Bode Miller stands a reformed man. The former bad boy of the US Ski Team, looks set to be the main man of the Winter Olympics after taking 3 medals in Vancouver with the slalom still up for grabs.
Miller had promised so much for so long. In the Turin Winter Olympics 2006, he was hotly tipped to sweep the Alpine board but dissappointingly came away empty handed. His antics off-piste caused a bit of a scandal and he subsequently fell out with the US ski team.
However, the Miller that skis before us today is a different man, calmer, more focused than ever and more dedicated to the sport. He has finally fulfilled his potential and has taken his first ever Olympic gold in the super combined, along with a silver and a bronze in the super g and downhill. He adds these to his silvers from Salt Lake City in 2002, world championship medals in 2003, 2006 and numerous world cup titles including, most important of all, the coveted overall title in 2008.
Miller has now achieved everything possible in the sport. He stands as the most decorated American alpine skiier of all time, and one of the greatest all-round skiiers to ever grace the piste; one of the few to win Olympic medals in 4 disciplines.
Bode has taken a long road and its been a hard road, but you cannot say he has not done it his way. Who knows where he will go from here. Even Bode probably does not know at this time whether he will continue on the piste. If he does decide to hang up his ski boots, it will be a huge blow to the alpine world. As one of the most entertaining skiiers of all time, he will be sorely missed on the circuit.
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