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Goetschl has two medals, three races to go

SNOWBASIN, Utah (AP) -- Now that she has a bronze and a silver, Austria's Renate Goetschl says the pressure is off - but in Austria, Olympics and medals invariably equal pressure.

Goetschl collected her first medal in three Olympic games in the women's downhill Tuesday, followed by a silver two days later in the combined event. She will have a chance to increase her haul in Sunday's Super G, as well as the giant slalom and slalom next week.

"I didn't expect to medal in both the downhill and the combined," she said. "So now I can go really relaxed into the Super G. My goal there is another medal.

"Now that I have two medals, I have nothing to lose. At the last Olympics, I had no medals. Now I have two. I've already done so much more than before. The pressure is gone."

But none of the Austrian women will be allowed to breathe easy until one of them wins gold. So far, Austria's men have one gold, with Fritz Strobl winning the downhill. Stephan Eberharter added bronze in the downhill and Benjamin Raich captured bronze in the combined event.

Goetschl, the overall World Cup champion two seasons ago, currently is ranked second this season behind compatriot Michaela Dorfmeister.

Austrian officials and coaches say they have been pleased so far with their skiers' performances at the Salt Lake City Olympics.

"Four races and five Austrian medals, this is a good collection so far," said a smiling Peter Schroeksnadel, president of Austria's Alpine ski federation. "When you think of all the expectations and the pressure on the skiers, when you think of all the great skiers we are missing like Hermann Maier, this is an unbelievable result."

With another medal in the Super G, Goetschl could become the first Austrian woman skier to collect three medals in a single Olympics. Winning four medals here, a feat never yet accomplished by a woman skier, would put Goetschl into the sport's history books.

That would add to the glory of racing in the ski-crazy nation. Even for double medalist Goetschl, a sense of urgency remains.

"I was very glad to have the silver in the combined. Now I have bronze and a silver," she said. "You can imagine what I hope now. I have a few more races, so I can still win. I will try again."

 

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