OLYMPICS, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING. Marit Bjoergen of Norway won another Gold medal. After having dominated sprint Classic and having won Bronz in 15 km F Bjoergen claimed victory in 15 km Pursuit. Second was Anna Haag from Sweden, 8,9 seconds behind Bjoergen while Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) and Kristin Stoermer Steira (NOR) were fight till the last centimeter. Steira lost third place in a photo finish on Kowalczyk. For Steira it is the fourth time at the Olympics that she finished fourth.

Marit Bjoergen seemed all the way really strong. She made her first attack in the first loop but was chased back by her contenders. With three medals so far, Bjoergen is currently the athlete who has won most of the medals at the 2010 Olympics: "I wanted one Gold an in the Sprint I got one. So I was like "Good, I can have fun now and today I did have fun. The result is another gold, that was really great.

"I changed lot of the training this year. I was not so satisfied an I wanted to ddo everything right to be back in shape. It will be maybe my last Olympics - so I am really satisfied to manage even three medals, " commented Bjoergen.

For Anna Haag, it was her first ever Olympics and their first ever medal. The young Swedish athlete stated after the race: "After finishing 4th in the individual start, I really wanted a medal. I tried to stay behind and on the right position on the skis and then later on attack. I managed it, it is just amazing but I was a tough fight."

Justyna Kowalczyk was as well happy with her second medal: "I had to wait quite long for the final result. It was a very big emotition moment for me. Normally I am very bad in the finish line but today I had long legs, two centimetres long then Kristin."

FIScrosscountry.com
Friday 19 February 2010