Johnson Has Little Hope of Making U.S. Team

Bill Johnson, the 1984 Olympic downhill ski champion, has virtually no chance of making the U.S. squad for the Winter Games in Calgary, Alpine Program Director Harald Schoenhaar said Sunday.

Schoenhaar, in a telephone interview from his home in Park City, Utah, said the 27-year-old Californian’s poor World Cup finishes this season had practically knocked him out of the running for Olympic selection.

“Johnson is No. 6 on our list right now,” Schoenhaar said, 48 hours before the men’s and women’s teams were due to be announced Tuesday. “His hopes are almost nil. There’s not a good chance that he’ll make the team.”

Johnson underwent back and knee operations in early 1987 and returned to training only last autumn.

In seven downhills this season, Johnson’s best finish was 33rd last week in Leukerbad, Switzerland.