THE OLYMPICS / WINTER GAMES AT ALBERTVILLE : Carmichael Gets Bronze in Moguls

Denied a chance to celebrate when Raphaelle Monod failed to beat American Donna Weinbrecht in the Olympic women’s moguls competition Thursday, thousands of French spectators pulled out all the stops less than an hour later when their beloved Edgar Grospiron won the gold medal in the men’s event.

The heavy favorite after finishing first in Wednesday’s elimination round, the 22-year-old Grospiron compiled 25.81 points and defeated countryman Olivier Allamand, who had 24.87 and got the silver medal.

Nelson Carmichael of Steamboat Springs, Colo., earned the bronze, as expected, but not without a battle. Jean-Luc Brassard of Canada had finished third Wednesday, just ahead of the 26-year-old American. In the finals, however, Brassard faltered and dropped to seventh place as Carmichael came through with a score of 24.82.

Grospiron, who wears a semi-punk haircut and is affectionately called “the bad boy of La Clusaz” because of his possibly exaggerated history of minor mischief, could hardly contain himself afterward.

“It was fabulous,” he said. “I gave my best today. I have been waiting for this gold medal for a long time. It is a victory for the French Olympic ski team and for the people, who have been truly fantastic.”

Grospiron’s coach, Nano Pourtier, said: “Edgar has often asked me whether he had become a master skier, like Henri Authier, Philippe Bron and me, and I’ve always answered, ‘Not yet, it is too early to say.’ But today, he became a master. With the pressure he had to handle, he definitely proved that he is the best.”

Grospiron was world mogul champion in both 1989 and ‘91, years in which Carmichael finished seventh and ninth, respectively.

In the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary, where the moguls were a demonstration sport--along with freestyle skiing’s other events, ballet and aerials--Grospiron was third and Carmichael 10th after having been impressive in the early competition.

“This medal makes up for ‘88,” said Carmichael, who intends to retire after this season. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this year, and now that it’s finally come, I’m happy.”