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Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug, 33, won the 10 km in classic style at the Beijing Olympics, winning her second individual gold medal at the site of Zhangjiakou (China) five days after the Olympic title in skiathlon.
After half an hour of effort, Therese Johaug was ahead of Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen by only 4/10ths of a second. The bronze medal went to another Finn, Krista Parmakoski, about thirty seconds behind Johaug and Niskanen, and only 1/10th ahead of the Russian Natalia Nepryaeva.
Canadian Dahria Beatty had a great race with an 18and position with a time of 1:53.9. Her compatriots Katherine Stewart-Jones, Cendrine Browne and Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt respectively finished in 36and48and and 61 position.
Five days after his demonstration in the skiathlon (7.5 km in classic style and 7.5 km in free style), Johaug had to fight until the last meters to secure victory over 10 km, with a time of 28 :06.3, or 4/10ths faster than her runner-up, the Finnish Kerttu Niskanen, 4th and at the foot of the podium on Saturday in the skiathlon.
With her compatriots, Johaug will be the big favorite in the women’s relay (4×5 km) on Saturday, and will be in the race a week later on the mass start (30 km in freestyle), for a golden quadruple that even Marit Björgen is not. managed to achieve in her immense career (eight Olympic titles, a record she co-holds with biathlete Ole Einar Björndalen and cross-country skier Björn Daehlie, both Norwegians).
Starting more cautiously than the Russians on this classic 10 km, Niskanen and Johaug fought a long-distance and suspenseful duel for nearly half an hour.
They were almost tied at halfway, Niskanen thought he had made the hole with an eleven second lead after 6.3 km, but Johaug came back up to the Finn, then ended up tipping the scales on his side thanks to an excellent finish.
If the title was played at four tenths of a second between Johaug and Niskanen, the bronze medal went to another Finn, Krista Parmakoski, for even less: only a small tenth of a second allowed her to beat the Russian Natalia Nepryaeva , in silver on the skiathlon.
Johaug’s Olympic adventure in China had however started badly, since she had to delay her departure from Norway for Beijing, being in contact with her teammates positive for Covid-19 during the pre-Olympic preparation.
Another type of positive test had deprived her of the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang: a doping control had revealed the presence of steroids (attributed to a lip balm) and Johaug had been sanctioned with 18 months of suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sport , attending Björgen’s triumph in South Korea from home.
Four years later, here she is in a position to mark the history of the Winter Games in her turn, and imitate Ole Einar Björndalen, quadruple Olympic champion in Salt Lake City in 2002. Only the American speed skater Eric Heiden has done better (five titles in 1980 in Lake Placid).
Ranking
1. Therese Johaug (NOR) 28:06.3
2. Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) at 0.4
3. Krista Parmakoski (END) 31.5
4. Natalia Nepryaeva (ROC) 31.6
5. Katharina Hennig (GER) 43.4
6. Ebba Andersson (SWE) 50.9
7. Yulia Stupak (ROC) 57.5
8. Jessie Diggins (USA) 1:08.8
9. Teresa Stadlober (AUT) 1:10.6
10. Tatiana Sorina (ROC) 1:11.1
11. Katherine Sauerbrey (GER) 1:20.9
12. Frida Karlsson (SWE) 1:21.7
13. Rosie Brennan (USA) 1:22.3
14. Johanna Matintalo (END) 1:24.9
15. Liliia Vasileva (ROC) 1:26.1
16. Anne Kylloenen (END) 1:36.3
17. Anamarija Lampic (SLO) 1:48.7
18. Dahria Beatty (CAN) 1:53.9
19. Emma Ribom (SWE) 1:59.5
20. Charlotte Kalla (SWE) 2:01.3
