Johnny Spillane became the first American ever to medal in the Nordic combined skiing event at the Olympics when he took the silver medal Sunday afternoon in Vancouver.
The Steamboat Springs, Colo., native led the race heading down the final straightaway, but Jason Lamy Chappuis — who was born in Montana but races for France — was able to make a last-minute pass and hold on to top Spillane by four-tenths of a second.
The Nordic combined features one ski jump on the normal hill followed by a 10-kilometer cross-country ski race. Starting positions for the race are determined by scores from the jump.
Spillane started fourth and Chappuis fifth — 44 seconds and 46 seconds, respectively, behind top jumper Janne Ryynaenen of Finland.
Spillane and fellow Steamboat Springs native Todd Lodwick alternated in the lead for most of the race before Chappuis made his late dash to the front. Lodwick finished fourth, eight-tenths of a second behind bronze medalist Alessandro Pittin of Italy.
