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Bonus time: German wins his 3rd gold
By Ray Grass
Deseret News Paralympic specialist
SNOWBASIN — Martin Braxenthaler of Germany was happy with his gold medal in Wednesday's giant slalom event in the Paralympics. Considering he'd won two gold medals earlier in the Games, he saw his third as a bonus.
He said he would have been just as happy to have seen Chris Waddell of Park City take the gold — here, at home, before his home crowd . . . "But, he said it wasn't up to him to give it to him, but the competition was there on the hill for him to win it," said Arno Schade, press chief for the German team, after Braxenthaler stopped near the finish area, talked to the German press and then headed for the quiet seclusion of the competitors' tent.
It was there for Waddell to win. Braxenthaler did not make a perfect run. Unfortunately, the Park City mono-skier, one of the favorites in this event, also had his troubles.
"My first run," he said, obviously disappointed by his third-place finish, "I put myself in a pretty big hole. I couldn't get after it because the snow was so soft and I didn't want to be digging any trenches. I had to go with more finesse, which doesn't usually work for me.
"I'd like to see myself in a different position on the scoreboard. Not to take anything away from the other skiers, but I race to be at the top, and I didn't make it today."
Ronny Persson of Sweden won the silver in the mono-ski LW10 class.
There were, in fact, four skiers, including Braxenthaler, who won their third gold medals after three alpine events. Rolf Heinzmann of Switzerland won the stand-up gold for disabilities of one arm or one hand; Michael Milton of Australia won the stand-up gold in the class for leg amputees; and Gerd Schoenfelder of Germany won the stand-up class for disabilities of both arms.
The only other medal collected by an American on Wednesday was a silver taken by Jason Lalla of Bradford, N.H. He finished behind Milton. Earlier, Lalla had won a bronze in the downhill.
Even with two medals, Lalla admitted this was far short of his goal at the beginning of the Games, which was "to win first place in all four events.
"I knew I'd have to meet some tough competition and really have to ski perfectly. But I haven't been skiing perfectly. Milton's come closest to that, and he's been taking the golds."
Lalla had his chance. He was leading the race as he came to the final face on his second run. On the steep face he came low into a gate, nearly came to a stop and almost fell.
"I really thought I was out of the race. I didn't think I was on the podium. I was carrying good speed on the flat and must have made up a lot of time before the mistake," he said after leaving the finish area. Lalla lost his leg in a motorcycle accident when he was 18.
Milton has, in fact, been skiing well in these Games. All three of his wins have been by large margins. He was nearly two seconds ahead of Lalla, for example.
His task now is to try and meet a goal he set 10 years ago for himself.
"I said I wanted to win a gold in all four events. Last year, in the World Championships, I won three gold and one silver, so I came agonizingly close to making it then. Whether I fill it here or not, I'm happy with the way I've skied." Milton lost his leg when he was nine and began skiing the following year at a resort two hours from his home in Australia.
He admitted there was a chance he could sweep all four events, but also had to admit he hasn't been doing well in the slalom this season.
Braxenthaler, who lost his leg in a car accident when he was 9, has a better chance at a sweep.
Schade said the German skier's strongest events are the GS and slalom, "so he was quite surprised he won both of the speed events."
What got him to this level, said the press agent, was a bronze medal won four years ago in Nagano.
"He wasn't expected to medal (in Nagano). He was there just to compete and enjoy the atmosphere. Coaches were hoping to have him ready for the Salt Lake Games. (The bronze) encouraged him very much and made him improve season to season to the level he is now," he said.
The women and visually impaired skiers were scheduled to race on Thursday. The men will finish on Friday with the slalom.
E-MAIL: grass@desnews.com
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March 14, 2002
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