Austrian ski is pride partially restored

The host country also found success on the men's side as local racer Mario Matt won silver in the men's combined behind world- beater Kjetil Aamodt. Swiss veteran Paul Accola placed third. Norway's Aamodt completed a golden hat-trick in the speciality with his victory. he now owns the combiined crowns Sestriere, 1997 and Vail, 1999 in addition to St Anton.

The event twins the finishes from a slalom (raced here Monday night) and a downhill to produce a final table. In the women's downhill an overjoyed Michaela Dorfmeister climbed atop a Championships podium for the first time as she led the speed racing runaway for the hosts. The 27-year-old owns a pair of silver medals at big events, including the 1998 Olympic super-giant slalom second place and runner-up spot at the Worlds two years ago in Vail, Colorado.

She was timed on one minute, 36.20 second down the 2.3-kilometre Gertrud Gabi piste, reversed the finishes from 1999 by beating teammate Renate Goetschl (1:36.34) into second. Selina Heregger completed the sweep with a bronze in 1:36.37 minutes. "I never lost faith in my downhill abilities," said Dorfmeister. "I may not have had many good results this season, but I never stopped believing. This is a perfect time in my career for me, it's my time to win a gold medal.

"I'm glad it all turned out so well, I didn't feel I was doing that well when I came down." The triumph restored some pride for Austria, which went without a top three placing in last week's other speed event, the women's super-giant slalom. Goetschl said her winning teammate "skied a good race. It would be sad if I was not happy for her. I gave everything I had and held my nerve. I'm satisfied with my run, I didn't make any mistakes."

The crushing pressure now shifts to the all-conquering and high- profile men's downhill team lead by super-skier Hermann Maier. National pride will be riding on Wednesday showcase downhill, postponed from Saturday due to a snowstorm. All-rounder Aamodt, twice a World Cup season champion, won the night-time slalom leg and then held on in the Tuesday speed event, not his favourite speciality.

The Scandinavian finished on gold with an aggregate clocking of 2:58.25. Matt, his chrome-dyed hair making him hard to miss in a crowd, took runner-up honours with 2:58.93. The 1992 World Cupwinner Accola earned only his third Championships medal since 1989 with his bronze in 2:59.53. "The last one is always the best one," Aamodt said. "I'm the happiest with it right now. The combined event is tighter than many think it is. I knew Matt was good in downhill, even though he mainly skis slalom."

Matt showed that he is fast down the track as well as between the gates in his speciality. "From time to time, I take out my fast skis and race a downhill," joked the 21-year-old Austrian. "I like this feeling, it's cool. "After this race though, I was glad to be in the finish area with a time, it was a really difficult track."

(la/dpa)