2002 Olympics gallery: Big day for a Park City native and for the U.S. on ice, bobsled track

Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo
Skiers race up a hill in the consolation final of the women's cross country sprint at Soldier Hollow.

Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo
Italy's Cristian Zorzi leads the pack up a hill during a semifinal of the men's cross country sprint race at Soldier Hollow. Zorzi won the semifinal, and wound up with the bronze medal.

Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo
Norway's Tor Arne Hetland, left, high-fives Germany's Peter Schlickenrieder after taking gold and silver, respectively, in the men's cross country sprint race at Soldier Hollow.

Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo
The final four skiers fight for medal position around the penultimate turn in the men's cross country sprint final at Soldier Hollow.

Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo
Finland goaltender Tuula Puputti watches Canada's Cassie Campbell celebrate another goal during the Canadians' 7-3 victory in a women's semifinal hockey game at the E Center in West Valley City. The Canadians advanced to the gold-medal game against the U.S.

Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo
American Katie King takes a shot at Swedish goaltender Kim Martin in the United States' 4-0 semifinal victory that earned a date against rival Canada in the women's hockey gold medal game.

Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo
Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States prepares to skate a victory lap after setting a world record and winning gold in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo
Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States powers to a world record and gold medal in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Danny La | Tribune file photo
Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States reacts in jubliation after setting a world record and winning gold in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval.

Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo
Canada's Jayna Hefford and Lori Dupuis block Finland's Paivi Salo and Saija Sirvio during a women's hockey semifinal game that Canada won 7-3 at the E Center in West Valley City, to advance to the gold-medal game against the United States.

Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo
Figure skater Michelle Kwan wins the women's figure skating short program at the Delta Center, but later stumbles in her free skate and settles for the bronze medal.

Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo
Figure skater Michelle Kwan wins the women's figure skating short program at the Delta Center, but later stumbles in her free skate and settles for the bronze medal.

Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo
Americans Jill Bakken, right, and Vonetta Flowers push off for their first run of the inaugural women's bobsled competition at the Utah Olympic Park. They ultimately won the gold medal.

Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo
Figure skater Sarah Hughes of the United States performs her short program at the Delta Center. Hughes finished in fourth place, but later vaulted to an unexpected gold medal.

Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo
Bobsled driver Jill Bakken of the United States reacts to winning the gold medal in the inaugural women's bobsled event at the Utah Olympic Park.

1 of 15

Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo Skiers race up a hill in the consolation final of the women's cross country sprint at Soldier Hollow. Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo Italy's Cristian Zorzi leads the pack up a hill during a semifinal of the men's cross country sprint race at Soldier Hollow. Zorzi won the semifinal, and wound up with the bronze medal. Al Hartmann | Tribune file photo Norway's Tor Arne Hetland, left, high-fives Germany's Peter Schlickenrieder after taking gold and silver, respectively, in the men's cross country sprint race at Soldier Hollow. Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo The final four skiers fight for medal position around the penultimate turn in the men's cross country sprint final at Soldier Hollow. Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo Finland goaltender Tuula Puputti watches Canada's Cassie Campbell celebrate another goal during the Canadians' 7-3 victory in a women's semifinal hockey game at the E Center in West Valley City. The Canadians advanced to the gold-medal game against the U.S. Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo American Katie King takes a shot at Swedish goaltender Kim Martin in the United States' 4-0 semifinal victory that earned a date against rival Canada in the women's hockey gold medal game. Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States prepares to skate a victory lap after setting a world record and winning gold in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval. Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States powers to a world record and gold medal in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval. Danny La | Tribune file photo Speedskater Derek Parra of the United States reacts in jubliation after setting a world record and winning gold in the men's 1,500 meters at the Utah Olympic Oval. Ryan Galbraith | Tribune file photo Canada's Jayna Hefford and Lori Dupuis block Finland's Paivi Salo and Saija Sirvio during a women's hockey semifinal game that Canada won 7-3 at the E Center in West Valley City, to advance to the gold-medal game against the United States. Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo Figure skater Michelle Kwan wins the women's figure skating short program at the Delta Center, but later stumbles in her free skate and settles for the bronze medal. Steve Griffin | Tribune file photo Figure skater Michelle Kwan wins the women's figure skating short program at the Delta Center, but later stumbles in her free skate and settles for the bronze medal. Paul Fraughton | Tribune file photo Americans Jill Bakken, right, and Vonetta Flowers push off for their first run of the inaugural women's bobsled competition at the Utah Olympic Park. They ultimately won the gold medal. Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo Figure skater Sarah Hughes of the United States performs her short program at the Delta Center. Hughes finished in fourth place, but later vaulted to an unexpected gold medal. Trent Nelson | Tribune file photo Bobsled driver Jill Bakken of the United States reacts to winning the gold medal in the inaugural women's bobsled event at the Utah Olympic Park.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· February 20, 2012 6:42 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Tribune relives the heady days of the 2002 Winters Olympics in pictures — with a daily gallery from the torch relay to the Opening Ceremony, from Team USA's medal haul to the fireworks-filled finale.

Feb. 19 • One of the premier events gets under way, with superstar Michelle Kwan of the U.S. taking the lead in the women's figure skating after the short program. It's a big day for the Americans elsewhere, too — speedskater Derek Parra sets a world record while winning the 1,500 meters, Park City native Joe Pack claims silver in men's aerials just a few miles from where he grew up, and Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers win the first-ever gold medal in women's bobsled, leaving Jean Racine to finish only fifth after her controversial decision to ditch two-time world champion brakewoman Jen Davidson shortly before the Games. The U.S. and Canada each wins a semifinal to book a date in the women's hockey gold-medal game.