Ted ligety has created his own, unique way of skiing. And now, he's in pretty elite company.
Carving turns like nobody else, ligety established a huge first-run lead and then comfortably held on to win the giant slalom at the Sochi Games on Wednesday, becoming the first American man to win two Olympic gold medals in Alpine skiing.
"To be able to throw it down in the event I had the most pressure in, and the event I was the favorite in - to be able to do that is awesome," ligety said. "This was really the event that I wanted to win. ... I know where I stand in giant slalom."
ligety won in a two-leg combined time of 2 minutes, 45.29 seconds.
Steve Missillier of France stood only 10th after the first run but had the fastest second leg to finish second, 0.48 behind. Alexis Pinturault, another Frenchman and one of ligety's chief rivals over the past few seasons, was third, 0.64 behind.
Overall World Cup leader Marcel Hirscher of Austria finished fourth, 0.94 back, but will be the favorite for Saturday's slalom.
ligety's first gold came in combined at the 2006 Turin Games as a 21-year-old - before he had ever won a World Cup race. At the 2010 Vancouver Games, ligety failed to win a medal.
The only other American to win two Olympic golds in Alpine skiing was Andrea Mead lawrence, who took both the women's slalom and giant slalom at the 1952 Oslo Games.
"To be able to be up there with some of the greats is really an honor," said ligety, who is from Park City, Utah. "For sure this one is way more meaningful than my first one."
Four other American men - Bode Miller, Phil Mahre, Tommy Moe and Bill Johnson - have won one Olympic gold.
ligety celebrated by twirling around in the finish area while still on his skis. The crowd realized he had won even before he crossed the line, and showered him with applause for the last few gates.
ligety had such a large lead after the opening run - 0.93 seconds - that he could afford to ease up a bit on his second trip down and he was only 14th fastest in the afternoon leg.
Himanshu 72nd India's campaign in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games came to a disappointing end with Himanshu Thakur finishing 72nd in the men's giant slalom event.
20-year-old Himanshu, in his first Winter Olympics, clocked a combined timing of 3 minutes 37.55 seconds over two races to finish last among those who completed the race.
A total of 107 skiers took part in the event and as many as 35 were either disqualified or could not finish the race.
Finland win team sprint
Finland surprisingly won the men's cross-country team sprint at the Sochi Olympics on Wednesday, taking advantage of a fall that slowed its two closest rivals in the final.
Sami Jauhojaervi was able to pull ahead after Germany's Tim Tscharnke fell right behind him after the final downhill section into the stadium and nearly tripped up Russia's Nikita Kriukov, who stayed on his legs but lost touch with the Finn.
Sablikova defends gold in women's 5,000
Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic defended her Olympic speedskating title in the women's 5,000 meters Wednesday, knocking the Dutch off the top step of the medal podium.
Sablikova set a track record at Adler Arena with a time of 6 minutes, 51.54 seconds.
The Netherlands didn't earn a gold, but they did claim two more medals. Ireen Wust took the silver in 6:54.28, while Carien Kleibeuker grabbed the bronze in 6:55.66. It was Wust's fourth medal of the Sochi Games.