Johnny Spillane (silver) wins first-ever medal for U.S. in Nordic Combined

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American Johnny Spillane won the silver medal in the Nordic Combined on Sunday at Whistler Olympic Park, the first-ever medal for the United States in the Nordic Combined, which features one jump on the normal hill and a 10-kilometer cross-country race.

Jason Lamy Chappuis — who was born in Missoula, Mont., but has always raced for France — overtook Spillane on the final straightaway for the gold medal, winning the individual race in 25 minutes, 47.1 seconds, four-tenths of a second ahead of Spillane.

Italy’s Alessandro Pittin won the bronze, finishing eight-tenths of a second behind Chappuis and just ahead of American Todd Lodwick.

Lodwick was in second place and Spillane was in fourth after the morning normal hill ski jump.

Both athletes had to overcome equipment problems leading up to the Games.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver