Miller, Raich Are the Leading Candidates for Top Hardware

The combined is a same-day event in which a shortened downhill is followed by two slalom runs. Before 1994, it was based on a points calculation, but now the times of the three races are added.

There are few medal contenders because the event requires downhill and slalom skills. Bode Miller of the United States was the silver medalist at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, and he and Benjamin Raich of Austria are the primary gold-medal candidates. Two aging Norwegians, Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Lasse Kjus, have won gold medals in combined and still are medal threats. Ted Ligety of the U.S., the team’s top slalom star, also will give the event a try.