www.olympic.org - Site Officiel du Mouvement Olympique

Sunday, 17th February 2002 : In a sun drenched Snowbasin resort, Janica Kostelic of Croatia won her second medal of the Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. In the Women's Super-G race, Janica managed to edge out the main podium contenders from Austria and Germany to win the silver medal in a time of 1.13.64. The surprise race leader and Olympic gold medallist was the Italian, Daniela Ceccarelli, who won the race with a 0.05 seconds advantage over Janica. Another Italian, Karen Putzer, won the bronze medal.

The Super-G is not an event that Janica has good track record in, but, with the pressure off after having already won a gold medal in the Combined race, she skied a near perfect race. She admitted afterwards that she thought that she had under-performed and was visibly surprised to have taken the second place : "I thought that I was going slow. That's a good thing, though, because then you want to go faster. I could really relax after my gold medal."

This medal is only the second medal to be won by Croatia at the Olympic Winter Games.

How did you feel when you where awarded the gold medal in the medal Plaza on 14th February after your victory in the Combined race ?
JK : It was great...everybody was cheering and I was on top!

Congratulations on your second medal! How do you feel right now?
JK : It's really good! I did not expect this medal. I thought I would have good results but not the medal...

Two skiers fell before you. How did this affect your concentration?
JK : I saw Tanja Schneider fall at the fourth gate...but when it was my turn to go down the run it felt like I was going really slow...

Are you prepared for the upcoming Giant Slalom race?
JK : ...Well I have not trained in the Giant Slalom event in the past three weeks...

You have painted your nails a special colour?
JK : Well last week I painted my brother's name on them...this week I have painted my mother's name...the next time I will paint my father's name on them.

Listen to Janica's interview