Despite a successful season and a growing reputation as one of the nation's top distance skiers, Gilbertson was not among those who figured to be selected for the five-man U.S. team. He had never skied in a World Cup race and he was older than skiers considered to be in their prime. If he wanted to go to Nagano, he knew that second place wouldn't be good enough. He had to win.
     "It was a four-lap race. I figured I would go out for the first three laps and stay in control and then put the hammer down," he said.
    He was within four seconds of the lead after three laps when he made his move. Split times are announced to the skiers as they pass various points in the course, and when Gilbertson reached the last long downhill section of the race the timer yelled a split time Gilbertson didn't believe. He was a minute and 20 seconds in the lead. "To be honest, I thought he must have screwed up on his math," he said. The timer's math was correct. When Gilbertson crossed the finish line a few moments later, he collapsed gasping from exhaustion and emotion. He was going to Nagano.

It was the culmination of a long-held dream and a well-conceived plan. He had arranged a one-year leave from his teaching job at Lamoille Union High School in Morrisville, Vt., to train for his Olympic attempt. His performance leading up to the qualifying race at Lake Placid had been excellent--he was the leading money winner on the Yoko/F.I.S. Series, the pre-Olympic circuit for U.S. competitors. "I had never prepared for anything in my life like I prepared for that hour and a half," he said.
    Like millions of American children, Gilbertson grew up watching Olympic competition, vicariously sharing the pride when a U.S. gold medalist stood on the winner's platform and listened to the national anthem. "When I got my uniform and saw the big `U.S.A.' on the back and saw all of the flags people put on my car, that was a special feeling," he said. "I didn't sleep much the first four nights after I won [the qualifying race]. I would wake up and think, `Holy cow, I'm going to be in the opening ceremonies.'"
    Gilbertson's achievement has thrilled his classmates and Colby teachers, including Jim Wescott, who coached him during four seasons of track and cross-country running. "Mark is just a gem," Wescott said. "He is so modest about his accomplishments."
    While skiing for Colby, Gilbertson twice qualified for the NCAA Division I national championships and was the Division II champion three times. He says he is going to Nagano expecting to win a medal. "I think I would be selling myself short if I didn't enter the race believing I could win," he said. "All of my skiing career people have been telling me it's impossible to do this or that. A lot of stuff is possible.