Matthias Mayer wins the Olympic downhill

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia: Matthias Mayer of Austria won the Olympic downhill Sunday as the big favorites struggled in Alpine skiing´s signature race.Mayer completed the Rosa Khutor course in 2 minutes, 6.23 seconds.

Christof Innerhofer of Italy took silver, 0.06 seconds behind, and Kjetil Jansrud of Norway earned bronze, 0.10 behind.Pre-race favorites Aksel Lund Svindal and Bode Miller finished fourth and eighth, respectively.

Mayer was one of the first contenders to come down, with the No. 11 bib, and he hardly celebrated when he reached the finish. But his smile grew wider as all the favorites failed to catch him then he began jumping up and down before he went out for the flower ceremony. (AP)