U.S. women go 1-2 for skeleton sweep

PARK CITY, Utah -- The gold medal went to a local. The silver to an American hero.

Women's skeleton couldn't have ended more fittingly Wednesday -- a 1-2 star-spangled finish that came just moments after Jimmy Shea's emotional gold-medal ride down the snow-covered track.

Tristan Gale, sliding on a hill practically in her back yard, won by one-tenth of a second over Lea Ann Parsley, a decorated Ohio firefighter who helped carry in the tattered World Trade Center flag during the Opening Ceremony.

"It's been a great day for the U.S., and U.S. skeleton," Parsley said. "Two golds and a silver. You can't ask for any more than that."

Gale, who streaked her hair red, white and blue for the Games, playfully mugged for TV cameras while awaiting her final run in the starter's house. She then finished her two heats in 1 minute, 45.11 seconds to give the United States a golden sweep in skeleton -- making its first appearance in the Winter Olympics since 1948.

Parsley, who entered the final round leading by .01 seconds, was second in 1:45.21. Alex Coomber of Britain won the bronze in 1:45.37.

Gale was a competitive Alpine skier for 10 years before trying skeleton. She wasn't expected to contend for a medal after failing to finish higher than eighth in a World Cup event this season.

Gale didn't care about the predictions. She ripped down the icy, 16-curve course she knew better than anyone in the field.

Last month, she also surprised the field by winning the U.S. Olympic trials here, about 35 miles from her home in Salt Lake City.

"It was a confidence thing," said Gale, 21, who wore glitter around her eyes and painted USA on her left cheek. "I knew I could slide well here. But I didn't know I could slide with international competition. I just went out and did my best."

When she crossed the finish line, she hadn't even gotten off her sled when Parsley, her 33-year-old teammate, jumped on her and the two rolled around on the track.

"I was as psyched for her as I was for myself," Parsley said.

Parsley's unselfishness was predictable. She has been a volunteer firefighter in her hometown of Granville, Ohio, since she was 16 and still does it "to give something back."

In 1999, Parsley was selected Ohio Firefighter of the Year after helping save a teenager in a wheelchair and her mother from a burning house.

She was selected as one of eight athletes who carried the flag from ground zero into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony.

She now has had two more experiences she will never forget.

On The Wire