Bode Miller’s gold medal wasn’t the only highlight for the U.S. Ski Team in today’s super combined. Had the race been only a one-run slalom, Ted Ligety, Will Brandenburg, and Miller would have swept the medals.

Against World Cup slalom aces such as Ivica Kostelic, Silvan Zurbriggen, and Benni Raich, these three Americans skied the three fastest slalom runs.

(Super combined is one run of downhill and one run of slalom.)

Ligety’s slalom time was 50.76, Brandenburg’s was 50.78, and Miller’s 51.01. No one skied faster.

For Miller, his superb slalom run brought redemption. With his right ankle still bothering him (from spraining it in December), and his left leg feeling tired and out of whack after a nasty spill training slalom a few days ago (he fell so hard that the wind was knocked out of him), he was running on fumes before the slalom start. But he drew on willpower and skied slalom like the Bode of yore.

"I felt awesome about it,” he said, “but still it's exhausting to do that after years and years of not doing it like that."

"I had to get fully fired up and take maximum risk [in slalom],” he added. “I went out of the gate crazy again and was completely gassed at the bottom. The last pitch my legs started to feel real wobbly. I didn't even feel like I was looking at the gates anymore.

“When I crossed the line, I did my normal thing where I stood for a second and was like that was unbelievable. I can't ask for anything more. For my first gold, it was absolutely perfect."

For Ligety, he was happy to win the slalom run but not so happy to finish the super combined fifth.

“They should give a wooden spoon to the next two guys [off the podium],” he joked.

Had the combined race been the old format, where it’s one run of downhill and two runs of slalom, Ligety thinks he might have had more of a chance to defend his 2006 Olympic gold medal. With only one 50+-second run of slalom and a 1:54-ish run of downhill, the super combined could more aptly be called the “demi-combined.”

“All the downhill guys get a full race,” he said. “The slalom guys only get a half a race. But I’m kind of biased.”

For 23-year-old Brandenburg, his slalom run was amazing. There isn’t a better word to describe it. With only four World Cup starts on his resume (three in slalom, one in giant slalom, none of which he finished) — and after a nasty crash in downhill training yesterday — Brandenburg overcame his fear of the downhill, survived the run, and finished in the top 30 for a great start in slalom.

The fourth guy out of the gate in slalom, he charged the course like the bad guys were chasing him — arms stretched so far forward that it looked like he was trying to reach for the next gate. At times, he skied so close to the gates that it looked as if he might straddle them.

“I just wanted to see how fast I could go,” he said.

He crossed the line in first and sat in the leader’s spot for eight more skiers. He ended up tenth.

But Brandenburg does not get to bask in the glow of his stellar Olympic debut. He boarded a plane tonight and headed off to Aspen for a series of NorAm races that actually started today. If he wins the overall NorAm title — and he is currently leading — he will earn World Cup starts in all five events next year.

More from Bode Miller after the super combined

After he won his first Olympic gold medal — and fifth Olympic medal total — Miller was besieged by fans as he tried to leave the venue. Whether or not he uses this medal to shore up household appliances, his skiing inspired his fans. He just hopes that they focus on his skiing and not the medals.

On medals being a distraction:

“The gold medal is great, but the way I skied these last races is what matters. I would have been proud of that skiing with a medal or not. Three medals are kind of a distraction more than anything else because it makes everyone think I’m proud of the races because I got the medals. Really, I was proud of the races when I came across the finish line, not knowing whether I’d won or not.”

On the inspirational affect of the Olympics:

“I’ve skied great before. But the level I skied at today is right at the very very top. You can’t get that just on call. It’s not like you just turn a key and magically ski at your absolute best. But when you’re at the Olympics, the energy and everything else, you can use that to bring your game up. To be able to do that a few races in a row, there’s a huge element of luck involved. It feels absolutely amazing.”

On whether being a parent has changed his outlook on his career or legacy:

“No, I don’t think so.”

On whether he will switch to tennis soon:

“No.”