KETCHUM, Idaho — A treasure hunter with a metal detector has unearthed a third-place ski medal that was won and then apparently lost at the 1940 U.S. National Championships in central Idaho's Sun Valley.

KETCHUM, Idaho — A treasure hunter with a metal detector has unearthed a third-place ski medal that was won and then apparently lost at the 1940 U.S. National Championships in central Idaho's Sun Valley.
    Randy McCann of Ketchum found the round brass medal for the men's combined event while looking for silver coins on Rund Mountain last month. The 1940 competition was held on Rund and Bald mountains.
The medal, about the size of a quarter, is inscribed: "National Championships Sun Valley, 1940 Men's Combined Open Class, 3rd Place."
    The medal was awarded to Walter Prager of Switzerland. The combined race included downhill, slalom and jumping events.
    According to the record books, Dick Durrance took first place in the combined, which served as the fourth annual Harriman Cup race, started by Averell Harriman, founder of Sun Valley Resort.
Prager competed with other legends of the day, and it was the first time racers rode new lifts to the downhill course.
    McCann found the medal about 5 inches below the surface. It is not corroded. The front depicts a skier with blue ski pants and a white shirt and is inscribed "National Ski Association."
    "It's incredible that it's in this good of shape," McCann said.
    After his racing career, Prager went on to coach the Dartmouth ski team and the U.S. Olympic team. He died in 1984.
    McCann said he is searching for one of Prager's descendants to return the medal. If a descendent can't be found, McCann said he'd like to see the medal in a ski museum.
    "You never know what you are going to find," he said.

— The Associated Press