Michael Schmid wins gold in Olympic skicross debut

Switzerland's Michael Schmid won the gold medal in the Olympic debut of skicross.

Schmid, the World Cup leader this season, took a big lead early and made it to the finish line without any contact.

Austria's Andreas Matt won the silver medal.

Norway's Audun Groenvold won the bronze over Canada's Chris Del Bosco, who fell on the next-to-last jump.

Casey Puckett and Daron Rahlves of the U.S. were eliminated in the first round of the four-man heats.

-- Houston Mitchell in Vancouver, Canada

Photo: Michael Schmid. Credit: Cameron Spencer / Getty Images