As is the case with any epic human struggle, the storylines of the Games were plentiful and deep. Among those who tugged at our heartstrings was Croatia's Janica Kostelic. Once a dominating force on the alpine World Cup circuit, she came into the Games as a "what might have been" thanks to three knee surgeries within the last year. But the human spirit should never be underestimated. At times it can even convince a battered body that all is well. Skiing with abandon, Kostelic became the darling of the alpine competition, winning a record four medals -- three of them gold.
Full Alpine Skiing Recap

There were also moments that will forever be frozen in time. At Salt Lake, such a snapshot certainly would include a picture of Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen. The stoic Bjoerndalen transcended his sport of biathlon with a steady hand, lightning-fast skis and a gracious smile. He won four gold medals -- the most in one Games by a biathlete -- and for good measure even took sixth in the 30km cross-country event.
Full Biathlon Competition Recap

In the first women's bobsleigh competition in Olympic Winter Games history, Jill Bakken and brakewoman Vonetta Flowers (USA) were the surprise winners of the gold medal. They won ahead of the favorites, the two German teams, which finished second and third.
Full Bobsleigh Competition Recap

Utah's high altitude couldn't slow down the world's fleetest cross-country skiers. In an exciting series of races on Soldier Hollow's demanding course -- which also saw its share of doping controversies -- new stars were born and old favorites went home disappointed.
Full Cross Country Competition Recap

In curling, strategy, skill and etiquette combine for an intense competition similar to a game of chess on ice. Great Britain and Norway won the Olympic gold medals in the women's and men's tournaments, respectively. The Ice Sheet at Ogden hosted 20 teams and two medal events. The curling stones in play during the Olympic tournament are now used for programs at the Utah Olympic Oval.
Full Curling Competition Recap

No Olympic Winter Games would be complete without a flood of tears and surprises flowing out of the figure skating venue. In Nagano, it was American teenager Tara Lipinski who provided the fireworks. Another American teen stepped to the forefront in Salt Lake as Sarah Hughes landed seven triples to derail the expected gold medal showdown between Michelle Kwan and Irina Slutskaya.
Full Figure Skating Competition Recap

Whether twisting and flipping through the air or racing over moguls, freestyle skiers put on a display of skill, agility and acrobatics. Deer Valley Resort showcased four men events in freestyle skiing: men's and women's aerials and men's and women's moguls. The world returns to the Olympic venue in January 2003 for the World Freestyle Skiing Championships.
Full Freestyle Skiing Competition Recap

The Olympics are also about redemption. The Canadian men had not won the gold medal in their beloved sport of ice hockey for 50 years. But on a team put together by the legendary Wayne Gretzky and led by the equally as legendary Mario Lemieux, the Canadians defeated the U.S. 5-2 to win the gold medal and trigger a wild celebration across the nation.
Full Hockey Competition Recap

Memories are what the Games are all about. One of the best in Salt Lake came out of the luge venue. The three veteran titans of the sport -- Armin Zoeggeler, Georg Hackl and Markus Prock -- locked up in a final classic battle, combining to break the track record five times. When the ice chips cleared, Zoeggeler had finally won his gold, Hackl owned an Olympic record after winning a medal in a fifth straight Games and Prock was forced to settle for the bronze.
Full Luge Competition Recap

A young but experienced squadron of Flying Finns dominated the nordic combined, sweeping gold in the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in all three events.
Full Nordic Combined Competition Recap

New sports wrestled the media limelight away from the traditional in Salt Lake. Snowboarding and freestyle skiing were a perfect match for a Games that blended sports and music so well. One relatively new addition to the Olympic program stood above the rest. They call it short track speed skating, but a better name may have been utter chaos. Almost poetically, a star emerged with a name similar to a Greek god -- his name was Apolo Anton Ohno and he won a gold, a silver and thousands of new fans.
Full Short Track Speed Skating Competition Recap

Jack Shea must have heard the cheers and sent back one of his own. The late grandfather of gold medalist Jim Shea in men's skeleton, symbolically along for the ride in the form of a photograph tucked inside his grandson's helmet, crossed the finish line in spirit.
Full Skeleton Competition Recap

If there is one rule that applies to the Games, it's to expect the unexpected. Nowhere at the Games did the unexpected happen as dramatically as at the ski jumping venue at Utah Olympic Park. Coming into the Games, the gold appeared to a tug-of-war between Poland's Adam Malysz and Germany's Sven Hannawald. But no one told Switzerland's Simon Ammann. Two weeks after a horrible crash, he won both of the individual events, sending a shock wave through the sport.
Full Ski Jumping Competition Recap

With five medals in four events, the United States of America asserted itself as the dominant nation in the American-invented sport of snowboarding -- although France isn't far behind.
Full Snowboarding Competition Recap

Speed Skating competition at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games yielded eight world records and many surprising story lines.
Full Speed Skating Competition Recap