Chamonix, France – One could hardly find two more disparate personalities than Bode Miller and Bernhard Russi, a great Swiss downhill champion of the 1970s known for his humility, kindness and devout religious faith.
But Russi also is a man of keen insight, and he understands the brash American rebel’s penchant for making outrageous statements seemingly contrived for maximum shock value. It is a habit Miller has indulged with relish in the run-up to the Turin Games landing him on the covers of Time and Newsweek, not to mention a series of controversies.
“I can understand the situation he is in; it’s not an easy situation,” said Russi, who won the 1972 Olympic downhill and finished second to Austrian Franz Klammer four years later. “He is a natural guy, easygoing, and suddenly everybody tends to put him into a certain image, a certain cage. I’ve had long talks with him about it.
“He doesn’t feel free anymore. Everything we hear from him is to prove to himself that he is still free. That’s the only explanation I have. Suddenly it becomes a little bit of a game.”
On the final World Cup weekend before the Olympics, Miller appeared relaxed and ready for his marquee role there. He even clinged to the hope he could walk through Times Square without being recognized despite the media blitz surrounding him.
“People in the U.S. don’t really recognize the people on the cover of magazines unless they see them on TV,” Miller said after finishing third Friday in a “super-combined” event here at the foot of spectacular Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in Europe at 15,780 feet. “When they see somebody on a magazine cover, they get no perspective. If I was actually a foot and a half tall, carrying my skis around, they might recognize me. I’m still pretty anonymous.”
He also believes the Olympics might be easier on him than the typical World Cup weekend because he will be in the same place for more than two weeks, giving him time to train, relax and enjoy himself.
“It’s definitely a bit of a circus in a lot of ways, but it is a more favorable format for me because I am run pretty ragged on the World Cup circuit,” Miller said. “They don’t give me a lot of time. The Olympics really is a vacation in a lot of ways. You get to enjoy the other events, you hopefully get to revive what you believe is the Olympic spirit. Hopefully, I have a chance to do that.”
Making compromises
For nearly a year Miller has expressed ambivalence about the Olympics because he thinks the Games have strayed from the ideals they were created to honor. The man raised unconventionally by counterculture parents in the wilds of New Hampshire hasn’t been able to resolve his misgivings, but he’s going to his third Olympics anyway.
“I don’t think there was any confusion, it was just a matter of trying to compromise my beliefs,” Miller said. “I don’t think I’m any closer to it, although I’ve come to terms with it a little bit. It doesn’t mean I’ve rationalized it to myself very well, but apparently enough that I’m planning on going and competing.
“There are still days even now, especially when the press gets me to start talking, when I really believe if I could make an impact that was effective by doing something different, that would be a viable option for me, but I really don’t think there’s any chance of that. I think people would have no opportunity to interpret that any way but negatively.”
Ironman takes a breather
Because of his success last season, when he became the first American in 22 years to win the World Cup overall title, he has been called a medal contender in all five Olympic alpine events. Based strictly on his performance this season – one victory and six podium finishes compared with seven wins and 14 podiums last season – one would be hard-pressed to predict more than the two medals he won in Salt Lake four years ago. But a week of playing golf with his brother in Dubai – ending his ironman streak of 136 straight World Cup starts going back to March 2002 – may have rekindled the motivation and intensity that helped him dominate the tour in the past.
“I think he’s in good shape,” said U.S. Ski Team downhill coach John McBride. “He seems fired up, he’s psyched about his little break. So much of it is state of mind. Maybe getting away helped him put things in perspective and reignited a little passion for what he does. I think he’s in a good place.”
Teammates know they are bound to be asked questions about Miller. Daron Rahlves could win more medals – he’s certainly having a better season with three wins and six podiums – but he’s not the guy on the cover of news magazines back home.
“There’s always the Christoph Grubers or whatever who win, but who remembers them a week later?” American J.J. Johnson said.
“Who’s going to remember me? There are some people who are the stars, who just have that personality that grabs (people).”
