www.olympic.org - Site Officiel du Mouvement Olympique

Day 7 of competition, 14th February 2002 (Valentines day...):

Janica Kostelic of Croatia wins the Olympic Gold medal in the women's alpine combined event in Snowbasin. After weather forced a change in the order of events, Janica won the two slalom races in the morning in a convincing manner and took a 2.22 second lead into the downhill. She managed to hold off stiff competition from the downhill specialists in the afternoon to win the overall event by a 1.49 second margin. Renate Goetschl of Austria was placed second and Martina Ertl of Germany was third.

After the race, Janica said that "this is probably my present for Valentine's...I think it's a great thing. This is the first Croatian medal and I'm really proud of it."

Janica will be participating in the Super G race on the 17th, the Slalom on the 20th and the Giant Slalom race on the 22nd. Her brother Ivica, who has had some very good results during this season, will also be competing in the Giant Slalom and Slalom races during the second week of the Salt Lake Games.

Janica Kostelic: "something I always dreamed of and I guess my dream came true.
Janica just after the race

Listen to Janica's first impressions as she arrives and trains in Salt Lake City.
Janica in Salt Lake 2002

Professor Zdravko Hebel, President of the Croatian Olympic Committee, was delighted with the result as it was the first medal that Croatia has ever won at the Olympic Winter Games.

Janica Kostelic has just won a medal. What are your first impressions?
P.H.: Delighted because she has had so many injuries this year and we didn't expect her to be so good. I congratulate her in the first place, and to her father, Ante, and the whole team. I am really really glad. Croatia has its first medal in the Olympic Winter Games.

What does this mean for sports development in Croatia?
P.H.: Fantastic. This will be an impulse for all sports in Croatia. It proves that anyone with talent and a lot of work can win an Olympic medal.