Sat, Feb 23, 2002 page14

• Chilly beginnings for Team Taiwan

  MAKE OR BREAK After three spectacular pileups in practice runs for the four-man bobsled event, which is to end today, Taiwan's Olympic heroes said they had `crashed but were not broken'

  • By Jules Quartly / CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
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  Taiwan's Olympic flame is burning brightly in Salt Lake City, Utah, despite some disastrous practice runs that threatened to extinguish the nation's bobsled medal hopes.

  Three appalling crashes led to fears that Team Taiwan might be scratched from the event before it even starts today.

  

  Austria 1 train for the four-man bobsled event in Park City, Utah, on Thursday. Austria 1 was to start sixth in yesterday's first run, Taiwan's team was 23rd.

  PHOTO: REUTERS

  Damage to the bobsled, injuries and possibly disqualification were cited as potential reasons for Taiwan not competing, according to local media.

  But Team Taiwan came through with a couple more good runs to qualify for the final in 23rd place out of 33.

  Pilot of the four-man bobsled and now four-time Olympian, Chen Chin-san (陳金山), had found the fast ice and competitive conditions a challenge.

  He was said to be at fault for at least one of the 130kph spills on the bobsled track in Park City, Utah.

  Afterward, Team Taiwan spokes-man Sam Huang (黃柳宗) said he was disappointed with the runs, but added he was confident they could make up time.

  "Chen was still smiling. That is a good sign. We have crashed, but we are not broken. Better luck tomorrow," Huang said.

  And he was right.

  Chen stormed back the next day with some solid runs to claim 23rd position, ahead of Prince Albert of Monaco, New Zealand, a host of eastern European countries and even a US team.

  France 1 and France 2 were in the top positions, with Russia in third and bobsled powerhouse Germany in fourth.

  Taiwan's practice sessions began Tuesday on a high note of optimism, unveiling what Huang has dubbed the nation's "top secret weapon."

  The Salt Lake City high school sled, which was loaned to the Taiwan team, is said to be competitive, with runners donated by the US team's suppliers.

  It is locked overnight in a steel container near the track and guards patrol the storage area.

  After meeting up with the other competitors at the track -- many of whom know each other because they attended the same bobsled school in Europe -- it was time for final practice runs.

  In an e-mail to the Taipei Times Huang said Chen was eager for a good start and everything went fine until turn 11.

  "Tick, the sled bounces off the wall, it's a small touch, correctable, yet it's usually a sign of trouble. Turn 12. Crack, Chen's hanging on a bit too long, his line's a bit too high. Turn 13, Chen is late exiting out of 12, he is extremely high on the wall. He's over, the sled is sliding uncontrollably through 14 on it's side."

  Taiwan was 81. This is the code for a sled that has overturned and Team Taiwan was going to hear it on the next run too ... and the next.

  "I rushed to the end of the track," Huang said. "All the members were fine. Chen looked disappointed. The ice is extremely smooth and dense, which is optimal for speed."

  Bruised but unbroken, the team geared up for its second run of the night, but it turned out to be a carbon copy of the first run.

  "Too slow out of exit 12, and 13 is too high. They flip once again," Huang reported. "This time the ice is not so forgiving. Chen has suffered ice burns to his left shoulder. Some rest and ointment should do the trick."

  Huang said it was "depressing" to see Chen in so much difficulty and the injury to his shoulder -- which was already being treated after a previous accident picked up during qualifying events -- was particularly worrisome.

  The next day it was snowing, giving hope the track would be slower, thereby giving Taiwan an advantage.

  The team got off to a good push start, "but something doesn't seem right," Huang reported. "Chen is driving too much to one side. Tick, into five, the sled straightens out, turn 11, tick! Turn 12, Chen loses his line, steer her down! F***, too long. High into 13. POP! The sled is over once again."

  Eighty-one and out.

  Chen and the rest of the team, Chen Chien-sheng (陳建盛), Chen Chien-li (陳建立), Lin Ruei-ming (林瑞明), along with Steve Lee (李嘉展), were okay, but Chen's face shield was damaged and the team decided to try again the next day, Thursday.

  The country's Olympians were running out of time and local media in Taiwan weighed in with rumors that its bobsled team would not be able to compete. They cited an injury to Chen, irreparable damage to the sled and disqualification for not being able to finish the course.

  Doomsaying of the type, "It's a bad day to compete in bob competitions," however, proved wide of the mark.

  Taiwan's Olympic heroes avoided wiping out and racked up a couple of good times to give it hope for the final today.
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