Nordics combine for double medal joy

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-02-24 09:44

WHISTLER: Norway's Kjetil Jansrud joined compatriot and triple medallist Aksel Lund Svindal on the Olympic giant slalom podium on Tuesday and was delighted to have beaten his teammate.

Norway's silver medallist Kjetil Jansrud, Switzerland's gold medallist Carlo Janka and Norway's bronze medalist Aksel Lund Svindal (L-R) gesture during victory ceremony for the men's alpine skiing Giant Slalom event at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, February 23, 2010.[Agencies]

"To have our first double podium here in the Olympic Games is unbelievable but I am just so happy I was above him," said silver medallist Jansrud who stormed back from 11th place after the first run.

The 24-year-old Jansrud's early start left him plenty of time to watch his rivals come down and the biggest celebration came when Svindal came in 0.22 seconds slower.

Jansrud began pumping his fist as he started to realise he was heading for a medal.

"I was pretty sure that some of the guys would come in ahead of me. Standing there I was thinking that I would finish fifth or sixth. Then when Aksel came down, losing some time, then my heart started racing," he said.

Jansrud said that he felt before his run that the pressure was off him and he could just try to produce a quick time.

"I had a goal of being on the podium before the race but after the first run I was just too far back so I just said to myself I will try to ski fast.

"Even if you are far back, it's still the Olympic Games and you have to have respect as an athlete to try and make your very best and see how it ends and I am very glad to be on the podium.

"Speaking for myself I think its great -- we've both been up there this season but never in the same race, so this is our first time on the podium together which is so nice. I think obviously it means more to me seeing as he has a couple of medals from earlier," added Jansrud.

Although Jansrud has yet to win a World Cup race, he finished on the podium in his last three World Cup events coming into the Olympics.

Svindal, whose bronze medal followed his silver in downhill and gold in super G, said the win was proof of a tight team spirit in the Norwegian camp.

"We are a really close team, a small team, small resources compared to other teams but really close that's our advantage. We've had a great atmosphere all week even though I was the only one really performing very well, now it's just going to get even better," he said.