Selected Images from the 2006 Winter Olympics

Finland’s Antti-Jussi Niemi, rubbing face watches Sweden celebrate their gold medal win.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Eighty-two athletes started the men’s 50 kilometer cross-country race.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

On the last day of the 2006 Winter Olympics, Giorgio di Centa of Italy wins the Men’s 50 Kilometer Mass Start in 2:06:11.8.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Apolo Anton Ohno of the United States rounds the final curve enroute to winning the gold medal.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Apolo Anton Ohno raises his arms in celebration as he crosses the finish line, winning the gold medal in the men’s 500 meter Short Track Speed Skating.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Bode Miller stares at another disqualification.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Benjamin Raich reacts after winning the gold medal in men’s slalom.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Sergei Zhukov knocks down Finland’s Jarkko Ruutu in the second period.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

United States’ Shawn Rojeski releases the stone as Joe Polo, left, and John Shuster sweep during the bronze medal curling match.  (Morry Gash / Associated Press)

United States skip Pete Fenson yells after a shot during the bronze medal curling match against Great Britain.  (Mark Baker / Associated Press)

A streaker makes his way into the arena during the bronze medal match of the men’s curling between United States and Great Britain.  (Clive Rose / Getty Images)

In a heavy snow storm, the U.S.’s Julia Mancuso reacts after winning the gold medal in the women’s giants slalom.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Away from the crowds, Julia Mancuso of the United States stares down at her bouquet of flowers after winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Giant Slalom.  (Gina Ferazz i / Los Angeles Times)

Emily Hughes of the United States performs in the long program of the women’s figure skating competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Sasha Cohen of the United States, the leader going into the free skating portion of the women’s figure skating competition, falls during her routine.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Shizuka Arakawa of Japan is seen during the free skating portion of the women’s figure skating competition.  (Sergey Chirikov / EPA)

Sasha Cohen, of the United States, watches a group warm up before her turn during the women’s free skate.  (Amy Sancetta / Associated Press)

Gold medalist Xiaopeng Han of China celebrates after his first jump in the Mens Freestyle Skiing Aerials Final.  (Adam Pretty / Getty Images)

Petra Elsterova of Czechoslovakia is way ahead of Joanna Shaw of Austria during qualifications for the Womens’ Parallel Slalom.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Rosey Fletcher of the United States competes on her way to the bronze medal in the Womens Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom Finals.  (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)

Doug Weight skates away with his head down as Finland celebrates the 4-3 win, eliminating the U.S.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S.’s Mike Modano soaks in the 4-3 loss to Finland eliminating USA from Olympic play.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Italy’s Women’s 3000m Relay team celebrates after China’s team was disqualified, moving them into the bronze medal position.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Kalyna Roberge, center, of Canada, tries to squeeze through Korea’s Sun-Yu Jin, left, and China’s Meng Wang of China, right, during the Womans’ 3000m Relay Final.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Philipp Schoch of Switzerland (L), and his brother Simon Schoch celebrate after the Men’s Snowboard parallel giant slalom final.  (John Mabanglo / EPA)

Sasha Cohen performs during the short program of the women’s figure skating competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Irina Slutskaya, second after the short program, performs.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Seth Wescott keeps his lead over Radoslav Zidek of Slovakia as they head toward the finish of the Men’s Snowboardcross Finals at Bardonecchia. Wescott won the Gold Medal and Zidek won the Silver.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

With the town of Bardonecchia in the background, Jason Smith of the U.S. flies on a jump in the semifinal round of the Men’s Snowboardcross competition.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Maelle Ricker of Canada is favored to medal in the Women’s Snowboardcross.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Seth Wescott wraps himself in the flag after winning the gold in the Men’s Snowboardcross competition.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S.’s Mike Knuble battles Latvia goalie Arturs Irbe for a loose puck.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Canada goalie Martin Brodeur makes a save on a shot by Italy.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Italy’s Joe Busillo, left, and Canada’s Martin St-Louis collide at the boards as they battle for a loose puck.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. player Jason Blake is stopped by Latvia goalie Arturs Irbe late in the third period to preserve a 3-3 tie.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USA fans celebrate a goal against Latvia.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

USA goalie John Grahame turns away as Latvia celebrates a goal in the first period.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. mogul skier Toby Dawson reacts as he crosses the finish line posting a score to give him a bronze medal.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Dale Begg-Smith of Australia jumps off the ramp to take a gold medal during the finals Men’s Moguls at Sauze d’Oulx, Italy.  (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)

Chad Hedrick of the United States reacts after the U.S. was eliminated from medal contention during the men’s team pursuit speedskating at Oval Lingotto.  (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)

Michaela Dofmeister of Austria reacts to winning the gold in the Women’s Downhill at the 2006 Winter Olympics in San Sicario Fraiteve, Italy.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Lindsey Kildow hangs her head after finishing in eighth place in the Women’s Downhill at the Winter Olympics in San Sicario Fraiteve, Italy.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

LET’S GET LOUD: Cheerleaders rally the crowd at an Olympic venue. Their reviews are mixed.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

HUMAN SKI LIFT: Ligety of Park City, Utah, gets a ride from teammates after winning the gold medal. His final slalom run of 43.84 was the day’s fastest. “It’s something that I never would have expected,” the 21-year-old said.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Zhang Dan is helped off the ice by partner Zhang Hao after injuring her knee during the finals of the pairs competition Monday. After a two-minute regrouping period, the Chinese pair returned to the ice and won the silver medal.  (Wally SKalij / Los Angeles Times)

