THE ZEN OF DESCENT
"You really don't think much when you're actually
skiing. It's more
instinct; your skiing happens without having to think about it. The
whole way down you're pretty much trying to search for the best
feeling, feeling the power of every turn and looking for speed the
whole way, just an appetite for speed. There are some really scary
situations up on the hill. If you make a mistake it can be very
dangerous, but you can't be thinking that way. You have to put it
all on the line and attack. You really have to be on it the whole
way. You have no time for hesitation or a little bobble. You ski
perfect or you don't win." - Daron Rahlves, 2001 super-G world
champ and downhill gold medal contender
THE WORLD WILL BE THERE
With the exception of a few unconventional blips (the 1988 Jamaican
bobsled team, the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan spat), European
athletes have traditionally dominated Winter Olympic headlines.
Once again,
Europe's finest will descend from snow-blown,
mountainous places where sports like biathlon (cross-country skiing
and shooting) are not only under-stood, but revered. A few names
you will likely come to know:
Gianni Romme.
The Netherlands. The undisputed king of
long-distance speed skating.
Irina Slutskaya.
Russia. Seasoned figure skater who has
dethroned three-time world champ Michelle Kwan at several major
events.
Elvis Stojko.
Canada. Explosive figure skater. Three-time
world champion, three-time Olympian.
Hayley Wickenheiser. Canada. The Wayne Gretzky of women's
hockey. She and her teammates hope to reverse the results in
Nagano, where Canada lost to the U.S. in the gold medal game.
Georg Hackl.
Germany. The most decorated luge athlete in
Olympic history. With gold in Albertville ('92), Lillehammer ('94),
and Nagano ('98), in SLC Hackl will attempt to become the first
Winter Olympian to win four consecutive gold medals in the same
event.