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Cover Story

Cover Story - Spanish Version

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Glory Days

Spanish Translation

For two weeks, Olympians from 78 nations dazzled fans in Salt Lake City, Utah, and around the world. By Friday afternoon, American athletes had won 30 medals, 10 more than their goal of 20. With 33, Germany was leading in the medal count. But the 19th Winter Games will be remembered for more than its winners. Russia and South Korea threatened to leave the Games early. The two nations raised questions over unfair judging. Still, close calls, comebacks and good sportsmanship among many athletes were the biggest triumphs of the Olympics. For some, just making it to the Games is enough—11 countries sent one-man teams. Each proved one thing: You don't have to earn a medal to be a champ.

Skeleton
Tristan Gale streaked her hair red, white and blue for her big slide. It brought her luck—she had never finished higher than eighth. Teammate Lea Ann Parsley, who won silver, cheered loudest as Gale came in first.

Men's Skeleton
After his gold medal run, Jim Shea Jr. held up a photo of his grandfather, Jack, who won two Olympic golds in 1932. Jack, 91, died recently, but Shea said he "was with me the whole way." Shea is a third-generation Olympian—his father competed in the 1964 Winter Games. Shea's grandfather was a speedskater and his father a skier, but Shea chose the bone-rattling sport of skeleton.

Aerials
Before the Games, Alisa Camplin had never won a major championship. But the Aussie underdog flipped her way to the top. She is the first Australian woman to win a gold medal in Winter Games history. After she won, she got a surprise: Her mom and sister had flown in from Australia to watch her compete.

Speedskating
Derek Parra set a world record on his way to the gold in the 1,500-meter race. Parra, who also won silver, is the first Mexican-American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. He got his start as an in-line skater.

Hockey
In an upset victory, Team Canada beat the U.S. team for the top spot on the podium. It's the first women's gold for a Canadian hockey team since 1952.

Figure Skating
Sarah Hughes leaped from fourth place to first. The 16-year-old from Great Neck, New York, beat teammate Michelle Kwan, who fell during her program and slipped into third place. Irina Slutskaya of Russia won silver.

Bobsled
Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers sailed into Olympic history. Flowers is the first black athlete to win gold at a Winter Games. The former track star jumped into bobsledding after injuries dashed her hopes of competing in the Summer Olympics. Flowers is part of the first women's bobsled team to win gold! Known as United States 2, Bakken and Flowers beat their more famous teammates.

Biathlon
Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway won his fourth gold medal of the 2002 Games in this skiing and target-shooting event. He is one of only three athletes to ever win that much gold in one Winter Olympics!

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