Vancouver, British Columbia ? Johnny Spillane ended an 86-year drought that few Americans even knew existed. Alexandre Bilodeau ended a much shorter wait that practically everyone in Canada had been agonizing over.

Spillane finished second in Nordic combined, just four-tenths of a second from making the first U.S. medal come in the best color. Still, it’s a terrific accomplishment, the kind of thing that could land him on the cover of the media guide for the American Nordic combined team.

Bilodeau’s feat — winning the men’s moguls — might land him on a postage stamp or a loonie, Canada’s $1 coin.

The victory was significant because it was the first gold medal won by a Canadian in any event at an Olympics held in Canada.

Luge

There was finally something to cheer about at the Whistler Sliding Center.

Two days after Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a training wreck, 20-year-old Felix Loch of Germany became the sport’s youngest gold medalist with a dominant performance on a track made shorter, slower and safer following the tragedy.

Another German, David Moeller, was second, followed by two-time defending Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy.

Biathlon

Tim Burke and Jay Hakkinen were supposed to challenge for medals. Then came a heavy, wet snowfall that was tough enough to undo Norwegian great Ole Einar Bjorndalen as well.

Bjorndalen, winner of a record nine biathlon medals, had the worst finish of his Olympic career — 17th.

“When the snow came down, it was hopeless,” he said.

Nordic combined

Todd Lodwick narrowly missed making it two Americans with a Nordic combined medal. He was fourth.

The winner, Jason Lamy Chappuis, is an American by birth who has always raced for France.

Biden’s motorcade

Former gold-medal winners Peggy Fleming and Vonetta Flowers were slightly injured in a traffic accident while riding in Vice President Joe Biden’s motorcade at the Vancouver Olympics.

Biden was in another car and wasn’t involved in the wreck.

The motorcade was headed to the U.S. women’s hockey game when the vehicle with Fleming, Flowers and Mike Eruzione was rear-ended.

Fleming, the 1968 figure skating champion, and Flowers, a 2002 bobsled winner, were examined at the scene and at a hospital. Both were at the figure skating event Sunday night, further indication they are OK.