Editorial: Going for the gold

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998 | 11:01 a.m.

But Jonny Moseley and Picabo Street's clutch performances on Wednesday put an end to the American medal drought. It was well worth the wait.

Moseley broke through the gold medal barrier first as he won the men's moguls. In the moguls, which is scored by judges, speed and flair are critical components. It would be an understatement to say Moseley captured the essence of the freestyle sport when he told reporters about his revolutionary "helicopter jump" and the spectators' reaction: "I grabbed my ski and I pulled it back and I just looked at the colors. There were just people, aaaay, everywhere. That's when I was like, 'Whoaaah, get back into it.' "

Not to be outdone was Picabo Street, a competitor who is as tough as nails. Street came back faster than expected from a severe knee injury, and she also fought back the effects of a recent concussion. None of that seemed to faze her, though, as she won the women's super-G, the first Alpine event. Next on Street's list of challenges is Saturday's downhill. If she wins a gold medal in that event, she would be the first woman skier to get two gold medals since 1952.

The heavy snows in Nagano, Japan, at the start of the games that canceled many skiing events may have dampened public interest, but it's hard to imagine anyone who wasn't thrilled by the skill and sportsmanship displayed by Moseley and Street.