KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia (AP) — Matthias Mayer grew up in Austria admiring plenty of Alpine skiers, from his medal-winning dad, to all-time great Hermann Maier, to a couple of guys he races against these days, Bode Miller and Aksel Lund Svindal.

Unexpectedly, Mayer now can call himself something none of those others can: Olympic downhill champion.