21.   It also showed her improvement as a giant slalomer, despite her preference for the speed races.

22.   Kjus had his best Olympic downhill finish by placing second to French veteran Jean-Luc Cretier in the elite speed race of the Olympics.

23.   Seizinger, second overall to Schneider last year, has been improving in the giant slalom but the speed races are still her specialty.

24.   Reports in Italy said the alternate sites under consideration were Crans Montana in Switzerland for speed races and St. Anton, Austria, for the slalom events.

25.   She can hope of a double triumph in the second speed race Saturday.

26.   The alternate sites are reported to be Crans Montana in Switzerland for speed races and St. Anton, Austria, for the slalom events.

27.   The Austrians will be shooting for their first downhill victory in the fourth speed race of the season following six wins in the three other disciplines of Alpine skiing.

28.   The icy, Saslong course proved extremely dangerous this weekend, with bad spills marring the back-to-back speed races in this north Italian valley.

29.   The Italian skier, an original specialist of speed races, gave up downhill and super-G after suffering a number of knee injuries.

30.   The Italian does not start in speed races and this prevented him from winning the World Cup overall title so far.