I love it when the UNDERdog wins...=)
Look, up in the sky: Ammann does it again
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
February 14, 2002
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) -- Simon Ammann has flown like a hawk over these Olympics, rising on his skis high above the crowds, the cars and the security checkpoints.
He came to Salt Lake City not expecting much, maybe a top 10 finish. Instead, Ammann has soared above the Wasatch Mountains and into Olympic history.
The 20-year-old Swiss with Harry Potter looks won his second gold medal Wednesday, jolting the field again by winning the 120-meter ski jump.
He and Finland's Matti Nykanen are the only jumpers to win events on both hills in the same Winter Olympics. Nykanen did it in Calgary in 1988.
``I am trembling,'' said Ammann, who can't even train on a 120-meter at home because Switzerland doesn't have one. ``It's been a crazy day, a crazy week. I never would have believed this was possible. I felt good, but I never thought I would win again.''
Adam Malysz of Poland added a silver to the bronze he won at 90 meters, and Finland's Matti Hautamaeki won the bronze.
Not only did Ammann win his country's first gold in ski jumping with his victory at 90 meters Sunday, he's now the first Swiss jumper to win two medals.
He had been overlooked leading to the Olympics, overshadowed by favorites Sven Hannawald of Germany and Malysz -- the world's top two jumpers this season.
But everybody knows Amman now. Back home, the Swiss media went wild Thursday.
``Phenomenal!'' was the headline in the Lausanne daily 24 Heures. ``Simon superstar'' proclaimed Geneva's Tribune de Geneve newspaper above a picture of Ammann soaring over the Olympic rings.
The Swiss sports minister faxed his congratulations and plans were being made to welcome the gold medalist home in style -- but not until Ammann takes part in the team jumping competition.
Ammann was given little chance at winning the 120-meter event. After all, he had never even won a World Cup event and had missed two events last month with injuries following a spectacular crash during training.
But just as he did on the small hill, sticking the final jump of competition to win, Ammann captured the large hill by leaping 436 feet (133 meters) to finish with 281.4 points Wednesday.
``I've never had such a good jump before in an important competition,'' he said.
Hannawald, the silver medalist in the 90, had a chance to overtake Ammann on the final jump. He went 430 feet (131 meters) but couldn't hold his landing, fell back onto his skis and out of the medals, finishing fourth.
``It's very depressing,'' Hannawald said. ``I've had my ups and downs, but now this is a real down.''
Kazuyoshi Funaki, the defending Olympic champion from Nagano, was seventh with 245.5 points.
The Americans, who won their only ski jump medal in 1924, had a disappointing day.
Alan Alborn of Anchorage, Alaska, didn't even qualify for the second round of the final and finished 34th in his last Olympics. Clint Jones of Steamboat Springs, Colo., was 42nd. The United States has failed to place a jumper in the top 25 in the last three Olympics.
``It was a bad day,'' Alborn said. ``I guess I didn't want it bad enough.''
Ammann entered the final round tied for first with Hannawald. Malysz, who jumped right before Ammann, had just taken the lead with a jump of 410 feet (128 meters).
As the event's second-to-last jumper, Ammann needed a long, clean jump.
He got one.
And when Ammann finally touched down in front of 20,469 screaming fans at Utah Olympic Park, the rosy-cheeked jumper pumped his fist and let out a shout of joy that echoed across the mountains.
``I've never had such a jump,'' he said. ``After takeoff, I had a wonderful feeling and I kind of knew immediately what was coming. I was flying away.''
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RR: Hope you and the boys are watching the Olympic skiing, ski jumping, freestyling and snow boarding....there are some amazing athletes out in Park City right now. |
