These 2002 Olympic Games have finally delivered their poster child, the one athlete who stands for everything the Olympics are supposed to represent. And it is neither David Pelletier nor Jamie Sale, though the endless controversy surrounding their silver-to-gold medal has certainly provided the backdrop for the real hero to emerge.

	In the context of the scandal surrounding the judging of the pairs' figure skating, Ohno is a refreshing reminder of why we love the Olympics.

No slight to Pelletier or Sale. They just went out and skated. But the ensuing furor has sullied the Games and reminded us of how messy judged competitions can be. The sniping from each country's federation has also been very unpleasant.

So to me, anyway, American short-track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno is the athlete to watch and remember from these games. Ohno, among the favorites in his three remaining races, was about 20 meters from a gold medal in the 1,000-meter event Saturday when he was knocked over in a crash that was not his fault. He scrambled to his feet and lunged over the finish line for silver. And he was cut by his own skate in the fall.

He may have other events in which he can medal. But still, I liked his reaction, which was essentially, "A silver medal is pretty cool." No crying for a do-over. No sniping at the skater who knocked him over. No whining. No hedging on his future performance because of the cut.

Ohno seems happy to be there. He understands that a competition isn't over until it's over and the first guy to cross the line wins. Crashes occur in short-track speedskating, even in the Olympics. So he took his situation in stride. And in the context of the scandal surrounding the judging of the pairs' figure skating, Ohno is a refreshing reminder of why we love the Olympics.

So cheer him on later this week. And I bet you that, no matter what happens, Apolo Ohno will handle it with grace and class and make you again feel the way we all want to about the Olympics.