. ÒThere is a reason they were not allowed to start,Ó she says. ÒItÕs comforting to know the system works, and the race was probably more fair because of that.Ó
The following translated article appeared in the Norwegian NTB site. Many thanks to Inge Scheve for bringing this material to xcskiworld.com readers.
NorwayÕs cross-country president Sindre Bergan has no understanding for the Russian reactions to the blood testing prior to the womenÕs 4x5 kilometer relay. ÒItÕs frustrating that the Russians get upset because they were tested,Ó Bergan says. If they were tested a half hour prior to start, so what? ThatÕs life, thatÕs the rule and everyone knows it.Ó
Bergan says at least one of the Norwegian skiers was tested after the deadline to announce the team was up. The Russians complained about Larissa Lazutina being tested right after the deadline was up so that the team was barred from adding a substitute racer when Lazutina was denied start. Also the Ukraine was complaining about the same procedure.
ÒThatÕs life, and I have no understanding for the Russian frustration,Ó Bergan says.
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Correction: Bjoerndalen Third To Have Four Golds In A Single Games
Bill Gulledge of the XC Ski Headquarters Nordic Ski Team was kind enough to share an important correction to our last biathlon update. "Please be advised that Lydia Skoblikova of the U.S.S.R. won 4 gold medals in women's speedskating (Long track) in the 1964 Winter Games. She won the distances of 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 3000m. (The 5000m event was first contested at the 1988 Winter Games). She also won gold medals in 1960 Winter games in the distances of 1500m and 3000m for a grand total of 6 gold medals. So, I guess that would make her the first to win four gold medals in one Winter Olympic games. Heiden the second (and only to win five) and Ole Einar B. the third."
Thanks to Bill we've got this right now!
2002 Winter Olympics: Women's XC 4 x 5km Relay
Evening Re-Cap
OK, what has happened today is so wild that we won't have time to fully cover every angle for weeks but here's a quick summary heading into day fourteen of the Games tomorrow...
- Russia is not allowed to start the women's relay after Larissa Lazutina comes up with blood hemoglobin over the legal limit.
- In a crazy shootout, Germany beats Norway to win gold in the suddenly wide-open women's race. Switzerland skis four solid legs to grab bronze. Canada comes in 8th. The U.S. 13th.
- After an afternoon of buzzing rumors, the Russian Olympic Committee and delegation representatives hold an international press conference where they basically lay waste to anything and everything to do with the Olympics. In the tirade, Russian officials accuse the international ski, hockey, and figure skating federations of being biased against Russian athletes from the start of the Games. The head of the NOC repeatedly uses the pairs figure skating results and situations at various Russian hockey games as proof of an international conspiracy against the Russian delegation. He also states that protests have been lodged with all three federations and he points directly at today's relay as the "last straw". Strong statements come out of the press conference that, should the situation not be resolved with the IOC, Russia may elect to skip the closing ceremonies and may elect to depart from the entire Olympic movement.
- At the same press conference, Russian officials also claim that Lazutina's inflated hemoglobin levels were the result of her natural menstration cycle and natural training effects. Interestingly...this very claim contradicts earlier Russian statements that Lazutina had not had hemoglobin levels at all. xcskiworld.com is consulting with our sports medicine contacts to see if there could be any legitimacy to the Russian rationale for the inflated hemoglobin levels.
- And...same press conference folks...Russian officials blast the FIS and IOC for not allowing the Russian team to replace Lazutina in the relay. They accuse Olympic officials of bias against the Russian delegation and hint that a fix might have been in from the start. Problem number one here: international rules clearly state if one athlete on a relay team is over the legal limit, the whole team is out. The FIS and IOC had no choice but to rule the way they did. Problem number two: Russian officials do not mention eyewitness accounts of multiple blood samples done on Lazutina, at the...um..."request" of Russian officials after her first sample came in over the limit.
- In response to Russia and Ukraine being pulled from the relay the IOC, SLC 2002 organizers, and the entire official alphabet soup sit completely and utterly silent. No official statements, no press conferences, nothing.
Yep, in one afternoon a nice quiet Games has gone from historic athletic feats to a full-blown, international sports-politic throwdown. We'll chase what we can over the next 24 hours and post a summary...along with Nordic Combined sprint results...tomorrow afternoon.
The Most Bizarre XC Day Ever? (Complete Post-Race Report)
You might need to get a soda and some snacks folks...this one is going to take awhile.
In what could be the most bizarre day in XC skiing competitive history...maybe Olympic history...Team Germany won the womenÕs Olympic 4 x 5km relay when 21 year old Evi Sachenbacher outsprinted Norwegian veteran Anita Moen on the anchor leg. In a result that no one could have predicted, Switzerland pounded out four strong legs to claim bronze. Czech Republic came back on the skate legs by KaterinaÕs Neumannova and Hanusova (the latter the defending individual NCCA champion from Nevada-Reno). Team Canada finally had their run of surpassing tremendous expectations end with a solid, but less-than-hoped-for eighth place finish.
You are asking right now Ôwhat about the RussiansÕ? What about the can't-be-beaten-going-off-the-front-three-medalists-on-the-team Russians????
Ah, grasshopper, here we have a tale. In an surreal turn of events, both Team Russian and Team Ukraine were withdrawn from the start. You are going to be hearing a ton about this entire matter via the major media sources over the next week but, specific to the women's XC relay, xcskiworld.com has been able to piece together the following via our sources within the race scene and via other international media sources.
