| The Russians hope to win nine gold medals The Russian Olympic team expects to win nine gold medals at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, which should provide it with second place in the team event. “If the German biathletes suddenly, for some reason, give in to us, then we may well compete for the first,” predicts the head of the ROC working group for coordinating preparations for the 2002 Olympics, Olympic champion Viktor Mamatov. According to German observers from Sport Bild magazine, the German Olympic team plans to win a total of 27 medals in Salt Lake City. Let us recall that in Nagano the Germans “earned” 12 gold, 9 silver and 8 bronze medals. The Norwegian team was second - 10--10--5. The Russians are third - 9--6--3.
The legendary luger is counting on gold
At the last stage of the Luge World Cup before the Games, German national team veteran Georg Hackl excelled. If nothing extraordinary happens, the 35-year-old luger will be able to win a medal at his fifth Olympics. Let us remind you that Georg already has three gold medals, won at the Games in 1992, 1994 and 1998. Having made his debut at the main forum of the quadrennial in Calgary in 1988, he managed to win a silver award. After Nagano, Hakl experienced a decline; at the 1999 World Championships, for the first time since 1986, he did not reach the podium, finishing only 12th. It was his worst performance in years.
The following season, Hakl had big problems with the sled, but at the World Championships he was still able to come third. His teammate, world champion Jens Müller, said that “Georg spent all his time in the basement, working magic on the sleigh.” And not in vain. In 2001, Hakl's new rise began. He climbed to the second step of the podium at the Championship and World Cup after the Italian Armin Zoddeler. Now Hakl is serious about competing for Olympic gold. “Desire and motivation can move mountains,” he says.
Pavle Jovanovic caught for doping
American bobsledder Pavle Jovanovic will not take part in the Olympic Games. The athlete was disqualified after steroids were detected in his doping sample taken on December 29 at a competition in Park City. American Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation executive director Matt Roy said: “Jovanovic will try to appeal the decision to exclude him from the Olympics, and we will support his appeal.” At the same time, the leadership of the American federation refers to the precedent of the Latvian bobsledder Sandis Prusis. Nandrolone was also detected in his doping sample taken on November 9, and the athlete was disqualified for three months. “It all comes down to the period of disqualification,” says Roy. - Prusis will participate in the Olympics, but Jovanovic will not. What principle of “fair play” can we talk about?” Olga ERMOLINA |
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