Didier Defago takes shock downhill gold

Despite holding only one podium finish on the World Cup circuit this season, Defago out-shone his fancied team-mates Didier Cuche and Carlo Janka to become the first Swiss champion since Pirmin Zurbriggen in Calgary in 1988.

Defago produced a strong finish to nudge Aksel Svindal of Norway down into silver medal position.

American veteran Bode Miller earned the downhill medal that eluded him four years ago as he held on to bronze.

Defago overcame an early error and a dip in the mid-section of the course to eclipse Svindal's time by seven hundredths of a second. With nine hundredths separating the first three, it was the tightest podium in Olympic downhill history.

Defago said: "It's a great satisfaction for me when you compare it with the rest of my season. This is what I was missing from my career. I wanted to bring home a little more weight in my luggage."

Defago, also the oldest Olympic downhill champion at 32 years 136 days, was an outsider for the title. Compatriots Cuche and Janka - first and second in the World Cup standings - trailed in sixth and 11th respectively.

There was also satisfaction for Miller, a double silver medallist in Salt Lake City, who had started as big favourite for the downhill title in Turin four years ago but failed to medal.

Miller's aggressive run raised the possibility of a stunning victory for the American veteran as he held the lead through eight more racers before Svindal and Defago spoiled his script.

Miller, a two-time overall world champion, said: "It was fun but really tough. I was really nervous in the morning. I did really well on the top but I was pushing too hard. If I could do it again I could hold those guys."

Canada's big hopes of downhill glory were dashed as their two star racers, both of whom grew up skiing down the Whistler course, paid for big mistakes and were well off the pace from the start.

Manuel Osborne-Paradis, twice a World Cup winner this season, tried to shrug off his 17th place finish and concentrate on future medal chances. He said: "I started well but I made a big error. I'm going to go hang out and clear my mind from this."

Meanwhile Robbie Dixon was one of four starters who failed to make it to the finish. He crashed towards the bottom of the course and admitted: "I was pushing it and made a few mistakes that caught me off-guard. That's Whistler."