By The Associated Press

Day 5 of the Turin Olympics

Tuesday, Feb. 14

STARS

Ted Ligety won the men's combined, thrilling his American teammates with a pair of tremendous slalom runs and holding on for a gold medal when Austrian favorite Benjamin Raich skied off course.

Svetlana Zhurova, a 34-year-old Russian who took a break from speedskating to become a mother, won the gold medal in the women's 500 meters.

Sylke Otto won her second straight gold, Silke Kraushaar took the silver and Tatjana Huefner won bronze in a predictable German sweep in women's luge. Of the 36 medals awarded since luge debuted at the Innsbruck Games in 1964, the Germans own 27.

SHOWN THE DOOR

Rarely one to keep quiet, Bode Miller had some more explaining to do after the combined. Miller was disqualified for straddling a gate on his first slalom run, leaving him yet again without an Olympic gold. Miller appeared to have built a commanding lead, but his mistake left the competition wide open.

MISFIRING

American stars aren't the only ones struggling in these Olympics. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway hoped to sweep all five golds in biathlon, but he settled for silver in the 20K race Saturday, then finished 12th in the 10K sprint Tuesday.

SWEDE SWEEP

Sweden won two gold medals in cross-country skiing in 20 minutes, taking the men's and women's team sprints.

BREAKING THE ICE

The men's Olympic hockey tournament starts today — the United States faces Latvia and defending gold medalist Canada plays Italy.

TURIN TALK

"If we don't win the gold medal, obviously I'll get blamed, but I've been blamed for losses before. It's not going to change my life." — Wayne Gretzky, executive director of Team Canada. Gretzky arrived at the Olympics amid questions about a betting ring allegedly run by one of his best friends and possibly patronized by his wife.