European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 15, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday. February 14,1988 the stars and stripes Page 23 Winter olympics some of the Mountain s in the mind . Dark horse asserts attitude wins medals b Joii Mossman , Alberta api injuries May have robbed the . Ski team of some of its ton a tildes and its Momon Lum in the world t up circuit but the Haven t sapped the athletes spirit. People should remember that in your mental Altitude that s going 10 win you medals blown Hiller Pam Fletcher said saturday on he Csc of the Winter olympics the injuries we be had Don mean we Don t have he capability or the mental Altitude to win races. "1 Hope people Don t focus just on our injuries. They should Sil Back and w Alch what we  added . Alpine director Harald Schown Viiar we came Here in compete far medals not just to participate. Just remember in 1984. When be won five medals hardly any or our skiers were expected to win medals  Fletcher 2 5, of Acton mass., figures in be the United states Best Hope Lor an Alpine medal in these games although she would me to be considered Akin Pleil. She Lias finished ninth i2lli Ana Mill in world cup downhills this season. She also will in Pele in super Liam slalom in which her results have been less impressive. As for fiddler s own mental attitude. In could t he belter. She successfully de fended her downhill and super a lilies in the . Alpine championships a week Afi. That us a can Fidance boost she said. It helped me gel that race head  Tor Sears Fletcher has had the physical touts to compete successfully against hit Best european skiers. But she was considered a head Case who frequently psyched herself Oul of winning. Her Only world cup Triumph came in a downhill at Vail. Colo in March l9sb. Physically i know i m As Good As anyone she said. At the world cup level everyone skis Aboul the same any Way. I would say world cup racing is about 85 in 90 Peim menial. It s what s upstairs thai makes the differ ence. My mental attitude has improved dramatically in the past  Fletcher made an untamed practice run Friday on the women s downhill course at mount Allan. She believes the Hill favors her style. Ii has technical and gliding sections and 1 feel i m Good at both she said. Moil other skiers arc Good at one or the other. I do better on courses that have variety like  Flelcher has enjoyed her first few Days of her first olympics and appears to have taken the proper approach. I will focus on what 1 have to do when i m on the Hill but when i m off the Hill i want to sit Back and enjoy the ride she said. She admitted to some sorrow however thai several of her Tea males including Eva Twar Dokins and Tori Pil linger did not make inc qty Pic team because of injuries. Tamara Mckinney. Who suffered a broken leg in november resumed to racing Only last week at the nationals and Doug Lewis and Mike Brown also were sidelined for a time this season with injuries. Bill Johnson the 1984 olympic Down Hill Champion did not make the team after poor results stemming from last year s knee and Back surgery. It s ii. They had the potential to be medal winners she said. They would be Here  is american Pam Fletcher right shows her positive it allude to teammate i Lipary Lindh. Poised on history Figini says i am not tense1  mount Allan Alberta a four years after becoming the youngest Alpine skier Ever to win an olympic Gold medal Mich la Figini Oswil Zorland has another landmark achievement within her reach. She could become the first skier to win two olympic titles in a Row. The 21-year-old Swiss Star will make her bid for a double in thursday s women s downhill on i he slopes of mount Allan. The woman who a on the 1984 olympic downhill at Sarajevo Yugoslavia says she feels no pressure to repeat. "1 am not tense Figini said Friday after inspecting the olympic course on which she won a world cup race last season. "1 will try to defend my downhill title bul 1 would not be upset if i Tail. 1 have Learned that a Victory depends on Many unpredictable factors. Thus it s useless to be too anxious before an important  experience has also taught her that us re is plenty of time for regrets Flor a race. She could t hold Back the tears last year at crans Montana Swit Erland when she surrendered her world championship downhill title to teammate and archrival Maria Wall scr. It was the lat est chapter in a continuing Battle for supremacy on the Swiss team As Well us in the world rankings Figini. Nicknamed Michi by team mate and fans i Rcd tin first Salvo when she won the olympic Gold in 191 4 l y a Mere .05 seconds Over Walliser Figini added the world championships Down Hill title to her collection in i98s while also winning the world cup Overall and downhill titles. Walliser at 24 three Yean older than Figini answered with Overall lilies in 1986 and i9sj7 and won the 1986 world cup downhill title. While Figini Cap tured the world cup downhill scented a Case any better than we did he said in a Telephone interview from Miami. I respect die arbitrator s Rul ing Dawson 33, was seeking to receive the highest amount of Money Ever awarded in a baseball arbitration Case. The record ii the si.93 million won last year by Don Mattingly of the new York Yankees