Utah's high altitude couldn't slow down the world's fleetest cross-country skiers. In an exciting series of races on Soldier Hollow's demanding course -- which also saw its share of doping controversies -- new stars were born and old favorites went home disappointed.

In men's competition, Johann Muehlegg (ESP) chugged to three gold medals, but faced serious doping allegations after a performance-enhancing substance was detected in his system.

Norway held off Italy in the men's relay to win its third gold in four Olympics while tiny Estonia won three medals in its first competition as an independent nation after years of Soviet domination.

Russia dominated women's racing, but its record was overshadowed by a doping controversy surrounding Larissa Lazutina, who was not allowed to race in the team relay. She was later cleared and won the 30-kilometer classical.

Canada's Beckie Scott won the first-ever medal by a North American and Stefania Belmondo (ITA) proved some things get better with age after the veteran came back to win the women's 15-kilometer freestyle after breaking a pole late in the race.

Muehlegg, a German national who now calls Spain home, became the breakout star of the 2002 Games. The four-time Olympian had never won an Olympic medal before he dominated the competition to score three gold medals -- 30-kilometer freestyle, 10-kilometer + 10-kilometer pursuit and 50-kilometer classical.

Muehlegg's gold medal hat-trick gave Spain its fifth Olympic Winter Games medal and its fourth gold. The hotel operator more than doubled his adopted country's all-time medal count, which entered the 2002 Games with one gold in men's alpine skiing and one silver in women's alpine skiing.

But controversy dogged Muehlegg after he tested positive for darbepoetin, a new blood-boosting drug not specifically named on the International Olympic Committee's list of banned substances.

Andrus Veerpalu (EST) won his country's first gold medal after winning the 15-kilometer classical. Veerpalu's gold and bronze in the 50-kilometer classical, together with compatriot Jaak Mae's bronze in the 15-kilometer classical event, gave tiny Estonia its first three Olympic Winter Games medals. Estonia participated in the 1924, 1928 and 1936 Olympic Winter Games as an independent state, but was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and did not compete again under its own flag until 1992.

Norway's Frode Estil won two silvers (15-kilometer classical and 10 km + 10-kilometer pursuit) and gold in the men's relay -- the only skier besides Muehlegg to nab three medals. With Thomas Alsgaard's bronze in the pursuit and Tor Arne Hetland's win in the debut of the men's 1.5-kilometer sprint, Norway came home with five individual medals. Its win in the men's relay, however, was all that really mattered. In another showdown with Italy in nordic's marquee event, Norway won its second straight gold by just 0.3 seconds and its third in four Olympics.

Italy had to settle for silver in the men's relay and Germany was satisfied with its bronze. Christian Hoffmann (AUT) and former Russian Mikhail Botvinov (AUT) finished 2-3 behind Muehlegg in the 30-kilometer freestyle, giving Austria two medals.

The 2002 Games were a bitter disappointment for World Cup champion Per Elofsson (SWE), who struggled to find his form and pulled out of the men's relay. Elofsson, a pre-Olympics favorite for several events, abandoned the 30-kilometer freestyle and could only muster fourth-place in the 10-kilometer pursuit, his best finish.

Both victory and drama followed the powerful Russian women's team which dominated the Olympic podium with seven total medals in six events. Russia, which swept all the gold medals in the 1998 Games, also was center stage to a controversial doping scandal.

The favored Russian team didn't compete in the 4 x 5-kilometer relay when Larissa Lazutina tested high for blood hemoglobin levels. The uproar left representatives from the Russian Federation questioning whether the country would participate again in any Olympic Games. Lazutina was later cleared, but it sidelined the Russians from defending the title they've won at every Olympics since 1988.

Russia did triumph for gold in three events. Olga Danilova won the 5-kilometer + 5-kilometer pursuit, Julija Tchepalova the 1.5-kilometer sprint and Lazutina the 30-kilometer classical. Russian skiers also won three silver medals and a bronze.

Had Lazutina not failed an hemoglobin test prior to the relay -- which deemed her "unhealthy" to compete but did not strip her of medals or disqualify her from other races -- she stood a good chance of setting the record for most Olympic Winter Games medals and gold medals. Instead, she shares those records with compatriot Raisa Smetanina (10 medals in cross-country) and Lydia Skoblikova (six in speed skating) and Lyubov Yegorova (six in nordic skiing).

Russia, however, didn't have a monopoly on the spotlight. Italy won the first cross-country gold of the 2002 Games. Stefania Belmondo (ITA) won the 15-kilometer freestyle mass start and took bronze in the 30-kilometer classical -- a fitting cap to the Italian's storied career. The diminutive Italian is likely participating in her last Winter Olympic Games.

Norway's Bente Skari was also a big winner. The "Classical Queen" scored a gold medal in the 10-kilometer classical and a silver in the relay.

Katerina Neumannova (CZE), the World Cup leader and a favorite for several medals, posted lackluster results. The 29-year-old Czech star, who competed in mountain biking at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games, could only muster bronze in the 15-kilometer freestyle.

Kristina Smigun (EST), another pre-Games favorite, fared poorly after getting late clearance from doping controls to enter the 2002 Games. The two-time World Championship medalist only managed an eighth-place finish in the 15-kilometer freestyle and 15th in the 5-kilometer + 5-kilometer pursuit. She did not qualify for the medal heats in the women's sprint and did not finish the 10-kilometer classical.

Beckie Scott (CAN) put her continent on the map, becoming the first North American woman to win a medal in cross-country when she nipped Neumannova by 0.1 seconds for bronze in the women's 5-kilometer + 5-kilometer pursuit.

The Germans showed they are ready to stake a claim as a cross-country powerhouse as well. With heavy favorite Russia on the sidelines, Germany took gold in the team relay. Rising star Evi Sachenbacher (GER) -- who sprinted past Anita Moen (NOR) to secure the silver in the first-ever 1.5-kilometer sprint competition -- did the same on the final leg of the relay to push Norway into the silver medal. The bronze went to the unlikely Swiss team that started in the seventh position.

--Andy Hood