Aleksander Aamodt Kilde Dominates Windy Downhill Training

Aleksander Aamodt Kilde laid down a marker at the Beijing Olympics by setting the fastest time in the wind-affected second training run for the men's downhill on Friday, completing the course in 1 minute 43.72 seconds.

What happened?

The 29-year-old Norwegian skier, who leads the World Cup downhill standings, took advantage of the windy conditions to finish ahead of his rivals. Austria's Matthias Mayer, the downhill gold medalist in Sochi, acknowledged Kilde as the man to beat, saying "He is definitely the big favorite".

Why it matters for Aleksander Aamodt Kilde

Kilde's performance puts him in a strong position to win the downhill gold, which would be Norway's second consecutive victory in the event. The Norwegian team is looking to retain the downhill gold after Aksel Lund Svindal's win in Pyeongchang four years ago.

What comes next?

A third training run is scheduled for Saturday ahead of Sunday's opening medal event, where Kilde will face stiff competition from other top skiers. And the windy conditions are expected to continue, with skiers expressing concerns about the gusty conditions at the purpose-built venue. The cold, blustery conditions affected the racers, with French veteran Johan Clarey saying "It was really difficult to ski today". But Kilde remained focused, saying "I will do my best to ski as I did today and maybe a little bit faster and we'll see how it goes". So the stage is set for an exciting competition, with Kilde as the favorite to win. The Norwegian skier has already had a successful season, with three victories on the World Cup circuit, including the two January classics at Wengen and Kitzbuehel.