Leading Off

Mountain Do
On the final run for the top men's downhill racers on Sunday in Sestriere,Antoine Deneriaz of France skied the race of his life, then wallowed in hisvictory (inset). The 29-year-old defeated Austria's Michael Walchhofer by .72of a second, as U.S. skiers Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves failed to win medals(page 45).

Norse Power
Norway's Kari Traa put the finishing touches on her qualifying run in themoguls at Sauze d'Oulx last Saturday. In the finals World Cup champion JenniferHeil of Canada (inset) took gold; Traa added the silver medal to her gold from2002 and her bronze from 1998. The U.S.'s best finisher, Shannon Bahrke, was10th.

Teter of theAbsurd
In an unearthly performance, 19-year-old Hannah Teter of Belmont, Vt., soaredto a gold medal in the halfpipe on Monday and marked her banner run with astar-spangled celebration (inset). Teter beat teammate Gretchen Bleiler bythree points, but Norway's Kjersti Buaas edged 2002 champ Kelly Clark to thwarta U.S. sweep (page 36).

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PHOTO

Photograph by Simon Bruty

PHOTO

DAVID E. KLUTHO

PHOTO

Photograph by Bob Martin

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GREG BAKER/AP

TWO PHOTOS

Photographs by Bob Martin