WHISTLER, British Columbia — Bode Miller turned everything around in the Vancouver Olympics — his image, his temperament, his place in ski history and his attitude toward the sport that has been his blessing and his curse.
There was none of the belligerence, petulance or sarcasm he delivered so readily in the past. He was passionate, genuine and unfailingly pleasant.
It was the Olympics that turned him around. The slogan of the Vancouver Games is: “With Glowing Hearts, Des Plus Brillants Exploits (Even Greater Achievements).”
Miller felt the passion of the Games, used it for “fuel” and became the first American man to win three medals in skiing at the same Games — including his first Olympic gold medal (in super-combined). He lasted only a few gates in Saturday’s slalom that ended the alpine program for the Vancouver Games, but left a man at ease with himself and his Olympic experience.
“It’s unique and incredible,” Miller said Saturday after his abortive slalom run. “The super-combined, I’ll remember that feeling and my place in the whole picture really clearly for a long time. I used to race very similar to that, with that kind of heart and intensity, all the time when I was younger. To have that come back and be inspired at this Games, I appreciate it a lot more now than I did then — how unusual it is, how unique it is to find that kind of energy to go above and beyond what you could normally achieve on your own because you’re a part of something else. That was really cool. It was exactly what I needed.”
A year ago Miller left the World Cup before the season ended, unsure if he’d ever return. He was unfulfilled and wondered if racing could ever make him happy again. He didn’t train over the summer, didn’t do the things a skier must do to be world class. Then in September he decided he wanted to come back, after all, because of the Olympics.
“I wanted to make sure I came back and found a really enjoyable way to race,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t say I really did that very well during the World Cup season, it felt like the grind the way it was before. But then to come into the Games and perform the way I did, to feel the kind of enjoyment from skiing and expressing myself on my skis the way I did, is phenomenal.”
A month or two ago, it was unlikely Miller would return next season. That has changed.
“When I came back, I came back specifically for this but with the intent to try to find what I was looking for, and I think I did find that,” Miller said. “Now it’s a matter of trying to translate that into World Cup. It’s a different challenge, but much more likely to be successful now. I won’t do it if I don’t think I could be successful. Now I think there’s a good chance of that.”
Not even going out in the giant slalom and slalom here put a damper on his mood.
“I really couldn’t be much happier,” Miller said. “I know the risks I’m taking (tactically). Not many people do. I skied hard, I was prepared, that’s all you can do. It doesn’t always go your way, but overall this Olympics was amazing, how many things did go my way.”
Miller’s uncle and trusted advisor, former University of Colorado racer Mike Kenney, likes to challenge Miller by asking him to ponder what he could achieve if he ever got really fit. Kenney believes Miller’s achievements here were his greatest because of his lack of training before the season and an ankle injury that limited how much he could work out during the season.
“That’s absolutely true,” Kenney said. “If you look at the time splits, they bear that out. He went way up on everybody (early in his runs), then dropped off at the finish.”
Kenney predicts Miller will return for more next season.
“I think he gets bored not doing things,” Kenney said. “He’s going to get his (rear) whipped in tennis this summer and go, ‘Hmmm, maybe I’m pretty good in skiing after all.’ “
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
