Daily Updates — Live from Nagano

Women's Slalom Report by Martin Bell [click to listen]

Transcribed from Audio:
Italy's Deborah Compagnoni failed to make Olympic history by winning gold medals at three consecutive Olympics. She had been leading after the first run by six-tenths of a second but skied slightly too conservatively on the second run and was beaten into 2nd place by six hundredths of a second.

The winner was Germany's Hilde Gerg, who threw caution to the wind on the second run and skied to an unbeatable time, despite one serious mistake. The bronze medal went to Zali Steggall from Australia — their first ever Olympic skiing medal, and only their second ever Winter Olympic medal.

The expected Swedish challenge failed to materialize as Pernilla Wiberg crashed out on the first run and Ylva Nowen could only manage 12th.

The U.S. Ski Team's Kristina Koznick crashed out on the second run after a respectable 8th place finish on the first run.