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Lindsey, Shani and the Tomato

    by Daily News staff
    Published 

Thanks to gold medal performances from some of its biggest names, the U.S. team set an American record for most medals in a single day with six -- three golds, one silver and two bronze. This group also became the first U.S. team to post multiple medalists in three events on the same day.

The golds went to skier Lindsey Vonn, who did not disappoint in her Vancouver debut in the downhill, and repeat golds from speedskater Shani Davis in the 1,000 meters and Shaun "Flying Tomato" White in the halfpipe.

Julia Mancuso picked up a surprising silver behind Vonn; Chad Hedrick earned a bronze in the 1,000 meters behind Davis and Scotty Lago earned a bronze behind White.

Six medals won by one country in a single day of Olympic Winter Games competition occurred eight times previously. The former German Democratic Republic (GDR) holds the overall record for most Olympic Winter Games medals in a single day with eight on Feb. 7 at the 1976 Games in Innsbruck.

"I've been around 15 Olympic Games ... and in my experience this is the best day for the United States team in Olympic Winter Games history," said Mike Plant, chef de mission of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team. "The great anticipation of Lindsey Vonn in the downhill, and the repeat gold medals of Shani Davis and Shaun White were what people wanted to see. They stepped up on this incredible stage and delivered ...  This will be a memory for all time"

The record-breaking day for the U.S. also marked the first time an American team has won two medals in three separate events in a single day's competition.

The previous American single-day record (five) occurred Feb. 20, 2002, in Salt Lake City, when Jim Shea, Jr. and Apolo Anton Ohno captured gold in skeleton and 1500m speedskating, respectively, Tristan Gale and Lea Ann Parsley finished one-two in women's skeleton and Jennifer Rodriguez placed third in women's 1500m speedskating.

The U.S. won four medals the following day in Salt Lake City and has captured three in a single day 15 times in Olympic Winter Games history.