Daily Updates — Live from Nagano


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Gold Medalist Picabo Street

Exclusive Mountain Zone Interview with America's Downhill Diva


[LIVE from Nagano]
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By Boy Barento, Zone Team East

Brookler: I'm standing here with Picabo Street and she's done it again — she's come over to Nagano and grabbed a gold in the Super G. Tell me how that feels.

Street: It feels great — it's been a long, long ride for me. It's been a long time since I blew my knee out on December 4th of 1996 and '97 was a tough year for me to miss, and to be able to even come over here and compete — to make the Olympic team and be competing here was impressive in itself and then to snag a gold medal and come home with that is absolutely wonderful. I think it's going to take a minute for it to even set in because it's kind of shocking at this point still.

Brookler: How have you found the crowds in this whole Nagano experience so far?

Street: The crowds have been as wonderful as I expected them to be. I knew that I'd be able to hear them while I was skiing because they're so excited and they love skiing so much. They've been troopers. They've come out here every single day — rain, snow, fog, hail, wind, sun — they've been out here every day just hoping and praying and waiting until the last minute to be able to watch the event. And, fortunately for us, we're their second favorite, second to their own countrymen, so we get the loudest and the most obnoxious cheers from them. It's been a wonderful experience. The Japanese people are 'oh too hospitable' and they're so happy, such smily, wonderful, really happy people and it's nice to be able to be in an environment like that.

Brookler: How difficult has it been to wait and cancel, wait, cancel, wait, cancel...

Street: I think that for the people who aren't used to the whole ski scene, I think it's more difficult for them. We're used to it. It happens to us on a daily basis, especially in downhill because you need almost perfect conditions to be able to even ski. So, that's really not a problem for us. I think some of the people who had some other races to go to, like in Shiga Kogen for the technical events, I think they probably got more frustrated. But for me, I just took at it as some time to catch up on my sleep.

Brookler: Congratulations on your victory and we'll see you back in the U.S.

Street: Catch you across the big water!

Related Stories:

[March '98 Update: Picabo Breaks Leg at Last World Cup] [Picabo's Pre-Olympic Interview]
[Women's Olympic Super G Story]
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