(ATR) Mother Nature finally cooperated as downhillers sped down the Jeongseon course under sunny skies in what was a tight and thrilling race. But the winner wishes more people would have come to see it.
The signature Olympic ski race was contested on the full course from the top, four days after it was postponed due to high winds.
Norwegian veterans Aksel Lund Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud raced to gold and silver medals.
The 36-year-old Svindal, who gave Norway its first Olympic downhill title while becoming the oldest ski racer to win Olympic gold, commended International Ski Federation officials for their work.
"I want to give a huge compliment to the organizers for having the guts to postpone this race all the way until Thursday," Svindal said. "Today was a great race and on television too and it would not have been in the wind. That was a gutsy move that they definitely pulled off."
Jansrud – who raced to his fourth Olympic medal – had positive things to say of the three-kilometer course and its four jumps. Many racers said it was not Olympic caliber.
"I think it was a cool downhill with a lot of big jumps and rolls, not easy at all," said Jansrud, who finished 0.12 second behind his teammate.
Svindal added: "The jumps are longer, the speeds are faster since the first training run."
Despite the sun-drenched day and smiles all around, crowds were relatively sparse for the marquee Olympic ski race. Spectators convened along the bottom right side of the course, however the large grandstand was no more than two-thirds capacity. Attendance was estimated at between 6,000 and 7,000.
Svindal was candid when asked about winning his second Olympic gold in what was a subdued atmosphere at the remote mountain venue.
"It’s a bit strange, to be honest, that we’re having the Olympics and there are that few people in the stands," Svindal said. "It’s a bit sad, although it was supposed to be the day for the super-G."
"If we had this race in Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Italy and probably the United States it would be packed – there would be 50,000 people," said the popular Norwegian. "If alpine skiing is not a big thing here, then that’s too bad for us.
"The Olympic Games are bigger than alpine skiing," Svindal continued. "The Olympic Games are for the world. If we had the Olympics in Norway, no one would watch short track speed skating, except those who flew in from Asia."
Norwegian NOC president Tom Tvedt said it was a monumental day for Norway.
"We witnessed Norwegian Olympic History today, as this was our first Olympic downhill gold medal," Tvedt told Around the Rings. "Aksel and Kjetil are amazing role models, and I’m sure that their performance today will inspire young Norwegian athletes for years to come."
Although the crowd was not as large as some had hoped and nearly a tenth of the size in comparison to classic World Cup sites such as Kitzbuehel and Wengen, passionate fans from Norway, Austria, Switzerland and the United States had plenty of fun.
"There are a lot of nations here – the sport is bringing everyone together," said Norwegian Morten Hagenstuen, a fan nicknamed ‘the Viking’ and a veteran of 14 Olympic Games. "What a great day for Norway."
Written and reported by Brian Pinelliin Jeongseon
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