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Montillet shakes blues — and her opponents
By Ray Grass
Deseret News Olympic specialist
SNOWBASIN — A week before the Olympics began, Carole Montillet of France took a week-long vacation to San Diego to "gather herself together."
She was suffering emotionally, she said. Her season and her life were being overshadowed by the tragic death of teammate Regine Cavagnoud, who was killed in a skiing accident last year.
Even at the press conference celebrating her unexpected gold-medal win in the women's downhill, the questions about Cavagnoud continued. Was she skiing for her teammate? Was she inspired to ski well for Regine?
Her response was quick and decisive. "No, I raced for myself. Regine is gone and life goes on. I have to lead my own life," she said through an interpreter. "Yes, it was difficult for the French team and particularly for me. But I know she helped because I know she was with me."
Her winning run in the much-delayed women's downhill was as decisive as her answer. She was given little chance of winning, yet she beat the best speed skiers in the world by nearly half a second. In downhill racing, where speed tops 80 mph, a half second might be called a blowout. The next 11 skiers were only a second apart.
Montillet's time was 1:19.56 seconds. The silver medalist was Isolde Kostner of Italy in 1:40.01 and the bronze medalist was Renate Goetschl of Austria in 1:40.39.
America's top finishers were Jonna Mendes in 11th place, Kristen Clark in 12th and Picabo Street in 16th. Caroline Lalive fell midway down the two-mile-long run.
Kostner, the current World Cup downhill leader by a considerable margin, was favored. Even she didn't see Montillet coming in this one, certainly not after dropping off the world for a week before the Olympic.
"I didn't fear her here. I know the Olympics is where there is always an element of surprise. . . . I just didn't think about her," she offered during a press conference after the race.
Montillet wasn't certain she could do it. There were big gaps between her times and those of the winners in training late last week.
"Then I said to myself, 'To be here at the Olympics and be really, really unhappy. . . . I couldn't continue.' I see all that and gave a kick to myself in the rear end. I thought it was impossible to be here and not enjoy the opportunity to ski in the downhill. Then it was easy to get my strength back."
Once on the course, she said, skiing became much easier. "I could feel the speed from my skis. (In the finish) I turned around and look for the public for applause or movement. I didn't see anything. I thought (my run) couldn't have been that great."
E-MAIL: grass@desnews.com
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February 13, 2002
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