Aamodt wins duel of alpine heroes

SESTRIERE, Italy, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- In a battle of aging alpine heroes, Norway's Kjetil Andre Aamodt edged Austria's Hermann Maier Saturday to win the Olympic super-giant slalom.

American Bode Miller failed to finish, leaving the United States without a medal thus far in the alpine events.

Aamodt, 34, who won the fourth gold medal of his Olympic career, was the 25th skier down the mountain in an event that was twice postponed due to heavy snow and fog.

The Norwegian veteran, who has been on the international circuit for 13 years, was timed in 1:30.65. Six skiers later, Maier sped down the hill in 1:30.78 to earn the silver.

Maier, 33, is a four-time World Cup overall champion and the owner of two Olympic golds. He resumed his career after a motorcycle accident in 2002 that left his left leg so badly damaged doctors considered amputation. He missed the 2002 Games.

The bronze in the super-G went to Ambrosi Hoffman of Switzerland in 1:30.98.

Hoffman was followed by Erik Guay of Canada, Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, Marco Buechel of Liechtenstein and the leading American, Scott Macartney.