This morning, in routine, random, pre-race bloods tests, Russian skier Larissa Lazutina tested higher than the legal limit for blood hematocrit levels. Absolutely no reputable word has come out regarding the rationale for the Ukraine withdrawl but worldwide media reports are that a Ukrainian athlete also tested higher than the allowed legal hemoglobin levels.
A pause for more information...
Just like in elite international cycling, XC skiers are now subjected to random blood draws prior to major events like the Olympics to see if blood hemoglobin levels are below legal limits set by the alphabet soup of international governing bodies (IOC, FIS, WADA). Every Olympic skier was tested prior to the Games but each race day additional tests are conducted on a random selection of skiers. The legal limit of 16 (for women) is set, according to that same alphabet soup, by looking at wide populations of incredibly fit humans, and factoring for abnormal individual levels obtained naturally with altitude training, genetics, etc.. However, it is worth noting that several nations, including the U.S. and Canada, have complained for the last several years that the legal limits are set too high. Several coaches and exercies physiologists have gone on record saying that skiers that test higher than the current legal limits..or even in the ballpark of legal limits..., even just once, are as good as caught doping. These critics contend that extensive research with populations of clean elite athletes shows that an athlete can train all they want at altitude, have all the genetic cards in the world, and yet still not hit the legal limit for hematocrit values. Further, critics have said that in both cycling and in XC skiing, all the limits have done is give the cheating athletes and their support team a benchmark to shoot for...ironically making it easier to cheat. One international physiologist was quoted, annonomously, last fall as saying that the task was a simple one of bringing blood values just up to the legal limit (via the medical kit) and then using various (and illegal) masking/thinning agents to make sure the athlete stayed in the Ògood rangeÓ. Everyone staying with us so far? This next part you might not like so much.
Just like with international cycling, the XC ski maximum hemoglobin levels are technically in place for ÒsafetyÓ reasons. The rationale is that athletes operating over those legal limits are in danger of literally having their blood turn into a thick gravy. Strokes, heart failure, etc. all being very possible at such levels. EditorÕs Note: The whole issue of whether or not a naturally-trained athlete could ever get themselves to a point where their body was in this ÒGrandmaÕs Brown GravyÓ standard is not one we will tackle in this update. But you can bet the farm we are going to cover it in future news and editorial features in the next week. Because the hemoglobin levels are simply a safetly line that cannot be crossed, athletes testing higher than the legal limits are just prevented from starting the race on that day. These tests are not, repeat NOT, treated the same as a positive doping test. The athlete can come back the next day and if their values are lower (critics contend that is a virtual certainty given the state of legal and illegal substances/methods designed to lower values), the athlete is then allowed to start on that day. The key rule for todayÕs situation is that, in relays, , if one skier on a teamÕs roster is over the legal limit, the rules say that entire relay team is not allowed to start the relay.
Back to the case at hand. It has now been confirmed that Russian Larissa Lazutina (silver in the 15km free and bronze in the same-day pursuit) was the athlete that had the elevated hemoglobin levels this morning. This elevated value was reported to be 16.6 versus the legal limit of 16. As a result of that value, the Russian team was required to withdraw from todayÕs relay. However, xcskiworld.com learned just minutes before race start that several eyewitnesses to the testing actually saw the values peg higher than the legal limit on testing equipment...and that additional tests were then conducted after Russian officials present complained. The additional tests continued until a lower value came up on the equipment. Word then came out of several international camps before the start that the Russian skier (reportedly Lazutina) would be allowed to start. For unknown reasons, the situation changed radically at the last possible instant when a jury decision was announced a mere five minutes before the gun went off. At that eleventh hour announcement, the word was that both Russia and Ukraine would not be starting. Period. No explanation. No rationale. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
After the race, the Russian team leader Gennady Ramensky claimed that in Russian team tests this morning, Lazutina's values came in under the legal limit. Ramensky also said that the Russians would protest today's race.
Now letÕs turn back to the race itself for an instant because this is where we enter the twilight zone. Picture the scene. YouÕve got a field of thirteen teams standing in the start with a couple minutes to go. But the team everyone knows is going to win is suddenly not there. Word has spread like wildfire around the national delegations that something is up with the Russian blood tests but no one knows until the start line that they arenÕt going to come out and play today. When everybody lined up and the gun went off....everything we thought we knew about todayÕs race becomes a goofy dream.
Off the start, both Manuela Henkel (GER) and Andrea Huber (SUI) immediately set a tone for both teams that will be repeated the entire day. With Russia out, all eyes turned to a Norwegian team that suddenly found itself in the uncomfortable position of having to be the favorite when all along they planned on chasing. A big pack at the halfway point fractured over the final 2km and coming into the stadium for the tag Germany had a 7 second lead on the Swiss. Slovenia rode classic rocket Petra Majdic in for third (+10.9). Norway sat fourth, 14 seconds out while Canada got nearly everything they could ask from Sara Renner in fifth (+18).
On leg two, Norway bolted to the lead on the inspired legs of Bente Skari who ran the fastest classic leg of the day and caught German Viola Bauer at the end of the leg to tag off with Norge in front by 2.7 seconds. After Bauer sat Switzerland (+13.8) in third, then Belarus (+35.9) and Finland (+36.2) who came from ninth into the picture on a wicked roll by Satu Salonen. Canada slides to 8th (+1:02) when Milaine Theriault struggles over the last 1.5km after a strong start and loses precious contact with the lead players.
