VOA标准英语2010年-US Skier Bode Miller Finally Celebrate

Bode¹ Miller² of the United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's super-combined at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, 21 Feb 2010

American alpine³ skier⁴ Bode Miller, 32, is a four-time world champion and two-time overall World Cup champion.  Now he can finally call himself an Olympic champion after winning the gold medal Sunday in the men's combined event at Whistler Mountain. 

Bode Miller can now stop listening to all the critics with regard to his Olympic performances.  Not that he ever did.

Eight years ago, before the Salt Lake City Winter Games, there were high hopes that he would win multiple gold medals.  But Miller disappointed many by winning only two silvers, in the giant slalom and the combined, which features one downhill run and one slalom run.

Expectations for Miller were even greater ahead of the 2006 Turin Olympics.  After all, in 2005 he had won two alpine world championship gold medals in another Italian city, Bormio.  Those came in the downhill and Super G (super giant slalom).  He had also won the overall World Cup title that season and became only the second man ever to win at least one race in each of the four standard World Cup disciplines - slalom, giant slalom Super G and downhill.

Some believed Miller could perhaps win five gold medals, but he did far worse in Turin than the previous Olympics in Salt Lake City, winning no medals and a best finish of fifth in the downhill.  He was sixth in the giant slalom, was disqualified in one race and he failed to complete his other two races because of missed gates.

And it got worse.  He made things difficult for U.S. Olympic team officials with his partying and then shocking comments on network television about skiing drunk.

Bode Miller eventually left the U.S. Ski Team because he did not want to follow its structure, and went out on his own for two years.  Then he nearly retired⁵ because he was tired of the grind and some nagging⁶ injuries.

However, U.S. Ski Team coach Sasha Rearick coaxed⁷ Miller back onto team before the start of this season.

With a Vancouver Olympics bronze medal in the downhill, a silver in the Super G, and now a gold in the combined, Miller is now being declared as one of the greatest ski racers ever.

"It feels awesome⁸.  I feel like I did just what I tried to do," he said.

Make no mistake, Bode Miller has always said it has never been about winning medals for him; it's always been about going out and skiing your hardest, skiing aggressively, even when skiing a bit conservatively might, in some instances, prove more fruitful.
 
"My proud moment and my feeling of accomplishment⁹ doesn't hinge on those things," he noted¹⁰.  "It hinges on the skiing that I put down.  That's what means a lot to me right now.  To do it this way at this point in my career in the Olympics, and in the super combined in particular, is just an unbelievable challenge, and for me to rise to that challenge felt really cool."

When Boded¹¹ Miller was asked what the future might hold for him, he said he was unsure.

"I don't know.  I feel pretty old," he explained.  "I don't know what my plan is really.  You know having already quit once, it seems like I sort of came back for a reason.  I mean this was why.  But it doesn't mean that I'm done.  I think the reason was because I wanted to make sure I had the right motivation.

Miller added at the end of this season he will meet with U.S. Ski Team officials to figure out what level of support he will continue to receive and which direction he should go.

He made it clear his good results so far in Vancouver have given him a huge lift.

"When I race like I have been here, it really is amazing," he added.  "It's just awesome.  It's so fun to do and it's so challenging at a level that you just can't find anywhere else. So I'd feel pretty stupid to give that up if I could continue."

And Bode Miller is not yet finished at these Winter Olympics.  There is still the giant slalom and slalom to come this week.

 

1 bode   

v.预示

参考例句：

• These figures do not bode well for the company's future.这些数字显示出公司的前景不妙。
• His careful habits bode well for his future.他那认真的习惯预示著他会有好的前途。

2 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

3 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

4 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 nagging   

adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
• I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 coaxed   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱

参考例句：

• She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。
• I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

9 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 boded   

v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待

参考例句：

• The beginning of that summer boded ill. 夏季一开始就来势不善。 来自辞典例句