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Phil Mahre (USA) wins a gold medal in the slalom. |
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XIV OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
For the first time, an Olympic Games came to the Balkans. Although the Soviet Union would finish the Sarajevo Games with the most medals, 25, it was the East Germans who would strike gold the most, with individuals and teams finishing first in ski jumping, women's figure skating, women's speedskating, women's luge, and the two-man and four-man bobsled -- for a total of nine gold medals. |
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- VITAL STATS
Attendance: 49 nations
Male athletes: 1,002
Female athletes: 276
Most-medaled country: USSR (25)
U.S. rank: 5th (tied)
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- HIGHLIGHTS
ï Scott Hamilton (USA) was the odds-on favorite to win the men's figure skating title -- which he did.
ï Katarina Witt (East Germany) became a household name in women's figure skating after her gold medal performance at the 1984 Winter Games. Four years later at the Calgary Games, she successfully defended her title in a much anticipated match-up with American hopeful Debbie Thomas.
ï Figure skaters Jayne Torville and Christopher Dean (Britain) redefined the ice dancing event with their sparkling gold medal performance to the music of Ravel's "Bolero." They were given the maximum score for artistic impression by all nine of the event's judges.
ï Finally out of the shadow of the great Ingemar Stenmark, brothers Phil and Steve Mahre (USA) skied to a one-two, gold and silver medal victory in the men's Alpine slalom. Fellow American Bill Johnson captured the gold in the men's downhill, giving the United States one of its best showings in Olympic Alpine skiing.
ï Christa Rothenburger (East Germany) set an Olympic record in her gold medal performance in the women's 500m speedskating competition. Second place finisher, Karin Enke, also from East Germany, captured the gold in both the 1,000m and 1,500m race. Andrea Schone completed the East German sweep of the women's speed skating events with a gold medal in the 3,000m.
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