For the first time in more than two years, Olympian Bode Miller got a chance to stand on the medal podium this weekend. The 31-year-old Olympic Silver Medalist (Salt Lake City), two-time world champion, and last year’s overall World Cup leader, was just beat out by France’s Jean-Baptiste Grange in the first Giant Slalom of the season, in Levi, Finland over the weekend.

Miller has concentrated on the downhill and Super-G in recent years at the expense of the slalom, but his 2nd place finish in Levi could mean that he’ll be a contender in the event this season.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

Post from: EveryJoe

Bode Miller Back on the Podium in the Slalom

For those of us eager for the Winter Olympic Games to get here, there was a teaser this weekend as the season began for world cup skiing at the FIS Audi Alpine World Cup event in Solden Austria. Results included:

Men’s Giant Slalom: Daniel Albrecht (Switzerland), Didier Cuche (Switzerland), Ted Ligety (USA)

Women’s Giant Slalom: Kathrin Zettel (Austria), Tanja Poutiainen (Finland), Andrea Fischbacher (Austria)

The next event will be November 15 and 16 in Levi, Finland.

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World Cup Skiing Season Begins

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US Ski Team Championships

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Defending Winter Olympic Medalists: Julia Mancuso

Michael Martikan won the Gold Medal in the men’s single C1 slalom kayaking event on Tuesday, repeating his performance at the Atlanta Games in 1996. In Sydney and Athens, Martikan was forced to settle for Silver, losing to France’s Tony Estanguet. This year Estanguet finished 9th in the first run and failed to qualify for the finals.

David Florence of Great Britain finished second for the Silver Medal and Robin Bell of Australia earned the Bronze. The best finisher for the United States was Benn Fraker, who placed sixth.

Post from: EveryJoe

Slovakia’s Martikan Takes C1 Slalom Gold

She made her announcement yesterday at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park.  The 29-year old, who won a bronze medal in the giant slalom at the world championships five years ago, said: “I have pain now to the point where I struggle to ride a bike.  You know the forces involved with ski racing [and] there was no way it was going to happen. We did everything we could.”

The injury was so extensive that it left no cartilage on her left femur which made it very difficult for her to train and caused her muscles to just shut down.  I remember watching footage of that crash which also included wipeouts from veteran skiers Elisabeth Goergl, Lindsey Kildow and defending Olympic champion Carole Montillet-Carles.  I found an old video of an interview with Allison from right after the accident.  Watch it here.

My heart really goes out to her.  I know she was optimistic about being able to finally compete in Vancouver in 2010 and now, sadly, that will not become a reality.  It’s always tragic to see a promising career come to an end.

image provided by newscom

Post from: EveryJoe

Chronic Pain Forces Olympic Skier to Retire

Park City, UT – It was a match made on the U.S. Ski Team. Two-time Olympian Lindsey Kildow (Vail, CO) and Team alum Thomas Vonn married Sept. 29 at Deer Valley Resort’s Silver Lake Lodge. A fresh dusting of early season snow on the mountains provided the perfect backdrop for the skiers’ nuptials.

(Source)

Skiers tie the knot on “a fresh dusting of early season snow on the mountains” as backdrop. They called it perfect. It made me nauseous. Heh. Er, didn’t you find it a tad bit overkill? Fine, fine. It’s appropriate and downright typical for skiers to wind up getting married with that sort of scenery, cliche or not.

Hmmm.

I wonder how their offspring will turn out. Keep the Olympic genes within the family, eh? Hehe. Poor kids. Lots of pressure.

Post from: EveryJoe

A Very Olympic Marriage

A SINGLE-MINDED PURSUIT OF GLORY

Irish Rowing team to compete in opening World Cup regatta

ISAF World Sailing Rankings

FIS releases 2007-08 sport calendars

Triathlete Robertson to return in Madrid

It’s all about the athletes and the sports in World Cups, World Championships and, of course, the Olympic Games.

Post from: EveryJoe

Speedlinking 06-01-07

The EB approved the recommendations of the Disciplinary Commission (DC) set up by the IOC in February 2006 and composed of Dr Thomas Bach (chairman), Denis Oswald and Sergey Bubka.

