Bode Miller wins gold medal in men’s super combined

U.S. skier Bode Miller won the gold medal in the men’s super combined at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Sunday. It is the first Olympic gold medal of Miller’s career and fifth medal overall. He already has three silvers and a bronze. It is his third medal of the Vancouver Games, a U.S. alpine skiing record, and it is the U.S. team’s eighth medal at these Games, also a U.S. record.

“That was unbelievable,” Miller said. “I can’t ask for anything more. I got fully fired up to take maximum risk.”

Ivica Kostelic of Croatia finished second with a time of 2:45.25 and Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland finished third in 2:45.32.

Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, who led after the downhill portion of the event, missed a gate during the slalom.

U.S. skier Ted Ligety, the defending Olympic champion in combined, finished fifth.

The super combined is a morning downhill time added to one run of slalom. The change in format, from two runs of slalom to one, helped Miller’s medal chances.