Hockey defeat by U.S. completes Russian misery

Russia were beaten 3-2 by the United States in the semifinals of the Olympic men's ice hockey on Saturday, a painful defeat which completed Russia's misery at the Salt Lake Games.

For two periods, the Russians were clearly second best to an American side energised by memories of the Miracle on Ice defeat of the Soviet Union in 1980. But they pulled back two goals in a thrilling third period to regain some pride.

Russia's conviction they have been victimised throughout the 17-day Games will not have been helped by the fact all three American goals were scored when Russia were one man down. The U.S. now play Canada in Sunday's final.

So angry has the Russian team been at its treatment by judges and officials that, backed by President Vladimir Putin, it threatened on Thursday to pull out of the Olympics.

A withdrawal was averted shortly before the hockey semifinal started and not long after a Russian protest about the result of the women's figure skating was turned down.

Russia wanted a duplicate gold awarded to silver medallist Irina Slutskaya as they believed she had skated as well, or better, than 16-year-old American winner Sarah Hughes.

With two days left, Russia have five golds, by far their worst winter tally since the break-up of the Soviet Union and well behind Norway's 11 and the 10 of Germany and the U.S.

FOUR MEDALS

On the slopes Croatia's Janica Kostelic became the first Alpine skier to win four medals at one Winter Olympics after racing away with the giant slalom gold.

The 20-year-old, still suffering the after-effects of a series of knee operations, won by 1.32 seconds from Anja Paerson, who claimed Sweden's second silver of the Games. Sonja Nef of Switzerland was third.

Kostelic, who now has three golds and a silver, had not won a giant slalom all season after coming back in December following surgery. "She's proved that mentally she's the strongest ever," said Paerson. "She's incredible.

On the 15th day of competition, Finn Samppa Lajunen made a clean sweep of the Nordic combined events by winning the inaugural sprint title, his third gold of the Games.

Starting 15 seconds ahead of the field after leaping 126.5 metres from the high hill on Thursday, Lajunen, the individual and team champion, was never in danger of being caught and finished nine seconds ahead of Germany's Ronny Ackermann.

Austrian Felix Gottwald moved from 11th to third for his third bronze of the Games.

Dutch speedskater Jochem Uytdehaage became the first man to break 13 minutes in the 10,000 metres when he raced away with the gold. He has netted two world records, two golds and a silver at these Games.

Canada were expected to dominate the men's and women's curling but after being beaten by Britain in the women's semifinals, their men lost out to Norway in the final.

Skip Kevin Martin misfired on his final shot handing Paal Trulsen's Norwegian rink a shock 6-5 victory.