Giant Slalom, Men

Austrian Benjamin Raich was favored, having won the 2005 World Cup, leading the race in 2005-06, and having been runner-up at the 2005 World Championships. But another ominous presence was Austrian Hermann Maier, the Herminator, who was the 1998 gold medalist in the event. Maier had been unable to compete in 2001, still recovering from the effects of a severe motorcycle accident that had doctors considering the amputation of his leg. He had now recovered quite well, winning the 2005 World Championship in GS, and the 2004 World Cup in the event. The first run was led by unheralded Canadian François Bourque, followed by Frenchman Joël Chenal. Chenal was a bit better known, having previously posted three podium finishes in the GS in World Cup races, with one win. Maier was tied for third, with Raich in fifth after the first run. Another contender, 2003 World Champion Bode Miller, struggled into 12th position, as he was having a horrible Olympics for him. On the second run, Bourque fell back to form, placing 12th on the run, to drop out of the medals. Raich won the run over Chenal, with Maier third and Miller fourth. The final medal standings echoed the second run placements, with Raich winning the gold medal, Chenal the silver, and Maier the bronze. For Raich, it was his third Olympic medal and first gold, but two days later he would another gold in the slalom.