The men's super combined at Vancouver 2010 and one of the early starters on the downhill run
Axel Lundsvindal, the reigning world cup winner and world champion. The Norwegian was one of the
most complete skiers on the circuit and Svindal throwing in all his experience chasing the time
of the downhill gold medalist Didier Defago. Like a train Svindal rattled down the hill
taking the most direct line possible and coming across the finish line in one minute 53.15
quicker than Defago by more than half a second and for the rest that would be too hot to handle.
One of the real danger men was 23 year old Carlo Janka. He was the world champion in giant slalom
and the top man in the super combined in 2008. Janka looking very smooth. The Swiss Express
Unlike a Swiss clock though Janka just a little behind the time of Svindal
half a second in fact and second place for him for the moment but he going to finish just outside
the medals. Next to make a charge Bode Miller. He'd already won a silver and a bronze at the games
could he now complete the set with a super combined gold. The American style looked a little
wilder than some but he was totally focused and Miller coming home three quarters of a second
behind Svindal. Sixth quickest so far. Still the slalom to come. One of the most impressive runs
was to come from this young man Dominic Paris. He set off chasing that elusive time of 1.53.15
but the split the 21 year old Italian second quickest and he was even quicker on the bottom
section coping with the terrain better than anyone on a track which constantly demanded a
change of rhythm. Down over the final jump and across the finish line just 0.39 off the pace.
Second position for Dominic Paris. Sadly in the slalom to come he'd be three seconds off the pace
so the situation after the downhill Svindal ahead of Paris and Janka but the beauty of the combined
is the total contrast from the speed of the downhill to the slowest way of the slalom.
This was Ivica Kostolic lying in ninth position one of the favorites. His downhill had been solid
he'd been a winner of slalom races earlier in the season. Today's course had been set by his father
and he'd seen one of his big rivals Benjamin Reuch fall out of contention and now the Croatian
produced the run he was looking for quickest by more than half a second and he was absolutely
thrilled. He would certainly finish higher than ninth. Bode Miller seventh after the downhill
three tenths of a second faster than Kostolic. 32 years of age now but producing his best skiing
for some years. He said the slalom was always nerve-wracking for him a battle between the head
and the heart between tactics and emotions and here he let the emotions rule sweeping down the
course. Miller even faster than Kostolic over the slalom course and the American taking the lead
by a third of a second. Sylvain Zurbriggen at just 0.03 of a second in hand over Miller.
This was the man that many of the skiers considered to be the favorite.
He'd scored well in the downhill and his slalom skiing was out of the top draw
but he'd lost vital tenths of a second on the top section and had to fight hard to win the
time back. In the end it wasn't enough Zurbriggen the big Swiss hope third fastest behind Miller
and Kostolic and Ted Ligety the Olympic combined champion in Turin now pushed off the podium.
So the last to go the 27 year old Norwegian Axel Lundsvindal. He'd already got gold in the
super g and silver in the downhill and he had a massive lead over Miller. But disaster
Lundsvindal clipped a gate maybe because he pushed too hard
and the Norwegian's dream of a second gold was snuffed out in an instant. Lundsvindal down at
the finish congratulating Bode Miller as the American took the Olympic title in the super
combined. Miller first Ivica Kostolic of Croatia second Sylvain Zurbriggen third. Kostolic the
brother of the great Janica who'd won six Olympic medals now adding another to the family collection
and Bode Miller who'd taken two silvers in Salt Lake City eight years earlier
had now done even better here in Vancouver picking up his third medal and this time finally it was gold.
