There are apparently no limits for Janica Kostelic during these Olympics - the 20-year-old skier from Zagreb has once more astonished the ski world by clocking the best time in the first run of the giant slalom at park City.

After a slow start, the 2001 Overall World Cup champion skied perfectly at the bottom to beat by almost half a second the 1999 World Champion Alexandra Meissnitzer from Austria while Spain's Maria Jose Rienda Contreras was 3rd at 73/100.

These three outsiders who haven't done so well this season in giant slalom are followed but top-specialists as Sweden's Anja Paerson, Austria's Michaela Dorfmeister and Switerland's Sonja Nef, the reigning World Champion.

It was a disappointing first run for three other contenders who won World Cup races this winter, Andrine Flemmen, Stine Hofgard Nilsen and Lilian Kummer. They all crashed and skied out of the course.

An amazing Janica

Janica Kostelic, who was 4th here back in November 1998 in her first US ski race ever, who herself quite amazed by her result.

"I don't know what's going on, I'm moving in the clouds" she said. "I was for sure was relaxed and I had a solid run. Ante told me to be very clean at the beginning of the last pitch where Ivica had some problem yesterday. I did well there which helped me to carry a maximum of speed in the final part. It's incredible".

A double Olympic champion in combined and slalom, Janica would set a new record in winning a fourth gold medal at these Games. She may also set a new record in winning three times gold at the same events.

The five skiers who follow her in the standings are classified within half a second. They all aim for a spot on the podium.