Live Sports Chanels

Cross-Country Skiing: Kowalczyk claims ladies’ 30 km gold – AFP News : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

February 28, 2010 · admin · Jump to comments

Whistler (AFP) – Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk won the ladies’ 30-kilometre cross-country skiing competition on Saturday after a photo-finish with Marit Bjoergen, then apologised to the Norwegian after accusing her of cheating.

World champion Kowalczyk, who had accused her rival of using asthma medication to fuel her triple gold-medal triumph, came home in one hour 30min 33.7sec.

Norway’s Bjoergen was just 0.3sec behind to claim silver while Finland’s Aino-Kaisa Saarinen took bronze.

“I am sorry, because it wasn’t a good time for such a question and opinion,” said Kowalczyk after her victory which gave her the gold, silver and bronze set at the 2010 Winter Games.

“It wasn’t (meant as) an attack on Marit. She is a very good athlete, but I was trying to talk about the asthma problem we have in cross-country, there are a lot of athletes sick with asthma.

“We must find a solution. I am really sorry because it wasn’t the time for such a conversation.”

In the race build-up, the last on the women’s schedule, an ugly war of words had broken out between the two competitors.

Bjoergen’s coach said the medication used by the 29-year-old Norwegian, who added the 4×5km team relay gold to her two individual titles, was legal and has been approved by both the International Ski Federation and by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Bjoergen brushed off the controversy.

“That annoyed me a little bit, but for me it’s already yesterday’s news,” she said.

“I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning when she started this, but I have to forget it.”

Kowalczyk, banned from the sport for doping in 2005, came second in the sprint and the third in the pursuit behind the Norwegian, who took gold in both races.

At the 20km stage of Saturday’s race, the Pole, who won silver in the individual sprint and bronze in the pursuit, led an 12-strong pack, which included Bjoergen, when the racers changed skis.

With an hour gone, Norway’s Kristin Stoermer Steira, who had already won gold in the 4×5km relay, took the lead with Bjoergen behind her and Kowalczyk in third.

Bjoergen then made an impressive break to open a six-second gap, but Kowalzyck stayed in her wake and closed the Norwegian’s lead to just a second before taking the lead again on the final hill.

Bjoergen drew level and the pair were neck-and-neck approaching the finish line in the stadium before Kowalczyk won her first Olympic gold medal on the line to add the 30km Olympic title to her world crown.

ryj/dj10