OLYMPICS. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING. Norwegian relay consisting of Vibeke Skofterud, Therese Johaug, Kristin Stoermer Steira and Marit Bjoergen won Gold medals in ladies' relay. Classic half of the relay group of 3-4 teams were skiing together. Kristin Stoermer Steira attacked in her skating leg and opened a gap. Marit Bjoergen did not give a chance to the rest of the field to close the gap and brought to her team mates Gold.
Marit Bjoergen of Norway celebrates after Norway won the gold medal during the Ladies' Cross Country 4x5 km Relay on day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
German relay team (Katrin Zeller, Evi Sachenbacher Stehle, Miriam Goessner and Claudia Nystad) took Silver medals, 24,6 seconds behind Norway. Aino Kaisa Saarinen was finishing for Finland and sprinted over Italy. With this great performances Pirjo Muranen, Virpi Kuitunen, Riitta-Liisa Roponen and Aino Kaisa Saarinen earned bronze, finishing 30,4 seconds behind the winning team.
Claudia Nystad takes the Silver Medal for Team Germany during the WomenÕs Cross Country Skiing 4x5km Relay on Day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 25, 2010 in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Philippe Montigny/Agence Zoom/Getty Images North America)
Bjoergen, who skied the last leg for Norway became the first person to win three Gold medals and in additon one bronze at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and could become the Queen of the Vancouver Games. She commented after her victory: "This was a great race. The other girls have done a great race before me. I knew that Germany and Finland were very strong but I did get five seconds in the first climb. I knew that this was going to be my way."
Claudia Nystad, who won already Gold in Team Sprint and was today the last races of the Germany teams said in the finished."I ried to make it tactical to save my energy. When I realised Aino Kaisa was a little bit tired, I ried to attack and I hoped that no one would follow."
Finland took their first medal in this Olympics in Cross-Country skiing and were really satisfied. Aino Kaisa Saarinen stated after the race: "This was an exciting race, I tried to fight for the second place but the Germans were a bit better. We had a good glide on our skis. It was an amazing day and anything can happen in the Relay."
FIScrosscountry.com Thursday 25 February 2010
Aurore Cuinet of France and Olga Savialova of Russia during the WomenÕs Cross Country Skiing 4x5km Relay on Day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 25, 2010 in Whistler Olympic Park, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Philippe Montigny/Agence Zoom/Getty Images North America)
Vibeke W Skofterud, Kristin Stoermer Steira, Marit Bjoergen and Therese Johaug of Norway celebrate after winning the gold medal during the Ladies' Cross Country 4x5 km Relay on day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Katrin Zeller, Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle, Miriam Gossner and Claudia Nystad of Germany celebrate winning the silver medal during the Ladies' Cross Country 4x5 km Relay on day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
Pirjo Muranen, Virpi Kuitunen, Riitta-Liisa Roponen and Aino- Kaisa Saarinen of Finland celebrate winning the bronze medal during the Ladies' Cross Country 4x5 km Relay on day 14 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics at Whistler Olympic Park Cross-Country Stadium on February 25, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (February 24, 2010 - Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)
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