Bode Miller, Julia Mancuso focus on Olympics skiing, not politics

SOCHI, Russia -- Bode Miller and Julia Mancuso have strong personalities and opinions, but this might not be the time or the place.

Miller and Mancuso are the stars of the U.S. Alpine team and winners of a combined eight Olympic medals.

At a Thursday news conference in advance of the Olympics, however, neither star seemed interested in delving into the political controversies surrounding the Sochi Games.

“I don’t feel like the Olympics is the place for that kind of politics,” Miller said. “It’s a place for sports.”

Miller, owner of five Olympic medals and the winner of Thursday’s first downhill training run at Rosa Khutor, did say that the Sochi Olympics have that “not quite finished” look.

The Alpine team is lodging in the mountains, outside the Olympic Village.

Miller, though, added that most of the five Olympics he’s competed in have a rushed-into-production feel.

“I won’t pass any judgment until after opening ceremonies,” Miller joked of Sochi. “So they have a few hours to finish things up.”

Mancuso, winner of three medals and competing in her fourth Olympics, basically dodged a question about Russia’s policy on gay and lesbian rights.

“We’re here to compete,” she said. “We’re here to do our job, which is to go fast.”

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