At a Glance

Originally published Wednesday, February 20, 2002

SPEEDSKATING: Derek Parra of the U.S. had the race of his life in the 1,500 meters and brought his second medal of the games -- a gold to go with his silver in the 5,000 meters.

"This is a fairy tale come true," Parra said. "I have a big heart, and that's it."

Parra zipped around the Utah Olympic Oval in world-record time, breaking the mark set an hour earlier by Jochem Uytdehaage of the Netherlands, who took the silver. Parra then took a slow victory lap -- a pair of sunglasses perched on his head -- waving to the crowd and clutching an American flag that belonged to his late grandfather.

WOMEN'S BOBSLED: Yes, the Americans won the gold medal, ending a 46-year drought in the sport. But it wasn't the Americans most folks expected on the medals stand.

U.S. favorites Jean Racine and Gea Johnson, subject of much pre-Olympic hype, finished fifth. It was their teammates, Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers, who scored a stunning victory and claimed the gold medal.

Racine wept once the race was over, congratulating her celebrating teammates from USA-2. "We didn't win, but America did," Racine said.

It was the first U.S. bobsled medal since a bronze by the four-man team in 1956.

FIGURE SKATING: Michelle Kwan turned in a near-perfect short program, skating to the lead after the first part of the two-part competition.

Kwan edged ahead of her main rival, Irina Slutskaya of Russia, to take the top spot. Americans Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes finished in third and fourth places, respectively, raising the possibility of multiple U.S. medals in the event.

FREESTYLE SKIING: Joe Pack -- a regular Joe if there ever was one -- twisted and soared to a silver medal in the aerials competition, winning after one of his teammates went from a gold medal to last place on a single blown jump.

Pack, 23, put the Americans back on the medal platform after the U.S. squad was shut out -- for the only day of the Olympics -- on Monday.

A stunning miscalculation by defending aerials gold medalist Eric Bergoust left him on his back and in last place after his second jump. The gold medal went to Ales Valenta of the Czech Republic, while Alexei Grichin of Belarus won bronze.

WOMEN'S HOCKEY: It's a much-anticipated replay of four years ago: the United States and Canada, the two best teams in the world, in a showdown for the gold medal.

Cammi Granato had two goals and an assist to lead the Americans past Sweden 4-0, setting up the long-assumed rematch between the Canadians and their recent nemesis.

The Americans won the gold medal in Nagano and beat Canada in eight straight exhibitions before the 2002 Games.

Finland, the defending bronze medalist, faces Sweden in the bronze medal game.

CROSS-COUNTY-SKIING: Julija Tchepalova of Russia captured the first Olympic women's 1.5K cross-county sprint. In the men's 1.5K race, Tor Arne Hetland of Norway grabbed the lead in the final 100 meters to win the gold.

WOMEN'S CURLING: Great Britain moved into the semifinals with a pair of tie-breaker victories. The British eliminated Sweden 6-4, then did the same to Germany, 9-5.

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