Leg three becomes mighty interesting when Norway's Hilde Pedersen kicks in the high octane and puts 9 seconds on Germany's Claudia Kuenzel at the final tag. As they did all day, the Swiss get nothing but a solid leg from Brigette Albrecht Loretan and continue to sit third (+:16). Czech gets the best skate leg of the day out of Neumannova to pull up to fourth. Canada drops one spot to ninth with Amanda Fortier.
On the anchor leg, Germany's Sachenbacher makes contact with Norway's Moen over the first 4km and the two head into Hermod's Hill together and leave together. On the final horseshoe hill, Sachenbacher gets space but Moen rides back into the stadium and around the final turn Moen slingshots into a slight lead down the stretch. Showing the sprint form that beat Moen in the sprint (these two played the exact same tune just two days ago), Sachenbacher has better pace and wins the battle even before the two hit the line. Germany suddenly has the most improbable gold medal of their most impressive Olympic campaign thus far. Norway has the silver they expected but not the way they expected it. Swiss anchor Natascia Leonardi Cortesi runs yet another solid, but not spectacular, leg to bring home a comfortable bronze. Czech stays in fourth on Hanusova's leg. Belarus comes in 5th. Italian Belmondo skis the fastest fourth leg to separate from Scott (second fastest anchor leg) to climb to 6th. Finland comes in 7th and Canada comes in 8th (+1:14). Team USA finishes in 13th, +3:52.
It can be said that, no matter how things play out with the Russian/Ukrainian blood test situation, no teams on the trails today benefitted more from the Russian absence than Germany and Switzerland. It can also be said that, in the irony of ironies, no team was hurt more than Canada (more on that later). For Norway, the whole wacky business ended up a push as they traded a likely silver by a mile for a sprint- to-the-wire silver.
A good summary on post-race comments by the three medal-winning teams was gleeful shock. Picture twelve women on a really good Christmas morning and you get the idea. Well, maybe eight women over-the-top happy (the Germans and Swiss) and four Norwegians happy but also just plain confused at what had taken place today.
Moen used 4x gold medal winner Ole Einar Bjoerndalen's skis and said afterwards, "I did have his skis but unfortunately, they didn't help us win gold. When we were starting I was thinking I needed an advantage for the sprint. I made my own race early, then I waited for right moment in the stadium. I thought it was good but not good enough. I was not thinking of the gold medal on the stretch, only good technique and work. I'm satisfied with silver but not my last hundred meters. Evi is a good sprinter and today she was again better."
For her part, Sachenbacher looked like a 21 year-old who suddenly finds herself with gold and silver Olympic medals in the span of 48 hours when she had virtually no plans of any hardware at all at these Games. "I realized in the last kilometer it would be a sprint, and I was wondering what I should do. Do I take off or match Anita. Then it came down to a sprint again and there was no time to think anymore. I never thought about gold medal, it was a dream, but we didnÕt visualize we could possibly achieve it. When we realized the Russians werenÕt starting we knew our chances were improved for a medal but we still didnÕt know if we could be on top." Asked if the German XC exploits the last week (the men were bronze medalists in the men's relay Sunday) would give German XC a chance to compete with German biathlon, Sachenbacher wasn't sure..."Biathlon is more interesting for spectators, I have to say it. (smiles) In XC we now have the sprint, the pursuit and the relay which is helping but it still is hard to compete for attention. But now that victories are coming, perhaps we will get more attention in Germany."
Although Team Canada didn't end up with the incredible relay they had hoped to cap an incredible Games with, few notes of discontent could be heard out of the Maple Leaf camp. Coach Dave Wood had nothing but praise for the way his skiers had performed the entire Olympics and was resolute about his interpretation of Lazutina's blood test, "There's only one way, in my opinion, that these high tests happen and it's not from altitude training. I'm not surprised in the least with the results. I'm just impressed that they (the IOC testing authorities) didn't allow the Russians to start. Hopefully this will finally wake people up to what we've been saying for years now. The sport has a massive problem."
The skier that has been, without doubt, the most vocal athlete in favor of cleaning up the international XC circuit...Canadian Beckie Scott...was peppered with questions afterwards about the race and her opinions on today's explosive developments. "Well, the race wasn't everything we wanted as we were looking for a top five placing but I think we all skied as well as we could. It just didn't work out the way we hoped. I felt like I had a good race today but we were just too far out of contact for anything to happen." Did she think the other teams were supercharged because of the Russian absence? "Absolutely. Some of the other teams had new motivation and that certainly changed the way the race played out."
What about the latest scandal to rock the XC world? "You know, this is a really big day. Now the world can see what the clean nations have been talking about for all this time. Everyone can see that all my letters, all my emails, all the times I've talked about doping and what it is doing to the sport...they can see that I haven't been making a lot of noise for nothing." Scott was also asked what she thought of Dick Pound's statement earlier in the Games that "99% of the athletes at the Olympics were clean". The Canadian boss of WADA (the international doping control agency) had said these comments partially in response to Scott's allegations that the IOC, FIS, and WADA were not doing enough to clean up international XC skiing. In light of the shakedown today, Scott said: "If two entire teams out of the 16 represent less than 1% of the athletes, well, I suggest that Mr. Pound needs to recheck his math. I'm just surprised that these teams got caught and that they actually didn't let them race. I'm not at all surprised that it is going on. Today is frustrating in some ways but it is also motivating that this has happened."
American top gun Nina Kemppel chimed in with the following..."I think it is great for XC that you see the Germans and Swiss in the medals. It's great to see other countries than the traditional powers getting in there. The Swiss, in particualar, have been side-by-side with the North Americans both in the results and also in calling for stronger controls on doping. You've got to love it when you see a small nation like that competing tough against the powers." Asked about the Russian situation, Kemppel added..."I totally support all the testing and punishing people for breaking the rules. We need tougher testing and we need tougher penalties. It's that simple."
