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CNN Sunday Morning
Medal Count at Olympics
Aired February 10, 2002 - 07:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check that medal count at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The U.S. has two silvers. Austria also has two medals. Phil Jones of CNN's SPORTS ILLUSTRATED wraps yesterday's action and offers us a preview of what's in store today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As night fell on the first full day of competition at the 19th Olympic Winter Games, the host nation could reflect on an impressive start. The previous record holder at the Winter Games of the U.S. was 13. They already have two medals here.
Derek Parra claimed an unexpected silver in the men's 5,000-meter speed skating. He broke the world record by 3.75 seconds and his personal best by a remarkable 15 seconds. He held that record for 20 minutes or so until Dutchmen Jochem Uytdehaage beat the time and snatched away the gold. Nonetheless, Parra was thrilled with silver in an event, which is considered his weakest.
The second American medal of the day came in the Women's Moguls, with Shannon Bahrke taking silver behind Norway's Kari Traa. Bahrke celebrated with family and friends as the realization quickly set in that she had the honor of claiming the first American medal of the Salt Lake City games.
SHANNON BAHRKE, FREESTYLE SKIING SILVER MEDALIST: It feels tremendous. I think with all these patriotic fans back here and they were watching today, it's just amazing. I hope I made America proud today.
TRILLA BAHRKE, SHANNON'S MOTHER: There is not much more that could happen today that was nay better than that. It was so exciting watching her ski and seeing her dreams come true. I mean we were just excited to come to the Olympics let alone - we didn't really, you know, thinking about medals today. So it was very exciting.
JONES: The first gold of the games was won from Italy's Stefania Belmondo in the Women's 15K Cross Country, claiming her eight Olympic medal in five games. And it was her second gold. The last came 10 years ago.
Gold in the Men's 30K Cross Country went to German born Spaniard Johann Muehlegg who obliterated the field. Austria took silver and bronze.
Later in the games, Todd Hayes will go for gold for America in the Men's Two and Four Men Bobsled. But Hayes sat out of the International Olympic Committee on Saturday. The day after his brakeman, Pablo Yobanovich (ph) was banned for two years for failing a drug test. Yobanovich (ph) claimed he took a nutritional supplement and not the banned substance Nandrolol (ph). Hayes said nutrition bars and energy drinks are throughout the athletes' Olympic village so that there's a double standard at play.
TODD HAYES, U.S. BOBSLED TEAM: Every corner we've turned, there is a free Power Free, free Protein Bar, PowerAde, as much as you want, free. And I find that to be quite ironic and - that these people will stand on this soapbox and preach about the integrity of these athletes when you give them a few dollars and they'll put these Power bars out there.
JONES: Sunday sees one of the blue ribbon events of these games, the Men's Downhill and Alpine Skiing. The Austrian team are a favorite, led by Fritz Strobel (ph) and the overall World Cup leader, Stephan Eberrarter.
America's best challenger is Daron Rahlves, the Super G World Champion, who has the useful knack of improving and getting faster as the season progresses.
DARON RAHLVES, U.S. DOWNHILL SKIER: You focus on what make you ski fast and that's it, you know. And some people, you know, can like fluctuate a lot, you know, back and forth, be like not so good one day and you're really good the next day and then, back and forth like that. But I've seen - once I seem to hit my stride, I kind of build and keep going. And usually, every year, I don't want to stop racing at the end of the season because that's when, you know, I found myself and I just want to keep going.
STEPHAN EBERRARTER, AUSTRIAN GOLD MEDALIST: Well, that would be a childhood dream but I mean you can't plan that. I know I'm in good shape and I will give my best. But if I'm not winning the gold, so I know the world keeps on turning.
JONES: The Women's Downhill takes place on Monday. And good news for the American team here too because Picaboo Street was fastest in their first practice session on Saturday.
That's all from here in Salt Lake City, Utah for now, back to you in the studio.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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