Sweden has had an historic day out at Pragelato Plan winning gold in the men’s and women’s cross country 10km team sprint
Sweden has had an historic day out at Pragelato Plan winning gold in the men’s and women’s cross country 10km team sprint. It’s the first time the event has featured at an Olympics.
The women’s team of Anna Dahlberg and Linda Andersson won their first-ever Olympic gold, crossing the line in 16 minutes 38.9 seconds, on the back of Andersson’s powerful sprint over the last 100 metres.
The Canadians Sara Renner and Beckie Scott were only 0.6 seconds behind the Swedish combination.
Aino Kaisa Saarinen and Virpi Kuitunen of Finland took bronze, crossing the line 2.3 seconds behind the winners.
Sweden’s men’s team Thobias Fredrikkson and Bjoern Lind snatched victory over the last 10 metres, finishing 0.6 seconds ahead of Norway’s Jens Arne Svartedal and Tor Arne Hetland in 17 minutes 2.9 seconds.
For 27-year-old Lind, it was his first medal at World Championship or Olympic level. His best previous result was 4th in the individual sprint at Salt Lake City 2002 and the 2005 World Championships.
His team-mate Fredrikkson was a doubtful starter until Monday afternoon (Day 3) due to flu, which had dogged him for nine days. Russia’s Ivan Plypov and Vassili Rotchev took bronze.
Tom Read/AOC
Torino