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Comeback Kids
You can't look back at the sport of moguls without thinking of Donna Weinbrecht and Jonny Moseley. Both are trying to make a comeback. Shelley Osterloh reports.
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(Dec. 29, 2001)------ Donna Weinbrecht dominated the sports in the 80's and and won the first Olympic Gold medal in 92.
Now, amazingly, she is trying to make it to the 2002 Olympic Games too.
And she is not the only one makeing a comeback.
Jonny Moseley, who won in 98, also wants another shot at Olympic gold.
The moment Jonny Moseley finished his run in Nagano, he knew he'd won.
Jonny Moseley/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: AND THE CAMERA WAS THERE, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND HE WAS LIKE.. BECAUSE HE GOT THE SCORE, I LOOKED UP AT THE BOARD AND IT WAS LIKE A SYMPHONY, LAUGHS.
And Mosely wants to hear the music again.
He has enjoyed his gold medal and the fame it's brought: Making celebrity appearances and endorsing products.
In Sydney Australia, we found Jonny producing stories for NBC.com. He was the reporter, doing stories on other Olympic athletes-- of course always in Jonny style.
But despite the fun he was having, Moseley decided what he really wanted, was to get back to skiing and defend his Olympic title.
Jonny Moseley/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: THE SPORT HADN'T PASSED ME UP, MY SKILLS WERE THERE, I STILL HAVE THE TALENT WITHIN ME.
He admits, getting back in shape was tough.
Jonny Moseley/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: THIS IS MY NON SNOW MOGUL TRAINING COURSE.
The workouts started back home in Tiberon, California.
He says, one advantage to already having a gold medal is that people believe you can get a second.
Jonny Moseley/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: I HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE ALL THE RESOURCES, TO BRING IN THE COACH I NEED, THE MANAGER I NEED, THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE PERIPHERAL THINGS. TRAINERS, EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING AT MY DISPOSAL TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
But can he re-capture that Jonny Moseley Style? The sense of abandon, the California surfer riding the waves of snow?
And in a sport where the old tricks just won't cut it, Mosely's got a new trick up his sleeve.
Jonny Moseley/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: EVERYONE HAS A TRICK THAT JUST SEEMS TO NATURALLY ROTATE FOR THEM, AND THIS IS MINE. WE CALL IT THE DINNER ROLL. I WANT TO PUT DOWN A RUN THAT WILL MAKE THE CROWD GO CRAZY.
And that might make Moseley the first, to win back to back gold in Moguls.
Donna Weinbrecht has achieved everything possible in Moguls skiing, including an Olympic Gold medal.
But she is not done yet.
Donna Weinbrecht/Gold Medal Mogul Skier: BASICALLY MY PURSUIT IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY REGRETS THAT I DIDN'T TRY AND I'M GOING FOR IT 100 PERCENT.
That's right, after 14 years on the Ski team and a career that's filled with medals and trophies, Donna Weinbrecht is going for it, again.
She was the overall World Cup champion five times.
In 1992, the first year Moguls became an Olympic sport Donna Weinbrecht won the gold medal.
Since then, she has competed in every Olympic competition, but has yet to make it back to the podium... finishing 4th in Nagano.
In 98, she told me she was looking for new opportunities.
Donna Weinbrecht/February 22, 1998: I'D LIKE TO BE PART OF 2002 IN SOME WAY, WHETHER IT BE COACHING, COMMENTARY, THERE'S LOTS OF OPTIONS. AND I'M HONORED AND BLESSED THAT I HAVE THAT.
Retirement turned into a two year break, then the lure of competing in the USA and possibly winning another medal was driving force she could not deny.
Donna Weinbrecht/Olympic Gold in Moguls: IF I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TAKE HOME A MEDAL FROM HERE, FROM MY OWN COUNTRY, IT WOULD JUST STAND FOR THAT. I GREW UP IN A COUNTRY THAT GIVES ME THE FREEDOM AT 36, AS A WOMAN TO GO FOR MY FOURTH OLYMPICS, AND IT WOULD REPRESENT A LOT. IT WOULD BE AN ENDING AND A BEGINNING FOR
DONNA.
And the woman who was the first Olympic Gold medalist in 92 hopes to win again a decade later, in a new century.
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