Pre-race
12pm MST - Blue skies...predicted race temps in the 30s...no wind...humidity falling like a rock at race time...your average day in XC heaven. The perfect weather has returned to Soldier Hollow in time for what could prove to be yet another historic and stomach-flipping day.
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American Birkie May Be Able To Run 45km Now
In a late bulletin yesterday, the American Birkie office released the following..."Rex Schultz, Chief of Race, just returned from assessing the American Birkebeiner ski trail. His assessment is that a 45K race with a finish at Duffy's Field is possible. Race plans are proceeding for a 45K American Birkebeiner on Saturday, Feb. 23." Looks like the storm that hit the midwest the past couple days may have provided enough snow for organizers to give Birkie 2002 skiers a full marathon distance afterall.
2002 Winter Olympics: Men's Biathlon 4 x 7.5km Relay
Norway Wins MenÕs Biathlon Relay...Bjoerndalen Takes Fourth Gold Of Games
Team Norway took out the whooping stick and laid it to the field today to claim gold in the Olympic MenÕs 4 x 7.5km Biathlon Relay. Norway won in a time of 1:23:43, 45 seconds up on silver medalist Germany, and 54 seconds up on bronze medalist France. But the final margin of victory for Norway wasnÕt even that close as the foursome of Halvard Hanevold, Frode Andresen, Egil Gjelland, and the unstoppable Ole Einar Bjoerndalen took command on AndresenÕs first shooting round and never looked back. In a battle that lasted all the way into the final ski leg, GermanyÕs anchor Frank Luck and FranceÕs Raphael Poiree skied away from a pesky Russian team and then fought to into the final half kilometer neck and neck. Luck showed, once again, that GermayÕs technicians have the upperhand on pretty much everyone at Soldier Hollow as he outglided Poiree into the back half of the stadium and cruised to the line for silver. An unfazed and jublient Poiree came in for bronze greeted by a frenzy of teammates and coaches at the line. Team USA moved up from a start position of 19th to end up 15th for the day (+6:44).
Falling wet snow throughout the race hampered many skiers in the range and, along with 1-2 fresh sloppy inches on the trails, made skiing about as slow as it can be for much of the day. After a grinding first couple skiing legs where nearly the entire field stayed in contact, things started to break open coming into the first tag with the clean-shooting Victor Maigourov giving Russia an eighteen second lead. Norway, Germany and a surprising Estonian squad chased. On leg two, Norwegian Frode Andresen used three extra bullets two shooting stops but skied fast enough in between to put Norge out front on the tag, five up on a French team that was brought from fifth to second on a great leg by vincent Defrasne. Russia and Germany both hang close. Leg three is all about Norwegian Egil Gjelland who pretty much salts the herring and puts it in the pantry. Gjelland uses just one extra bullet to clean both shooting rounds and he skis the fastest third leg to push the Norwegian lead from 21 seconds up to a full minute.
What few at Soldier Hollow today probably realized was that they witnessed Olympic history as Bjoerndalen is now only the third human ever to win four golds in a Winter Olympics. The other two? Mister Eric Heiden in his incredible five gold 1980 speed skating sweep and Russian speed skater Lydia Skoblikova who won four medals in the 1964 Games. Bjoerndalen stands alone as the most successful Nordic athlete ever in one Games. Does the Norwegian Rainbow Warrior realize what he has accomplished yet? "I do understand what IÕve done. To me, IÕve had four good races and four golds. But I donÕt think so much about the history. We have to concentrate so much on the races that I couldn't think about the history. For me today was much easier than the other races. The others skied so well that it made my job very easy. I actually fell on the first downhill and broke a pole. But I got a new one so fast that it didnÕt matter so much."
Does he think of himself as the hero of the Games? Bjoerndalen laughs..."No. Like I said, I had four good races, that is all. Four difficult races. I will say that this gold medal today is the most special of the four because it was a team effort. We earned this gold as a team and that means a lot to me."
Will the Rainbow Warrior continue to take his act to the XC circuit and was he disappointed in being left off the XC relay team (thus costing him a chance to tie Heiden with five golds)? "I want to compete more in XC but for this year there isnÕt much time in the World Cup. Perhaps I can do some spring races in the mountains of Norway. Next year I will do some XC races if IÕm in good shape. I was a little disappointed not to be selected for the XC relay team but I needed to be faster to earn that spot. Kristen Skjeldal finished fourth in the 30km and I was sixth. The coaches selected the skier that finished further up. That is pretty simple. If I ski faster in the future then I will have the chance another time."
The two German superstars, Luck and Gross, were not at all miffed about the crushing victory by the Norwegians. The threat of not winning any medal perhaps tempering any negatives about giving up the golden mantle after taking the relay in Albertville, Lillehammer, and Nagano.
Anchor Frank Luck: It was obvious when I started that IÕd have to fight Poiree and the Russian the entire way. IÕm very happy I was able to win that battle. I had a very fast ski today, on the downhills I realized I was easily able to catch up to Raphael. The technicians did a fantastic job on all our skis."
Ricco Gross on missing out on a historic chance to be part of four consecutive gold medal relay teams: ÒWe really won the silver medal today and we are extremely happy about that. I have no disappointment at all about not taking gold."
