SOCHI SCENE: Samkova's stache

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SOCHI, Russia (AP) - When Eva Samkova dominated the snowboardcross final on Sunday to win the gold medal, a lined mustache on her upper lip begged the question: Hipster or political statement?

Turns out the thin lines in red, white and blue _ the colors of the Czech flag _ were about superstition and patriotism.

"It's a lucky mustache," she said. "Today, it's in national colors."

Samkova started wearing the lucky mustache at the world championships in 2011.

_ By Oskar Garcia _ Twitter http://twitter.com/oskargarcia

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Associated Press reporters are filing dispatches about happenings in and around Sochi during the 2014 Winter Games. Follow AP journalists covering the Olympics on Twitter: http://apne.ws/1c3WMiu