Alpine skiing-Kilde gets bronze compensation after Blue Monday

YANQING, China : Norway's Aleksander Aamodt Kilde arrived at the Beijing Olympics as the world's dominant speed skier with talk of a potential double gold in store for the 29-year-old.

But after failing to medal in downhill on Monday he had to settle for bronze in Tuesday's super-G behind winner Matthias Mayer of Austria and surprise silver medallist Ryan Cochran-Siegle of the United States.

A first Olympic medal was, though, some compensation after a bitter Monday which also saw his girlfriend, American Mikaela Shiffrin, crash out of the giant slalom - an event she had a chance to win.

"It was a tough day in general yesterday," he said. "Sleeping last night was not easy; waking up today feeling not great. But it was great racing today, so really happy about it."

Kilde had grabbed a significant lead of one second with a strong run down 'The Rock' only to see Mayer deliver a performance worthy of a third gold in as many Olympics.

"I thought I was going to win, of course. When you come in a second ahead on an Olympics, of course ... I thought well, this is going to be gold," he said.

"Then you see the trend and two guys came in in front, and that's totally fine because they skied like champions.

"This third place is a victory for me."

Kilde heads the World Cup standings in both downhill and super-G and has had six race wins on the circuit this season in the two speed events.

The Norwegian had no shame in viewing his bronze as compensation for missing out in downhill with his fifth placed finish.

"100per cent. Yesterday was tough, mostly because I came in as a favourite and had a lot of pressure on my shoulders, and also pressure to myself to deliver," he added.

"I felt like I didn't ski well enough yesterday, so that was what made