From the Team France camp, everything was a giddy lovefest. Team leader Poiree on his battle at the end with Luck..."I had no chance to fight Frank cause IÕm not so good with the sprint and he is one of the best. But IÕm so happy to have this bronze medal. We tried to fight 100% all the time and we have done something very special. We are not the biggest team. On paper you would say that we are one of the five best but this medal is what you dream about. It is perfect." Asked who his wife Liv Grete (who skis for Norway) was cheering for today..."She cheered for me and when she is racing I cheer for her. That is the way it should be." (smiles). "IÕm very, very satisfied. I go home with four medals. Two with my wife and two with me. That is perfect for me."
For Team USA, the Games ended up with two excellent (and historic) finishes, one apiece, by Jeremy Teela and Jay Hakkinen. The relay they chalked up to experience heading into the next Olympic cycle (which starts tomorrow morning for this crew).
Teela...ÓI had a penalty loop today which isnÕt good in a relay at all. But I usually donÕt ski the mass start, Jay Hakkinen usually does, so this was a new experience for me. The conditions were really slow out there but that actually helped our team a bit since our technicians have done a ton of testing here and we all had really good skis which was nice. As a team we have had some definite improvements over the last two years. Overall IÕm walking away from these Games excited and ready for more.Ó
Hakkinen: ÒThe skiing today wasnÕt so bad for me. I think some other guys out there struggled more with the conditions than I did. I went really hard on the first two skiing legs which didnÕt leave me much for the last leg. This relay was more about experience for us than anything else. We have not done hardly any relays over the last four years so we just had to go out there and learn what it is all about.Ó Asked about his Olympic experience overall, Hakkinen said, ÒYou know, these have been the funnest races IÕve ever done. The results might not have been everything I wanted, but to hear the crowd roar out here...itÕs like something you only hear when you are at football games. ItÕs unreal to think this is a biathlon race in the U.S..Ó
Pre-Race Report
9:30am MST - Another rare snow shower is hitting the Soldier Hollow region this morning dropping about a fresh inch thus far with very light flurries currently. The forecast calls for the showers to decrease right around race time and the way things have been going...that's exactly what will likely happen. Temps are expected to remain in the low to mid 30s all day with cloudy skies.
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American Birkie On For Sure Now...Shortened to 25K Race, Both Races To Finish at OO
Old Man Winter just couldn't resist all the snow dances and pleas for snow for Saturday's American Birkebeiner and Korteleopet ski races. In a turn of weather, Tuesday's rain turned into the good kind of precipitation. More than six inches of snow fell on the Birkie trail, and more is in the forecast. The new snow allows race plans to proceed. The American Birkebeiner will be a 25K race with a finish at OO in Seeley, and the Kortelopet will be a 23K race with a finish at Telemark Resort in Cable. Both races begin at Cable Union Airport.
Opening ceremonies kick off Birkie festivities on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 11 a.m. on a snow-covered Main Street in Hayward. Salomon Elite Sprints and the Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie follow on Main Street. Both events will be on skis. Events continue on Friday, Feb. 22 with the 11 a.m. Junior Birkie and 1 p.m. Chequamegon Telephone 10K race at Telemark Resort.
The south half of the Birkie trail is open for skiing, and the north end is closed as groomers prepare the trail for race day.
The entry fee for Birkie and Kortelopet registrations has been frozen at $90 and will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 22. For more information or to register for the Johnson Bank American Birkebeiner, Kortelopet, Junior Birkie presented by Century Tel, Chequamegon Telephone 10K, Sons of Norway/Swiss Miss Barnebirkie, call 715-634-5025, e-mail birkie@birkie.com, or log on to www.birkie.com.
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Keskinada Loppet (Canadian Worldloppet) results for February 16-17, 2002
50 km FT - MEN, 17.02.2002 1- Karl Saidla from Ottawa, CAN 2:22:04 2- William Fitzgerald from Thunder Bay, CAN 2:22:20 3- Robin McKeever from Canmore, CAN 2:22:49 50 km FT - WOMEN, 17.02.2002 1 - Sarah Peters from Ottawa, CAN 2:43:57 2 - Sandy Tetreault from Old Forge, USA 2:48:41 3 - Gabrielle Nadeau from Cap Rouge, CAN 2:49:10 50 km CT - MEN, 16.02.2002 1. John Bennet (CAN) 2:37:21 2. Dominic Gagon (CAN) 2:37:38 3. Richard Weber (CAN) 2:39:47 50 km CT - WOMEN, 16.02.2002 1. Tatiana Outrobina (RUS) 3:15:36 2. Josee Auclair (CAN) 3:16:20 3. Erica Wescott (USA) 3:17:36
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Colorado March 9 Event Offers Discount For AXCS Members
The 7th Annual Mineral Belt 10Km Nordic Race on March 9, 2002 in Leadville, Colorado will be offering a $5 discount on race registration to all current members of the American Cross Country Skiers. The race is run by the Colorado Mountain College. For more information contact skierman1@hotmail.com or call 719-486-4228.
2002 Winter Olympics: XC Men's and Women's Sprints
Tchepalova And Hetland Take Gold In XC Sprint Finals
Julia Tchepalova of Russia and Tor Arne Hetland of Norway were the gold medalists today in a bruising day of XC sprints. Tchepalova led from start to finish in the womenÕs A final easing into the line ahead of silver medalist Evi Sachenbacher of Germany who had a small gap on bronze medalist Anita Moen of Norway. Canadian Beckie Scott had a rough semifinal and was bumped out of the final but came back with a wicked cool inside move on the final stadium corner to win the B final and take fifth place on the day. Capping a fantastic morning in which she rolled to a 14th place qualifying time, Canadian Sara Renner decided she wanted some props of her own and skied into the quarter finals to end up a wacky, but wonderful, ninth (more on this later)!
