The ever-confident Bode Miller didn't waste any time getting recognized in Sochi, as the American skier posted the fastest time in Thursday's downhill training session.
"My confidence is never really my issue," Miller said afterwards, according to Reuters. "Unfortunately they don't give any medals for training because if they did I'd be psyched today.
"But it certainly doesn't hurt. To come out here and ski hard, ski well, first run is great."
Miller led the way with a time of 2 minutes, 7.75 seconds, just .003 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Patrick Keung.
A couple other favorites, Erik Guay of Canada and Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway, finished seventh and eighth respectively.
Svindal, the overall World Cup leader and 2010 silver medalist, said afterwards he wasn't too concerned with his finish.
"It was a bad run, to be honest," Svindal told Reuters. "I was 1.2 [seconds] behind. I would definitely like to be faster but I have some big things I need to change so I'm not too worried here."
He also conceded to the Associated Press that the course suits Miller, and that he wasn't surprised with the result.
The downhill competition begins Sunday, with two more training sessions to be held before then.
