Sondra Van Ert stood weeping at the bottom of Mount Yaketibai, the site of the women's snowboarding giant slalom races Tuesday morning.
The tears came freely and frequently for the former University of Utah alpine racer and the latest in an ever-increasing line of American medal favorites to fall. But those tears had nothing to do with her fall during the morning's first run, her finish eight-plus seconds off the initial pace and out of medal contention, or her eventual 12th place overall finish.Nor was Van Ert crying over "death cookies."
No, the 33-year-old former Utah resident was overcome by her own Olympic moment.
On a day when conditions were far from the best and the 1997 world champion admittedly didn't ski her best, she still enjoyed her Olympic experience.
"This is the greatest thing I've ever done in my life," said Van Ert as tears tracked down her cheek.
So genuine was Van Ert in her emotions that she delayed her finish-area interviews with U.S. reporters momentarily to witness the post-race victory celebration nearby and salute the three medalists - winner Karine Ruby of France, Germany's Heidi Renoth and Austria's Brigitte Koeck.
One of those could have been her, should have been her. But it wasn't, and there was no twinge of bitterness, no hint of frustration as she talked about her day's races, her family, her emotions and her future.
Van Ert lost her composure as she spoke of the support from family members - many from Idaho and Utah who were in the stands watching the morning's snowy pro-ceed-ings.
"It's not because of the race at all," she said, brushing at tears. "It's just being at the Olympics, being a part of the Olympics and forgetting all the bogusness of the world."
Tuesday, she had realized a dream that had spanned two decades and two sports. An Alpine racer in the 1980s, she finished sixth in the 1986 NCAA giant slalom while skiing for Utah, and she added a downhill silver medal in the 1987 World University Games.
But that was as close as she would get to an Olympic experience in the Alpine world, and she retired from racing shortly after suffering a knee injury - about the same time she was graduating from the U. in 1989 and heading off to manage a paint store in Ketchum, Idaho.
"I never had any regrets about it," said Van Ert of her Alpine struggles.
"But to have a second chance - I'm so lucky."
That second chance came when she watched area snowboarders on the slopes. She not only picked up the sport - Van Ert also picked up four national titles and four World Championship medals in the past two years to boot.
Her successes made her a favorite in the event, moved back from Monday because of heavy snows and poor visibility. Tuesday wasn't much better, and clumps of heavy, packed surface snow - the skiers called them "death cookies" - broke away from the icy course underneath when racers tried to turn.
All four U.S. women fell during the first run - Rosey Fletcher and Lisa Kosglow both crashed and didn't finish; Betsy Shaw tumbled and was disqualified after missing a gate. Van Ert was the only one who managed to finish - eight seconds off the first-run leader and in 16th place. She moved up to 12th in the final standings with a two-run time of two minutes, 26.56 seconds.
With the Olympics now in her rear-view mirror, what lies ahead for the snowboarder that the younger U.S. athletes (average of 23) affectionately refer to as "Grandma?" Are the 2002 Games on Van Ert's almost-home slopes of Park City out of the question?
"It would be really cool to be at the Games where I grew up," she said Tuesday, with a bit of a wistful look in her eye. "I'll be there one way or another."