Former Olympic medalist and World Cup champion Bode Miller announced his return to the U.S. ski team Thursday.

During a news conference at the Staples Center, Miller disclosed his plans to compete at this coming season's World Cup events with the hope of qualifying for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

"It wasn't a huge motivation in this decision," said Miller of the push for the Olympics. "There's a lot of stuff that goes on between now and then. My primary motivation was just to be back and ski racing again and to have the opportunity to be a part of a team I haven't been in the past."

Miller has skied independently the last two years, winning his second overall World Cup title in 2007-08. He took a four-week break from competition in February and March this year to spend time with his young daughter, and he hinted at retirement.

"I sort of progressed to a point I didn't feel there was a whole lot more for me to do," said Miller. "I was nit-picking at little tiny things and that can become frustrating.

"At that point, at the end of last season I thought it was a great time for me to step back. I had never had a chance to do that and felt it was something important to find where you're at instead of just getting sucked into all the momentum carrying you forward. In my case there was a lot of that. I generated it on my own."

Miller, who will be 32 at the time of the Olympics in February, is a four-time world champion in four different disciplines. He won the silver medal in both the giant slalom and combined events at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

He was named to the team Thursday based on his results from last season. Like all other athletes, he will need to qualify for a slot on the Olympic team based on 2010 season results. The Olympic team will be named January 26.

"I was pleased that Bode reached out to me earlier this week to express his commitment to upholding the Olympic ideals of sportsmanship, integrity and hard work in his quest to join the 2010 U.S. Olympic team," USOC chairman Larry Probst said in a statement. "He is enthusiastic about his return to the U.S. ski team, and in helping take the sport and his teammates to a new level."

If Miller does get to the Olympics after qualifying it would be his fourth Winter Games, joining the efforts he had in Nagano (1998), Salt Lake City (2002) and Torino (2006).

"Bode is committed to the team and the team looks forward to helping Bode achieve personal greatness," said U.S. men's alpine team coach Sasha Rearick. "Because Bode is such a great competitor he's going to challenge everyone on the team to push their personal limits and strive for greater performances. I look forward to Bode being a positive team member and leader.

"Our men's team the last two years has grown into a close-knit family - we help each other be successful. Having proven veterans like Ted [Ligety], Marco [Sullivan], Steven [Nyman], Scott [Macartney] and Bode all training and racing together will help all of us. This is a group of strong leaders that Bode has trained and raced with throughout his career."

In 2005, Miller became the first American in 22 years to win the overall World Cup title, since Phil Mahre and Tamara McKinney in 1983. Miller then left the U.S. ski team in May 2007 to race on his own, but he still was competing in several U.S. international events.

Controversy followed Miller prior to the 2006 Olympics. He stated on the program "60 Minutes" that he skied "wasted" at least one time. In the 2006 Winter Games he finished fifth in the downhill and sixth in the giant slalom.

Instead of staying with the team at hotels during competitions, Miller frequently was found at the base of the mountain relaxing in his customized RV.

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