In the menÕs A final, Hetland defended his 2001 World Sprint Championship with a mach-10 stadium run. Hetland made the right moves in the right places to pound out gold ahead of an incredible stretch run by German Peter Schlickenrieder who squeezed by Italian Cristian ÒZorroÓ Zorzi for the silver and bronze respectively. In the menÕs B final, Italian Freddy Schwienbacher skied clear of Norwegian Trond Iversen to take fifth.
We are going to pause right now for a coaching moment.
Since most of xcskiworld.com readership is from North America, the temptation after a day like today is to sulk just a bit because Beckie Scott wasnÕt on the podium again. As weÕll see later, Beckie is certainly is a bit bummed herself. Nor horribly, but a bit. The editor/coach would like to remind all of us...including Beckie...that Miss Scott has now finished sixth or better in no less than three Olympic races the past nine days. Four top six finishes if you want to count the first half of the same-day pursuit. AND...she has also tuck away someplace safe an Olympic bronze medal from the same-day pursuit. That particular piece of hardware being the second Olympic XC medal in the history of this planet earned by someone without a European passport. It is THE ONLY medal by a non-European female...ever. One also has to put front and center the reality of Sara Renner rocking the house for that ninth place result. (And do not forget for a moment what the U.S. men have put up on the board these Games thus far.)
Add it up. If anyone had handed the Canadian women and the U.S. men the scoresheet on this Olympics two weeks ago you would have heard nothing but giddy, hysterical glee. The only thing we could all wish is, just like the menÕs relay, that they made medals for fifth place. But hardware doesn't define personal excellence and that is precisely...PRECISELY...what we are seeing out of this gang. Thus ends the coaching sermon. Back to the races.
WomenÕs Bracket Summary.
Quarterfinals: In the first womenÕs quarter, German Claudia Kuenzel puts on a giant move on the stadium downhill and around the final turn to cruise to the line ahead of Italian Paruzzi. KuenzelÕs move an early glimpse of the blistering skis that the Germans had today. Bar none. They had the boards. In the second womenÕs quarter, Beckie Scott takes it to her round the entire way but is caught on the stadium downhill by Anita Moen and German Reschwammsch. A furious charge to the finish yields a three-way photo finish that in the end goes to Scott. Round three has Tschepalova getting beaten (!) by Slovenian Mali in a two woman race. Round four is the wild heat. After a pedestrian start in which no one turns up the heat til halfway, Sachenbacher and Finn Pienimaeki are leading at the top of the final horseshoe uphill but they get tied up for an instant which throws the Finn sideways. Canadian Renner is behind Sachenbacher and skis clear with the German but Pienimaeki T-bones Norwegian Sorkmo and both are pretty much knocked out for the day. Renner cruises to the line behind the eventual silver medalist. After a jury review, Sorkmo is granted a start in the semis.
In the first semi, Scott takes charge on all three uphills and clearly has the best pace...but in all three downhills she is caught by Moen, Kuenzel, and Paruzzi. The last time is the killer when she comes out of the stadium turn in fourth and canÕt make up the difference down the final stretch. In the second semi, Tchepalova and Sachenbacher take it to the line well ahead of the other three. Renner finishes fifth to move into ninth for a guarantee of two Canadians in the top ten.
The B Final sees Scott wait longer to make her move and on the final stadium turn it pays off as she absolutely nails the turn ripping into her stretch drive and easily taking the fifth spot on the result sheet. By comparison, the A Final is all about Tchepalova as she dominates from the gun taking things into hyperdrive on the first uphill and never looking back. Rarely do you ever see an XC final so wide open but such was Tchepalova's rip out of the gate that no one could counter it. Sachenbacher, 13 years the junior of Moen, pounds down the stretch to grab silver and Moen beats out Kuenzel for bronze.
Gold Medalist Tchepalova: Before this race I was very afraid of Beckie Scott more than anyone else. Then Katerina Neumannova. It was a very difficult victory for me today. It just was my lucky day. I wasnÕt surprised finishing second in the quarters because I wanted to be in second on that heat during the race. In the semifinal, I think the others overlooked me and that was why the result was like it was. I took a lot of risks today. My husband suggested that I take it out hard in the final. I hadnÕt had too hard a time in the qualifying so he thought IÕd have the energy to hold on for the win...and I did. The skis I used today I hadnÕt used for two years because there wasnÕt the right weather for it. Yet today you could see them run like crazy.Ó
Sachenbacher: I was in the third position and I wasnÕt in a good spot for the sprint so I was very happy with silver. WasnÕt really aiming for gold anyways. It means a lot to me. I never thought I could win a medal in my first Games. It is a goal of every athlete but it is a dream to actually do it. Won a World Cup in Germany earlier this year yet I still didnÕt really dream of winning a medal here.
Moen: On the 13 year age difference between herself and Sachenbacher - "Maybe I could be EviÕs mother, I donÕt know how old she is. (smiles) I'm very happy and very satisfied with the bronze medal.
