Sawt Falasteen - Meillard hails Swiss 'golden era' after slalom win caps Olympic domination

Franjo von Allmen set the pace, scorching to wins in the two opening speed events of the downhill and super-G in Bormio.

Von Allmen then sealed a record-equalling third gold in the same Winter Games -- alongside Austrian Toni Sailer and France's Jean-Claude Killy -- after partnering Tanguy Nef to team combined victory.

While Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen claimed gold in the giant slalom for a first-ever Winter Olympic medal for South America, he skied out of the first leg of the slalom.

That allowed reigning slalom world champion Meillard a chink of light towards which he skied with aplomb, first-leg leader Atle Lie McGrath of Norway bombing out in anger on the second run.

"Every medal is special," said Meillard. "To win the slalom in the Olympics one year after being world champ is very special.

"I was very focused on skiing fast and skiing without regrets. We worked the whole summer and the last few years to be consistent in giant slalom and slalom, with super-G on the side."

Meillard's win left the Swiss team with four of the five possible golds on offer and eight of the 15 medals up for grabs.

He ended up with three medals, having also won combined silver with Odermatt and giant slalom bronze. Odermatt also won giant slalom silver and super-G bronze for three of his own.

The Swiss men touched down in northern Italy having already dominated last year's world championships in Saalbach.

In a remarkable coincidence, the team also won four of the five golds in the Austrian resort, as well as eight of the 15 total medals.

- At best level -

Meillard said the team's success was "most likely down to work done by federation right down to kids, with good training possibilities, good coaches, good groups".

"We're living in a bit of a golden era in Switzerland in skiing. I's crazy what's been happening in the last few years, and so everyone has to enjoy it as much as possible, because most likely we will not stay like that for the next 10 years.

"We are still pretty young, the whole team, but at the end it works well. Maybe in a few years, another country like Austria can be back on top and have young people coming as well, pushing us. So that's why I'm saying we have to enjoy it while it lasts."

Austria's silver medallist Fabio Gstrein offered no deep insight into the Swiss performances.

"They're faster than us at the moment," Gstrein said simply.

"We weren't dead lucky in the speed races, but we'll be back for more medals."

Norwegian veteran Henrik Kristoffersen claimed bronze, describing Meillard, a guest at his summer wedding, as "a good friend and probably the most complete skier at the moment".

"When someone's beating me, it's not too bad if it's Loic."

All three skiers had words of comfort for McGrath, who was left devastated on the side of his slope after skiing out of his second run.

It was a double whammy for the Norwegian, who was informed on the night of the opening ceremony of these Milan-Cortina Games that his grandfather -- an influential figure in his sporting career -- had died after a battle with dementia.

"What are sports without reactions?" asked Kristoffersen. "Everyone should be allowed to have their own emotions."

Meillard added: "Atle will come back stronger."

C.AbuSway--SF-PST