Olympic roundup

Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 16, 2002

Canada gets first Nordic ski medal

MIDWAY, Utah -- Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott and her American boyfriend, cross-county skier Justin Wadsworth, didn't have much of a Valentine's Day.

Since the Olympics began, Wadsworth has had a bad cold that ruined his first two races. For most of this week, he and Scott stayed far apart so she wouldn't get sick.

Thursday, he was well enough to give her a heart-shaped container of M&M's. She forgot to get him anything, though.

Friday, Scott made up for it by winning a bronze medal in the women's 5-kilometer pursuit, Canada's first medal in Nordic skiing.

"I'm still on a cloud," she said. "I'm just so excited. It's fantastic."

The Russians took the gold and silver in the two-part event as Olga Danilova held off Larissa Lazutina by 6.9 seconds in the 5-kilometer freestyle race at Soldier Hollow.

Nina Kemppel was the top American, finishing 32nd after moving up five spots from the first portion, a 5-kilometer classical race. Wendy Wagner was 50th.

Scott, who started sixth, fought past Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic to take third by .1 seconds.

The medal not only made history for Canada, it was the first by a North American athlete since U.S. skier Bill Koch won the silver in a 30-kilometer race in 1976.

CROSS-COUNTY SKIING: Sweden's Per Elofsson withdrew from Sunday's 4x10-kilometer relay because of illness.

Swedish officials said Elofsson has a cold but hopes to be ready for the 50-kilometer classic next weekend.

Favored to win several medals, Elofsson finished fifth in the 15-kilometer classical Tuesday and fourth in the combined pursuit Thursday.

ALPINE SKIING: Canada's David Anderson was in satisfactory condition after being injured in a training accident and airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City. He has soft-tissue injuries to his arms and legs and a possible concussion, said Jess Gomez of LDS Hospital.

"He was admitted to the hospital primarily for observation," Gomez said. "But he is alert, conscious and speaking with medical personnel."

Anderson finished 38th in the downhill Sunday. The super G was supposed to be his final race.

WOMEN'S SNOWBOARD: France's Isabelle Blanc took the gold in the parallel giant slalom. Countrywoman Karine Ruby won the silver, and Lidia Trettel of Italy captured the bronze.

"I don't know how I did it," Blanc said. "I wanted this so hard from the bottom of my stomach that it couldn't happen (any other way). I just try to realize, but it's amazing!"

The United States' Lisa Kosglow, who qualified for the finals in seventh, failed to make it out of the quarterfinals.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Russia, already out of medal contention, earned its first victory, 4-1 over Kazakstan. The Russians dominated their winless opponents, outshooting Kazakstan 52-11.

Kazakstan lost its third consecutive but scored its first goal.

MEN'S CURLING: Myles Brundidge helped the U.S. men beat winless France 8-3 to improve to 3-3 and keep them in contention for a medal.

The French tried to set up a steal on an early shot in the sixth end with the scored tied at 2. But Brundidge made a difficult takeout, shifting the game.

"I think all along we knew that three losses would get us into the semifinals," Brundidge said. The United States faces Denmark today.

In other games, Canada beat Switzerland 7-2, Sweden beat France 9-6, Denmark beat Britain 6-5 and Norway beat Finland 6-5.

The Canadians lead the men's tournament at 6-1, and Norway is 5-1. WOMEN'S CURLING: Norway beat Russia 5-4, Canada beat Germany 8-4, Britain beat Switzerland 7-4 and Sweden beat Japan 8-7.

Canada leads at 6-0, and Switzerland is 5-1. The United States, which didn't play, is 2-3. It plays Russia today.