Beckie Scott (6th, 3rd, 5th in these Games thus far)..."Yeah, I'm kind of disappointed because I really wanted to be in the A final. There were some surprises for sure today but that's sprint racing. I made the mistake of taking the lead early on in the semis and I got squeezed on that last corner. The outside was a little slower but I was forced into that lane...but that's sprinting. I'm so happy I got that medal in the pursuit because that takes much of the sting out of today. I wanted another medal today and was close...but I still have one and that's what I wanted coming into the Olympics." Will her races mean a different amount of respect for XC in Canada and around the non-European ski world? "I don't think the respect is because of just myself. You look at what Sara did today and what the other Canadian women and U.S. men are doing and that's where the respect is coming from. We are all doing it, if it was just one person it could be dismissed. But since there are so many, they have to pay attention to us now. On a practical level, what I hope is these results are going to mean a lot for our Canadian program in terms of more funding and support heading into the next four years."
Men's Bracket Breakdown
Number one heat and number one qualifier Haavard Bjerkeli of Norway breaks his own pole coming down the stretch to give away a sure pass into the semis. Bjoern Lind (SWE) and Martin Koukal (CZE) take advantage of the gift to move on. In heat two, eventual silver medalist Peter "Heat Seeker" Schlickenrieder blasts out of a cannon on the stretch to secure a clear semi berth chased in by Norwegian Trond Iversen. Heat three...German Tobias Angerer and Zorzi are well ahead to move on. The fourth heat again produces the nutty doings as number three qualifier Janusz Krezelok (POL) is tied up twice on the final horseshoe hill. Swede Larsson and Italian Schwienbacher go to a photo finish behind Hetland at the line for the second spot. Originally Larsson is awarded the spot but then the jury disqualifies the Swede for tying up Krezelok. This puts Schwienbacher AND Krezelok in a five man semi just like the women's second semi.
In semi number one, Schlickenrieder and Lind ski through without incident. Semi number two is a gem with all five skiers battling to the line. Hetland has the mettle for the win against Zorzi in a photo finish.
The B final is a rather routine win by Schwienbacher similar to Scott's B Final win. In the men's A final, Hetland is just too much in stadium for the others to handle. Schlickenrieder opens up the throttle down the stretch to edge Zorzi.
Hetland: "It's a great feeling to be Olympic champion in the sprint. Only the 'old' skiers in Norway have medals, but today IÕm one of them also." What does he say to those that say that sprinters aren't "real skiers". "I think the sprint is new for the sport. It's so easy that even the Americans (general public) can understand the sprint. (laughs) I like the fact that it is three minutes and you know what happens. In the future I also hope to be fast in the longer distances also. This year the qualification round is faster and faster so you have to be very fast there. In the future maybe weÕll have total specialists but I hope that skiers will still be good in all distances."
Schlickenrieder: "Tor was tactically slightly better than I was today. He also had a little bit better machine. Still, I'm very happy to have this medal. Asked about his 5-year old daughter pleading with him to stop XC this past summer, what does he say to her now?..."Well she didnÕt actually tell me to stop. She just said that she didn't want me to go away for so long anymore. She said it was OK to go just for the weekends. But she kept asking 'when are you going to stay home?'. I told her that after this season I would be home for good. Medals donÕt mean that much to a 5 year old. The Olympics as a concept of doing your best, I think, is an easier thing to grasp. But I think sheÕll be able to tell that IÕm very happy. What she will be happiest about is that I will be home for good."
"Zorro" Zorzi...sporting a nifty Zorro mask and cape that he promised his friends he'd wear if he won a medal..."In the heats I wasnÕt counting on any medals but I made it through anyways. In the final, as usual, Tor started off very slowly and was able to catch up at the end. I'm very happy for Peter, I realize that this is the very last year for him and it is great to have him on the podium. As far as IÕm concerned, IÕm sorry I didnÕt get gold or silver but IÕm very happy to be bronze. It is my first Olympics and I have two medals which is not a bad result at all. In Torino I might have a chance if the course was different."
Post-Qualification Round Report
Mixed bag for North America...Neumannova and Norwegian Bjerkeli post fastest qualification times.
Women's Sprint Qualification: Czech powerhouse Katerina Neumannova motors to the fastest women's qualification time of 3:12.76 followed by Russian Julia Tchepalova (+0.27) and Germany's Evi Sachenbacher (+1.05). Canadian Beckie Scott qualifies fifth (+1.86) to put her in an excellent position for the elimination heats starting at 12:30pm MST. In a very pleasant surprise, Scott's teammate Sara Renner has another fantastic Olympic race and qualifies in the 14th spot (16 skiers go thru to the elimination heats). The finishes for the rest of the North American contingent...Canadian's Jaime Fortier (30th), Milaine Theriault (31st)...American's Tessa Benoit (38th), Kikkan Randall (44th), Aelin Peterson (46th), and Kristina Joder (48th).
Scott said afterwards she was happy with the way the qualification round went, "Fifth is a good spot to be in. It'll play out in the heats," said the Vermillion native now living in Bend, Oregon with U.S. skier Justin Wadsworth. "It's gonna be a tough day but I really like this course. It's been good to me!"
Scott's Norwegian nemesis Moen had what could prove to be the quote of the Games on her upcoming showdown with the Canadian lightning bolt, "I'm happy with my race...(but)...I fear Beckie."
Top qualifier Neumannova: "I feel very good but I'm a little bit nervous because it's a difficult race today. I'm most worried about the quarterfinals. I think that will be the toughest time."
For the U.S. gals, the morning offered up lots of lessons in just how fast the world class level is moving.
Tessa Benoit: "I didn't feel super today and was a little stiff. In this kind of race you have to be moving right from the start and I just didn't have it. I wanted to build speed up the hills and hammer home but it didn't work out the way I wanted. Still, it's a great experience to be out here."
