Austria nips Americans in Nordic combined

WHISTLER, British Columbia, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Mario Stecher fought off American Bill Demong in the closing stretch Tuesday to give Austria a victory in the team event of Olympic Nordic combined.

The combination of ski jumping and cross-country skiing has been a part of the Winter Olympics since they began in 1924 and the United States had never won a medal in the sport until this year.

Johnny Spillane claimed a silver for the Americans in the normal hill event last week and he joined Demong, Todd Lodwick and Brett Camerota on a team that was among the favorites for gold Tuesday.

The Americans got off to a good start in the ski jumping portion, finishing only 1.2 points behind Finland.

Austria was in third place after the jumping and began the 20-kilometer skiing relay with a 34 second deficit to the United States.

The Austrians moved within 4 seconds after the first leg of the relay and the race remained close the rest of the way.

Demong began the final leg trailing Stecher by 14 seconds, but soon pulled up behind him and waited to make a move late in the race. Stecher was able to hold on, however, and eventually opened a 5 second lead at the finish line.

Germany wound up third, 14 seconds behind the Americans, followed by France, Norway and Japan. Finland faded to seventh.

Another Nordic combined individual event, one utilizing the large ski jumping hill, will take place Thursday.