Bode Miller Wins Bronze In Men’s Downhill, Switzerland’s Defago Takes Gold

Alpine Skiing finally got underway Monday afternoon in Vancouver, after two days of delays, with the Men’s Downhill, the fastest sport on two skis. Didier Defago of Switzerland won the gold, while American Bode Miller took home the bronze medal.

Miller was the eighth to ski, and then had to wait as the full field of 64 skiers completed their runs. In the end, his time of 1:54:40 was enough for third. He was just 0.09 seconds behind Defago, and only 0.02 seconds the mark of Norway’s Aksel Lund Svindal, the defending World Cup champion, who won silver.

For Defago, it was his country’s first medal in the blue riband event in 22 years.

“I’m very happy,” the 32-year-old said. “It was a crazy run, not very easy because it was very different from the training.

“I really wanted to go back home with a medal. After three Olympics and a lot of championships I think my experience made the difference.”

It is Bode’s third career Olympic medal (he won Silver in Salt Lake City in Giant Slalom and Combined). Fellow American Steven Nyman ended today’s run in 20th place.

Next up for the men in Alpine is the Super-Combined, scheduled for Tuesday.

More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.