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U.S. may finally win a nordic medal
American team is in 3rd place in nordic combined event
By Jason Swensen Deseret News Olympic specialist
UTAH OLYMPIC PARK — Team USA's secret to winning its first Olympic medal in nordic combined is surprisingly simple: Just don't get passed.
The Americans landed several long jumps on the K90 hill here Saturday to secure third place in the jumping segment of the nordic combined team competition. Bill Demong's 94.5-meter leap on the final leg of the last jumping round put the Yanks as close as they've ever been to the Olympic medal podium.
The four-man American team will now start today's deciding 4x5-kilometer cross country relay 1 minute and 34 seconds behind first-place Finland.
The strong Austrian team will begin second, 44 ticks behind the monster-jumping Finns. Sure, Team USA will try to catch those two nations — but the real challenge may be staying ahead of the speedy German skiers and claiming the bronze. The Germans finished fifth Saturday and will start today's relay just 17 seconds behind the Americans.
There is growing parity among the top nordic combined countries. Team USA — which is trying to find its place among the elite — knew it could afford few mistakes Saturday.
"I asked four guys to do everything they could do, and that's what they did," said USA coach Tom Steitz.
Steitz enlisted a little gamesmanship early — using his top athlete, Todd Lodwick, in the first group of jumpers rather than saving him for last. The move worked. Lodwick's 92-meter jump was the longest first-round jump in his group, and Team USA temporarily found itself atop the leaderboard.
Subsequent jumps by the top Finns and Austrians moved their squads ahead, but Demong's final-round performance left the Americans eager for today's race.
"We want to go out and do ourselves justice," Demong said of today's race, adding he and his 'mates enlisted the team psychologist prior to Saturday's jumping segment to help them relax and envision success.
The New York native says he usually doesn't pressure himself to jump for big results. But before taking that last leap "I honestly said I needed a little extra."
Demong and Lodwick — who have six World Cup victories between them — are proven international nordic combiners. But to contend for a medal, Team USA needed steady jumps Saturday from its less-decorated half, Matt Dayton and Johnny Spillane. Dayton and Spillane never reached the 90-meter mark, but their jumps were consistent enough to keep the team from sliding out of medal contention.
Spillane admits he feels more pressure in the team event — but adds the camaraderie keeps any gut cramps in check.
"We're fired up — we've got a really good chance to do something special (Sunday)," Spillane said.
After finishing his jumps, Lodwick assumed a cheerleader role — waiting at the end of the landing zone for teammates and pumping up the Utah Olympic Park crowd to make noise for Demong and the other Americans.
"I couldn't be any happier right now; this team is coming alive," said the Colorado native.
Team USA will again need strong, perhaps even career-best, performances today from its entire squad to remain in the elusive top three. Germany's Ronny Ackermann is one of the globe's best combiners and may be a little grumpy after finishing off the medal podium in last week's individual event. Ackermann's teammate, Bjoern Kircheisen, is also a fast skier who will be looking to overtake the Americans.
Only a fall or simple sour luck today will keep Finland from claiming its second nordic combined gold medal of the 2002 Winter Games.
E-MAIL: jswensen@desnews.com
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February 17, 2002
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