Zhang Dan prepares to catch partner Zhang Hao during the pairs competition on Monday.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Parsons, front, is happy after scoring her second goal of the game in the U.S. women’s hockey team’s 7-3 win over Finland.  (Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)

Kazusa Tabata, 4, left, and her brother Gakusi, 6, show their support for Japanese speedskaters during the women’s 500 meters.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Chris Witty of the U.S. chases Svetlana Radkevich of Belarus during the women’s 500-meter speedskating competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Jiang Chunli of China competes in the women’s cross-country team sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Bjoern Lind of Sweden, right, finishes just ahead of Tor Arne Hetland of Norway to win the gold medal for his country in the men’s cross-county team sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Russia’s Evgeni Plushenko competes during the men’s figure skating short program. Plushenko has a commanding lead over second-place Johnny Weir of the U.S.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Frederic Dambier of France falls during the men’s figure skating short program.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Johnny Weir of the U.S. is in second place after the men’s figure skating short program.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Team Canada Executive Director Wayne Gretzky makes his way through a crush of photographers.  (Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press)

TOUGH RIDE: Bode Miller had a big lead but straddled a gate on his first slalom run and was disqualified.  (Kevin Frayer / Associated Press)

ALL ROADS LEAD TO FUN: Narrow streets in Sauze d’Oulx, west of Turin, lead people to the freestyle skiing events of the Winter Games and to an array of restaurants and pubs.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Finland’s Lauri Pyykonen leads the pack during the Cross-Country Men’s Team Sprint.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Canada’s Meaghan Simister is helped into an ambulance after crashing in her third run in the Women’s Singles Luge.  (Michael Sohn / Associated Press)

Second place German luger Silke Kraushaar, first place Sylke Otto and third place Tatjana Huefner, from left, celebrate after the Olympic Women’s Single Luge.  (Michael Sohn / AP)

China’s Fengtong Yu falls next to Japan’s Yuya Oikawa as they cross the finish line in the Men’s 500m Speed Skating.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

A fan holds a British flag against the sunlight as a Great Britain snowboarder enters the coarse in the Women’s Halfpipe Final.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Russian gold medalists Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin, right, perform during the Pairs Skating final in Turin.  (Mark Baker / Associated Press)

Russia’s Maxim Marinin and Tatiana Totmianina spin their way to the gold medal in the finals of the pairs competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

United States Joey Cheek, from Greensboro, N.C., holds an American national flag as he makes a victory lap during the Winter Olympics men’s 500 meter speedskating sprint race at the Oval Lingotto in Turin.  (Jasper Juinen / Associated Press)

Hannah Teter flys above the crowd enroute to winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Halfpipe Final.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Silver-medalist Gretchen Bleiler cuts up the pipe during the Women’s Halfpipe Final in Bardonecchia, Italy.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Bronze medal winner Kjersti Buaas of Norway in action during the final of the womens Snowboard Half-Pipe competition.  (John Mabanglo / EPA)

Shaun White makes his first run in the finals of the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition.  (Mark Duncan / Associated Press)

U.S. snowboarder Shaun White soars through the air enroute to winning the gold medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The United States’ Andy Finch crashes on his first run in the finals of the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition.  (Mark Duncan / Associated Press)

Vinzenz Lueps of Germany sails through the afternoon sun to take a ninth place at the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition.  (Peter Dejong / Associated Press)

Japan’s Takaharu Nakai sails down the course during his second qualifying run for the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition in Turin.  (Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press)

Canada’s Brad Martin sails over the crowd during his first qualifying run for the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition.  (Lionel Cironneau / AP)

The United States’ Shaun White reacts after seeing his score on the first run of the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard competition.  (Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press)

Snowboarder Shaun White took home the gold medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe competition at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Snowboarder Shaun White gets a hug from his father Roger after winning the gold medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Kass soars through the air during the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Kass, who won a silver medal, gets some air during the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Switzerland’s Therry Brunner and his shadow glide down a ridge during the snowboard halfpipe qualifying round.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Shaun White flies skyward on his way to winning the gold medal in the snowboard halfpipe competition.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Antoine Deneriaz of France gets airborne on his way to a gold medal in the men’s downhill.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Tony Benshoof of the U.S. whizzes by fans during the luge competition where he finished fourth.  (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)

Jonathan Myles of the U.S. luge team gives fans an up-close view as his zooms by.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Renate Groenewold of the Netherlands close in on a silver medal in speedskating in the women’s 3,000-meter race.  (Maurizio Brambatti / EPA)

South Korea’s Ho-Suk Lee, who a silver medal, leads a pack of speedskaters during the 1,500-meter short track race.  (Andrew Vaughan / Associated Press)

Aika Klein of Germany crashes into the boards during a speedskating heat in the women’s 500-meter event.  (Wally Skalij / LAT)

Canada goalie Charline Labonte, left, stops Russia’s Ekaterina Smolentseva during the first period.  (Ryan Remiorz / Associated Press)

Maritta Becker is sent flying after a check by Caitlin Cahow of the U.S.  (Vladimir Rys Bongarts / Getty Images)

Canada’s Jennifer Heil, center, celebrates her gold medal in freestyle moguls with silver medalist Kari Traa of Norway, left, and bronze medalist Sandra Laoura of France.  (Elsa / Getty Images)