French woman dares the hill, wins

OGDEN, Utah -- Picabo Street's downhill demise was not all that surprising. But the winner was: Carole Montillet of France, who never had won a World Cup downhill.

Montillet had a nearly mistake-free run to beat Isolde Kostner of Italy (silver) and Renate Goetschl of Austria (bronze).

Two young Americans, Jonna Mendes and Kirsten Clark, finished ahead of Street in 11th and 12th. Caroline Lalive, the U.S. skier who was second down the mountain, fell after a fast start and was one of four skiers not to finish.

Montillet didn't hold back on the harrowing Wildflower course, one that featured a jump that catapulted racers over the crest of a steep finishing pitch, drawing gasps from the crowd.

"You really had to dare in order to come in first," said Montillet, whose lone World Cup victory came in a super-G last season.

Montillet, 28, had reason not to dare. All season the death of her friend and France's team leader, Regine Cavagnoud, in a training accident hung over the squad like a dark cloud. Things got so bad Montillet left the team for a week before the Games, hiding out in San Diego.

"Whether I had good results or bad results, everything seemed to come back to Regine's accident," Montillet said. "I felt I was losing my identity."

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