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Finns capture top 2 spots in Nordic Combined
Lajune, Tallus top winners in nordic combined individual
By Jason Swensen
Deseret News Olympic specialist
SOLDIER HOLLOW — Samppa Lajunen could play the part of the patient, blue-haired rock star only so long.
He had answered questions from the press Sunday about his band, his favorite instruments and his future recording plans. Finally the Finn had heard enough — no more questions about the band.
"Hey, I won a gold medal," Lajunen reminded his audience, prompting laughs.
Oh yeah, the gold medal. Besides being part of a Finnish "sports rock" band called Vieraileva Tahti (translation: Guest Star), Lajunen skis very, very fast. The 22-year-old claimed his third career Olympic medal by winning the nordic combined individual competition Sunday at Soldier Hollow.
"This day was perfect," he said.
Indeed, it was a near perfect day for Finland. Lajunen's teammate, Jaako Tallus, won the silver medal after leading the field in the competition's ski jumping segment a day earlier. Defending World Cup champ Felix Gottwald of Austria passed eight skiers Sunday to earn the bronze.
Sunday was one of those "glass is half-full/half-empty" days for Team USA. Todd Lodwick recorded the best Olympic result in American nordic combined history by finishing seventh — but may have missed his prime opportunity to visit the medal podium in the 2002 Winter Games.
Lodwick, a strong distance cross country skier accustomed to Soldier Hollow's lofty altitude, seemed well suited for the individual event. But he could not find the jets needed Sunday to win a medal.
"It was a difficult day . . . I had very high expectations going into these Olympic games," Lodwick said, adding he was still satisfied with his performance.
Expectations are always high for Lajunen, who won two silver medals in the 1998 Winter Games in the individual and team event. He started Sunday's 15-kilometer cross country race just 53 seconds behind Tallus after landing long jumps Saturday on the the K90 hill at Utah Olympic Park.
Tallus held his lead through the first 5-kilometer lap, but was passed by his teammate a short time later. Lajunen was never challenged from that point, crossing the finish line in 38 minutes and 18 seconds.
Lodwick had skied into sixth place by the end of the first lap but was eventually overtaken by the speedy Gottwald. Watching the Austrian pass by took "a little bit of the wind out of my sails," Lodwick said.
He and and his teammates now focus on Thursday and Friday's team competition.
"Our expectations are right to the ceiling," said U.S. head coach Tom Steitz.
E-MAIL: jswensen@desnews.com
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February 11, 2002
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