Winter Olympics: Downhill triumph a dream fulfilled

Michaela Dorfmeister on the way to her stunning win in the women's downhill event. Picture / Reuters

Sobbing in triumph, Austrian skier Michaela Dorfmeister knelt to kiss the Olympic Alpine snow yesterday.

Just a month before she retires, the 32-year-old swept all aside in the women's downhill to win the one prize that had long eluded her at the Winter Games.

"This was my last dream," she said. "Now I will be able to retire with a perfect feeling and I can't wait to start a new life."

Twice a world champion in the speed events, overall World Cup champion in 2002 and four times a winner of season-long titles in the individual cups, Dorfmeister had never quite made the grade at Olympics.

Yesterday, she put that right.

Her time of 1m 56.49s down the Fraiteve piste beat Swiss Martina Schild into silver with overall World Cup champion Anja Paerson of Sweden winning bronze.

"I have been so nervous for the past two days. I couldn't sleep," she said.

"My legs were so heavy at the start of the race, then I said to myself: 'Hey, let's go for it'."

World champion Janica Kostelic of Croatia did not start the downhill because of a high pulse rate, and defending champion Carole Montillet-Carles, of France, was never in contention.

That Montillet-Carles competed at all after a heavy crash in training on Monday was a triumph.

Hardly recognisable with her face bruised and swollen, the French-woman finished 28th, 4.54s behind Dorfmeister.

"It was my decision and it was the right one. I could not face watching the race from my bedroom or from the bottom," she said.

"I had prepared for this day for the past 10 months and it was my one and only goal of the season. I could not give up so close to my goal."

Montillet-Carles is optimistic she can recover in time for Sunday's super-G, and despite her disappointment she has not lost her sense of humour.

To a passing fan who shouted: "Carole, I love you!" she replied: "Have you seen my face? I'm lucky to be married or I would never find a husband with a face like this."

- REUTERS