Olympic Preview: The Foreign Favorites

Americans who watch international sporting events only to see Americans win miss most of what is best in the Winter Olympics. At Sarajevo in 1984, the Soviets collectively came in first, the East Germans second. U.S. Olympians were fifth, taking just eight of the 117 medals awarded. That total was bettered by athletes from Finland and Norway and equaled by the Swedes. Even the quark-size principality of Liechtenstein claimed two bronzes. The long white winters of Europe, from Lapland down to Alpine Italy, virtually invite the young and gifted to test their skills on slopes and frozen ponds. In an athletic sense at least, geography contributes to democracy. That is why, if form holds true, stars from central and northern Europe should do exceptionally well at Calgary. Among some of the likely winners:

SWEETHEART ON SKATES

The lean, graceful East German on the practice rink was muffled against the cold; a pink cap was pulled down to her eyebrows and a white turtleneck sweater pulled up over her nose. An American skater had no problem identifying the woman to a visitor: "There she is -- the one with the lovely long legs." The "she" is Karin Kania, perhaps the finest and most admired woman speed skater of this or any other Olympic year.

At four, Dresden-born Kania started her athletic career as a figure skater, but sprouting growth (5 ft. 9 in.) and injuries from too many falls persuaded the 13-year-old to switch to speed skating -- less glamorous, more rewarding of power than finesse. She won one gold medal at Lake Placid in 1980 and two more (plus two silvers) at Sarajevo. Now approaching her physical peak at 26, Kania says, "My aim is two gold medals in the Olympics." How about three? "Oh, no! Just two." And she waves off any bad luck that might come of talking about impossible feats. In fact, at Calgary she is favored in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter races; she holds the world record for both distances. And she is a contender in the 5,000-, 3,000- and 500-meter events, though she says the last "is now too short for me."

Kania seemingly has no off-season. "I train three or four hours every day in summer," she explains, "five or six hours other times. Sometimes I hate it." What spare hours she has are spent with her second husband Rudolf Kania, a school sports instructor, and their son Sasha, born a year after Sarajevo. Shy and soft-spoken, Kania is one of the best-liked athletes on the winter circuit. Competitors will not be trailing in her wake much longer. Kania has already announced her retirement at the end of the season. Future plans? Another child, for sure, and eventually opening a beauty salon in her Dresden home.

A HOTSHOT AND A CHILLY VIRTUOSO

"I would rather see a foreign skier win," Maria Walliser has said, "than be second to anyone on the Swiss team." In the snug little world of winter sports, everyone knows who "anyone" refers to: her teammate Michela Figini. Walliser, 24, was the World Cup overall champion in 1986 and 1987, and Figini, 21, was champion in 1985 and the world's top-rated downhill skier last year. They are the more than first-rate, and less than friendly, stars of a powerful female Swiss team.