Bode Miller withdraws from final event in Sochi

Bode Miller has officially withdrawn from the men’s giant slalom which will end his Olympic Games in Sochi, according to the US Olympic Team.

Miller had high hopes for the 2014 Games, in which he was believed to have a chance at the podium in the men’s downhill, super combined and super-G, but managed to finish his games with one bronze medal in the super-G. Winning an Olympic medal is a huge achievement, but more was expected of the five-time medalist.

It seemed early that he had control of a difficult downhill event. A troubling course gave much of the field problems, but in practice Miller had no issues. He was called the “man to beat” by top competitors, so long as he could carry his practice performance into the event itself. This wasn’t to be and several mental errors later, he finished in eighth place.

Fortunes turned in the super-G and Miller managed to capture bronze, his sixth Olympic medal, for Team USA in a difficult event. There has been no indication the 36-year-old intends to retire, but if Sochi represents his final Olympic performance, he can hold his head high.