IOC sets up Disciplinary Commission (DC)
4 December 2006

DC meets in Kuwait and makes a request to the Italian authorities that the process be fast-tracked in order that the issue may be resolved before the major competitions of the winter sport season commence.
16 January 2007

DC receives a report from the Italian authorities.
9 February 2007

DC calls for a first round of hearings
4-5 April 2007

DC holds first round of hearings
25 April 2007

DC makes first recommendations to the IOC Executive Board
May 2007

DC to hold second round of hearings

DECISIONS BY THE IOC EXECUTIVE BOARD ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION
RE VIOLATIONS OF THE IOC ANTI-DOPING RULES DURING THE TORINO 2006 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Name of athlete: Roland Diethart, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board

- The athlete Mr Roland Diethart:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay;
ii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s 4×10 km Relay team is disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned event accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Johannes Eder, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Johannes Eder:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s Team Sprint;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams are disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Juergen Pinter , AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- Mr Juergen Pinter:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s Team Sprint;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austrian Men’s Team Sprint and Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams are disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Martin Tauber, AUT

Sport: Cross Country

Event and result: Men’s 30 km Pursuit, Men’s 15 km Classical and Men’s 4×10 km Relay

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Martin Tauber:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 30 km Pursuit, in which he placed seventeenth;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 15 km Classical, in which he placed eighth, and his diploma is withdrawn;
iii. is disqualified from the Men’s 4×10 km Relay;
iv. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The Austian Men’s 4×10 km Relay teams is disqualified.
- The Fédération Internationale de Ski is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The Austrian Olympic Committee is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the athlete in the Men’s 15 km Classical.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Christian Hoffmann

Sport: Cross Country

Applied for accreditation but did not take part in the Games

- The charges against Mr Hoffmann are dismissed; and
- The case is transferred to the Fédération Internationale de Ski with a recommendation that it consider whether Mr Hoffman’s absence from the Torino Olympic Games constituted a violation of his obligation to provide accurate whereabouts information.

Name of athlete: Wolfgang Perner, AUT

Sport: Biathlon

Event and result: Men’s 20 km Individual, Men’s 10 km Sprint and Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Wolfgang Perner:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 20 km Individual, in which he placed 60th;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 10 km Sprint, in which he placed 4th, and his diploma is withdrawn;
iii. is disqualified from the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit, in which he placed 25th; and
iv. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The International Biathlon Union is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the International Biathlon Union to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The Austrian Olympic Committee is ordered to return to the IOC, as soon as possible, the diploma awarded to the athlete in the Men’s 10 km Sprint.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Name of athlete: Wolfgang Rottmann, AUT

Sport: Biathlon

Event and result: Men’s 10 km Sprint Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit

Decision by the IOC Executive Board:

- The athlete Mr Wolfgang Rottman:
i. is disqualified from the Men’s 10 km Sprint, in which he placed 27th;
ii. is disqualified from the Men’s 12.5 km Pursuit, in which he placed 21st; and
iii. is permanently ineligible for all future Olympic Games in any capacity.
- The International Biathlon Union is requested to modify the results of the above-mentioned events accordingly.
- The file is referred to the International Biathlon Union to consider any further action within its own competence.
- The decision shall enter into force immediately.

Post from: EveryJoe

Press Release | Torino 2006: Six Austrian Athletes Declared Permanently Ineligible

Will Bode Miller be competing or not competing in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics?

To quote Union Leader,

“I’m in the process of making a decision about participating in World Cup next year,” Miller added. “The Olympics are a long way off. I’d have to find some motivation.”

The article somehow suggests that Miller is “still” thinking about competing in the Olympics and his decision to be back on the slopes of New Hampshire is a way to get back into shape and find the motivation he was talking about. Well, at least, that’s the impression the article left on me.

Whereas to quote International Herald Tribune,

Even if he still is skiing World Cup in 2010, Bode Miller says he won’t be skiing in another Olympics, not after his “terrible” experience in the last one.

“It’s highly doubtful that I’ll be racing in 2010,” America’s top skier said Friday, “and even if I am racing in World Cup, I wouldn’t go (to the Olympics).

I reckon that bit says it all, eh? That didn’t leave room for any sort of imagination. :lol:

Which brings me back to the original thought (or was it a question?) I had when I started writing this post, is Bode Miller still competing in the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver or not?

Perhaps any of you guys can clue me in? :mrgreen:

Post from: EveryJoe

Bode Miller won’t compete in Vancouver 2010 — or will he?