Aelin Peterson had what looked to be a top 40 finish...maybe higher...rolling until hooking something with about 20-30 meters left to go and going down briefly before the finish line. "I could not feel my legs down the finish stretch. I could hear and see things but I couldn't feel my legs I was so all out. I'm not sure but I think I put my pole on my skis, I really don't even know what happened. I'll replay this race in my mind a hundred times and try to figure out where I can pick up the time to move up in the future. That's how you learn. Today is just one data point along a really long road."
For the still-a-junior Randall, that road is just starting. "By was that fast and furious. I'm really paying for it now in my legs. The last 800 meters it's a fight to keep your legs going because you are so tired. In a field this deep you have to go out as hard as you can but at the same time, you can't go out too fast or you'll be toast by the top of the uphills. With the crowd out there it is an incredible feeling to be on course."
In the men's race, Norwegian sprint specialist Haavard Bjerkeli shreds the course for a time of 2:50.07 to take the pole position for the elimination rounds. Cristian Zorzi comes in second (+0.27) with a shocker in third...Janusz Krezelok of Poland (+0.60). All four of the Norwegian sprint team finish in the top 12, three qualify in the top six. The North American men have a rare disappointing day at these Olympics with no one qualifying and the top result being Carl Swenson in 31st. Torin Koos finished 37th, Lars Flora 38th, Kris Freeman 43rd, and Canadian Donald Farley 45th.
Lars Flora afterwards..."We (the U.S. men) were all gunning for a top 16 and to ski through. We all knew it was a long shot but it was a possibility for sure. I think everyone is pretty unimpressed with our results. It's like that in sprints though. You take 70 guys and you cut it down to 16 in about 15 minutes, doing that you are going to have to be really moving to ski through. Most of those top guys are doing World Cup sprints all the time so they know what they have to do and their preparation is a little better. For me, this is my second international sprint ever so I've still got a lot to learn. Hopefully I'll be back to the Olympics in four years...and at the top then." (smiles)
Torin Koos: "I knew crossing the line that the result wasn't what I was looking for. I've been really focused and the training went really well coming into today. I really don't know why I was 11 seconds out. I've talked to the Scandinavian top guys on the World Cup and they all say that, for them, the qualification round is the hardest one. That tells you how much emphasis you have to put on this morning when the top guys in the world are saying this time trial is so difficult."
Looking ahead to the elimination rounds, things are shaping up to be mighty interesting in both men's and women's brackets. For Beckie Scott, the Canadian is once again paired in the same round with Norwegian Anita Moen, the two seemingly meeting in nearly every sprint event on the international circuit. Moen got the better of things in a somewhat controversial quarter final battle at the 2001 Lahti World Championships but Scott has So-Ho mojo like no one else. All Scott needs is to be in the top two out of the quarters to advance into a likely semifinal showdown with top qualifier Neumannova and either Italy's Paruzzi or Germany's Kuenzel. On the other side of the bracket, number two seed Tchepalova will likely see her strongest heat from Germany's Henkel and Sachenbacher but don't count out Slovenian Mali for an upset. The bottomline is that both women's brackets look awfully similar in terms of potential finalists...ya just got to survive in advance.
On the men's side, the most interesting quarter could be the second one with two Norwegians, Iversen and Elden, battling German snow rocket Peter Schlickenrieder. Heat three is also a dual national affair with two Italians, Zorzi and Fauner, trying to ski thru to potentially meet Norwegian Hetland in the semis. Question of the day...was Poland's Krezelok just a fast qualifier or can the dude take it to the big boys in the heats?
In a very notable note, the Norwegian men paid a huge compliment to the Soldier Hollow crowd calling the throng "magnificent". When guys that have seen up to 100,000 people attend an XC race are saying that kind of thing, you have to listen!
Pre-race Report
Let's get ready to rum-ble!!!!
A frosty morning with plenty of low clouds greets the early arrivals to Soldier Hollow (So-Ho as the locals are calling it now) this morning. The clouds are predicted to give way to partly sunny skies with temps in the mid 20s early climbing into the upper 30s later on. A sold out crowd is expected, however, with Sprint Qualifications running from 9-10am and the first of the elimination rounds not until 12:30pm...many folks seem to be waiting until later on to stake out their spots along the 1.5km course.
For both men and women, the red groups will start the qualification time trials. 58 women will start and 72 men. Both groups soon to be reduced to fields of 16 each for the 4 skier rounds this afternoon. In those rounds, the top 2 skiers move on.
As is the case so often with FIS sprints, literally any one of 10-15 men or women could potentially be looked at as winners at the end of the day.
North American hopes are riding high on Canadian Beckie Scott (starting number 6) climbing another Olympic podium in the women's race (she already has one World Cup sprint podium this season). The usual suspects from Norway and Russia plus Neumannova from Czech Republic and Henkel from German all make up another killer field. Other North Americans starting the qualification round are Canadians Sara Renner (26), Milaine Theriault (29), and Jaime Fortier (51). Team USA will be Tessa Benoit (39), Kikkan Randall (41), Aelin Peterson (42), and Kristina Joder (45).
On the men's side, a notable omission from the start list is Thomas Alsgaard who has been involved in two of the closest races here at Soldier Hollow thus far. Norway is instead going with their designated sprint crew including 2001 World Champ Tor Arne Hetland. Alsgaard's dancing partner on Sunday, Italian Cristian Zorzi, will start as will the guy that Zorzi replaced as the Italian relay anchor...Sulvio Fauner. North Americans will be U.S. skiers Carl Swenson (32), Torin "Thunder" Koos (34), Kris Freeman (41), Lars Flora (42), and Canadian Donald Farley (44).
