Americans win silver in women’s bobsled

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Pilot Shauna Rohbock and brakeman Valerie Fleming of USA-1 compete in the women's two-man bobsled Monday.

Rohbock, Fleming finish behind Germans; ’02 medalist Flowers, Prahm 6th

CESANA, Italy - Blasting down the Alps in a shiny, dark American convertible, Shauna Rohbock won a silver medal in women’s bobsled on Tuesday, ending an 0-for-Olympics stay for the U.S. sliding teams.

With roommate Valerie Fleming providing the push and applying the brakes, Rohbock completed her four runs .71 seconds behind Germany’s Sandra Kiriasis and Anja Schneiderheinze and ahead of Italy’s Gerde Weissensteiner and Jennifer Isacco.

Rohbock, bumped from an Olympic ride four years ago, finally ended a U.S. winless streak that chilled the Americans every bit as much as the biting winds blowing down from France.

The U.S. was skunked in the first six events on the 19-curve track, which had proved treacherous for many countries and thorny to the U.S. luge, skeleton and bobsled squads.

But Rohbock and Fleming busted through the ice for the U.S., and as they crossed the finish line, the pair pumped their fists and Rohbock pounded both hands on the front of USA-1 in celebration.

“What do you say,” Rohbock said, clutching flowers. “I’m so excited. I can’t believe any of this.”

Sledding isn’t Rohbock’s only skill. She’s a two-time soccer and track All-American.

At the Salt Lake City Games, when women’s bobsled made its debut, the U.S. won eight sliding medals, including a gold by Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers — ahead of Kiriasis, known then as Sandra Prokoff.

On the eve of those games, Rohbock, who had spent two years in the backseat of Bakken’s sled, was replaced by Flowers, another college track star who became the first black athlete to win a Winter Games medal.

Rohbock’s lone Olympic moment in Utah came as a forerunner, one of the test sleds sent down first to make sure the track is safe. When Bakken and Flowers won their historic gold, Rohbock was one of the first to greet them.

This time, Flowers was the one standing and cheering as Rohbock skidded through the snowy finish area.

The mother of twins, Flowers came up short in her bid to add a matching gold medal as she and Jean Prahm could do no better than sixth in USA-2.

It wasn’t for a lack of effort, however, as Prahm, who began the day in ninth, picked off three sleds on her third run. Prahm, a fifth-place finisher four years ago, was doomed by a sloppy first trip when she banged the wall in turn 16 — an uncharacteristic flub by one of the world’s steadiest drivers.

“I never thought I would be so pleased with a sixth-place finish,” Prahm said afterward.

Flowers now plans to take a shot behind the wheel, and will attend a driving school in Lake Placid, N.Y., next month.

“She’s had enough of being in the backseat,” her husband, Johnny, said.

Prahm’s plans aren’t as clear. For the second time, the woman dubbed “Mean Jean” for kicking a teammate from her sled before the 2002 Games, has left an Olympics without a medal around her neck.

Before she could address her future, Flowers cut her sledding partner off.

“Keep your eyes open,” she said. “You never know.”

The Associated Press