OLYMPICS, CROSS-COUTRY SKIING. Germany's team Claudia Nystad and Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle captured gold medals in Team sprint. Silver goes to Sweden to Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag. Russia's Irina Khazova and Natlia Korosteleva won bronz having defeated Italy.

Kalla and Haag were setting the pace the whole race and were fighting in the front. During the race field stretched out and group of 4-5 teams remained in the front. In the last leg Claudia Nystad attacked and decided before the last curve in the stadium.

For Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia Nystad it was for both the fourth Olympic medal. "It is really exciting. I didn't expect this gold. The hardest part was the semi final and in the final the tactic was just to stay behind Kalla, " said Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle in the finish.

Charlotte Kalla and Anna Haag could celebrate their second medal this evening. "I really tried to beat Claudia but she was just too strong today. But I'm very satisfied with the medal and happy to be able to win it with my team mate Charlotte, " said Anna Haag after the race.

Also the Russians were happy. Natalia Korosteleva, who is the sister of silver medalist Nikolay Morilov, commented after her race: "During the last lap I saw we could actually get the Gold medal. I was going for Gold and gave all, but Bronze is very good for us."

FIScrosscountry.com
Monday 22 February 2010