Bode Miller skis out of men’s slalom, ends Olympics with US record 3 Alpine medals

Bode Miller skis out of men’s slalom

WHISTLER, British Columbia — Bode Miller’s bid for Olympic history ended early Saturday when he skied off-course just 8 seconds into his final event.

The 32-year-old from Franconia, N.H., trying to become the first man to win four Alpine medals in the same Olympics, missed a gate in the slalom shortly after the start on a fog-shrouded, snowy day. He stood by the side of the course looking mystified by his mistake.

Miller is one of only five men to get three Alpine medals at a games, a record performance for a U.S. skier.

He won gold in the super-combined, silver in the super-G and bronze in downhill.

His five career Olympic medals are tied for second on the all-time list behind Norway’s Kjetil Andre Aamodt, who has eight.

Miller had not won a two-leg slalom race on the World Cup circuit since December 2004, but showed excellent form last Sunday in the slalom portion of the super-combined to take his first Olympic title.

However, his run Saturday lasted just a few gates.

Miller was one of 10 men in the top-30 ranked skiers who did not make it to the finish in difficult conditions for racing.

Persistent wet snow forced race organizers to spread chemicals on the course to create a solid racing surface.