Olympic Preview: The Foreign Favorites

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A national hero notwithstanding his bouts of loutishness, Nykanen has incredible courage, and confidence bordering on arrogance. In both 70- and 90- meter events, he jumps at a dangerously exaggerated angle, twisting to one side and risking control for the sake of reducing wind resistance. If Nykanen has a weakness, it may be in his landings, which are more slam-bang than elegant. Last summer he twice underwent knee surgery, which usually ends a ski jumper's career. But despite missing three months of summer training, he won a competition in October at Hinterzarten, West Germany. And he has been magnificent ever since. Experts think the flying Finn has a chance to accomplish a first for the Games: soaring to gold at both distances.

THE BEAN POLE AND THE MITE

Ever since the Olympic triumphs of the legendary Protopopovs in the '60s, the Soviet Union has been almost as dominant in pairs skating as it is in chess. After taking the two top spots at the recent European Championships in Prague, Moscow's skating duos are poised to reign again at Calgary. But the winners, Ekaterina Gordeeva, 16, and Sergei Grinkov, 21, looked none too happy about the Prague triumph. With reason.

Although they collected 5.7s, 5.8s and 5.9s from the generous judges, their 4 1/2-min. free-skating finale was sloppy and awkward -- the result, apparently, of lack of practice. (Three weeks earlier, Gordeeva had suffered a concussion when she crashed while practicing one of their breath-defying tosses.) The year before at the European Championships, a trouser strap on Grinkov's boot snapped, and then their music stopped; finishing without accompaniment, they were disqualified after they refused to reskate the routine.

But it would probably take that much misfortune to deny Gordeeva and Grinkov at the Olympics. Their bravura athleticism, as well as adagio lyricism, makes them a pair apart, able, for example, to throw a trademark quadruple twist lift as no other couple can. Critics contend that Gordeeva and Grinkov sacrifice finesse for physicality. The charge, which they reject, is nonetheless easy to understand. At 5 ft. 11 in. and 150 lbs., the bean-poleish Grinkov towers over his waiflike 4-ft. 11-in., 79-lb. partner; the disparity in heights and weights allows them to manage spectacular lifts and throws that confound skaters who are more evenly matched in physique. Admits Grinkov: "Some elements can be performed much better by us because of this, and that's good."

Like most Soviet duos, Gordeeva and Grinkov became partners by official fiat rather than personal choice; they were ages ten and 14. Quiet and intense, they are heroes in the homeland, and are mobbed whenever they are in public. They profess to be nervous about Calgary, although they expect to win the gold. But Soviet pairs have reason to be nervous: there always seems to be fresh talent waiting in the wings for champions to falter.

THE BLAZING TRAILMEN

By comparison, running seems almost like a day at the beach. Cross-country skiing is the most grueling of winter sports, and Swedish men are its best practitioners. The Norwegians, Soviets, Finns and newly energized Italians are all threats, but the Swedes could sweep two of the three individual cross- country events and take the relay as well.