Miller conjures up inner child for first gold (News Feature)

By David Hein Feb 22, 2010, 0:20 GMT

Whistler, Canada - It was a long time waiting with loads of expectations and let-downs along the way but American Bode Miller finally captured his much desired first Olympic gold medal on Sunday by winning the men's super combined title.

'It was an unbelievable challenge. And to rise to that challenge is unbelievable,' said Miller, who added the super combined gold to his downhill bronze and super-g silver medals he had already won at Vancouver 2010.

All told, Miller has won five Olympic medals, becoming one of only four men to have won five alpine medals along with Kjetil Andre Aamodt (8 medals) and Lasse Kjus (5) of Norway and Italian Alberto Tomba (5).

Miller grabbed gold ahead of Ivica Kostelic of Croatia while Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland won bronze.

'We're witnessing great moments. He's a skier at the end of his career, and without pressure. He knows what he wants and he's ready enough to reach those goals,' said Kostelic of Miller.

'For sure, such a great skier deserves to be an Olympic champion as well. The big story is that this gold comes at the end of his career. It gives hope to the rest of the older athletes to compete and have a chance to win.'

The 32-year-old Miller said the main reason he is proud of his showing on Sunday in particular, and in Whistler, in general, is that he is skiing how he wants to - like a young skier fresh on the World Cup circuit.

'It feels great to bring out that again. Letting all the stuff out, racing like a little kid and not thinking about all the stuff older people do.'

That ease on the skis was next to impossible four years ago for Miller.

After winning two silvers at Salt Lake City 2002, Miller went into Turin 2006 with many people back home anticipating he could win five gold medals. His best placing, however, was fifth in the downhill while being disqualified or not finishing three other races.

He admitted after winning the 2010 super-g silver that he felt trapped in 2006.

'I had almost no ownership over my results or my situation at that time because too many people had said that 'Oh he's going to win these medals, and this is the way he skis, and this is who he is and this is how he acts',' he said.

'And when everyone says that about you for that long you don't feel like you have ownership of your own actions anymore.'

In Turin, Miller his own team in Turin away from the US men's alpine team. He came to Vancouver with US hopes mounted more on Lindsey Vonn while having intentions of enjoying the atmosphere more and even trying to act as an inspiration to others while being inspired by the Olympic spirit.

'There's more environment stimulation, more energy, at an Olympic Winter Games. You have to feed off of it and let it elevate your performance,' said Miller, who is the oldest member of the US men's alpine team by about 2.5 years.

Miller lacked all motivation to ski after the 2008-09 season that he gave up the sport entirely, including breaking ties with all sponsors and equipment providers.

He broke away to clear his mind while enjoy being with his young daughter and going to the beach and slipping into sandals instead of ski boots in the morning with 'nothing to do.'

'It was great,' said the Franconia native. 'I had no skis. I had no coaches. In September (2009) I had zero likelihood of racing this season.'

Miller eventually decided to return to racing this season under one condition - to ski in the right fashion.

'I have to allow myself to be inspired by it and to inspire other guys. In the past I have taken it really clinically. But you need to go through the emotional rollercoaster and let that run through your body,' he said.

After finally grabbing the gold he was asked at the post-race press conference if the Olympic title means more now than if he had won it at a previous Winter Games.

'If anything, it means less than earlier. I didn't have the same piece of mind as now,' he said. 'I have gone through a lot in last 15 years. As you get older, things fall into their own place.

'Skiing like I did today means more than many years ago. I used to ski like that every day. I was doing it for the skiing and not for the result.'

Not for results - meaning no chance of letting down any hopes or expectations.