March 16, 2003 (Lahti, Finland) – Olympic Gold Medallist Gabriella Paruzzi, from Italy, collected her first world cup gold medal yesterday morning, and Mathias Fredriksson, from Sweden, added another to his collection after the 10/15 km freestyle cross-country ski World Cup event got underway in Lahti, Finland.

The 33-year old Paruzzi broke Norwegian star Bente Skari's season-long winning streak to win the 10 km freestyle event in 26:16.9. Silver was won by Russia's Olga Savialova, who snuck in between Paruzzi and Skari's time to finish second in 26:17.8. Skari had to settle for the lower ledge of the podium after posting a final time of 26:18.5. Canadians Beckie Scott and Sara Renner came in 15th and 36th respectively. There were 61 starters in this event.

Head Coach Dave Wood believes the athletes are all getting tired now. “It can go back and forth at this point in the season,” says Wood. “From race to race we see people moving up and down. Hopefully next weekend’s pursuit race (in Falun, Sweden) will go better.”

Sweden's Mathias Fredriksson took home his third gold medal since January when he crossed the line 7 seconds ahead of his competitors in 36:14.0. The silver went to Czech's Lukas Bauer, who claimed his second silver in 36:23.1. Bauer was followed by Pietro Piller Cottrer in 36:31.6. This is the 28-year old Italian's second world cup medal of 2003. Canadians George Grey and Chris Jeffries crossed the line in 72nd and 84th place.

The World Cup circuit moves to the final race sites in Sweden for races in Borlange and Falun next week.

The Canadian Senior National Cross Country Ski Team is supported in their international racing pursuits by Haywood Securities.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

Results:
Women
1) Gabriella Paruzzi ITA 26:16.9
2) Olga Savialova RUS 26:17.8
3) Bente Skari NOR 26:18.5
4) Kristina Smigun EST 26:20.1
5) Evi Sachenbacher GER 26:24.3
6) Valentina Shevchenko UKR 26:24.9
7) Sabina Valbusa ITA 26:30.2
8) Nina Gavriljuk RUS 26:32.5
9) Elena Burukina RUS 26:47.2
10) Natalia Korosteleva RUS 26:51.0

Canadians
15) Beckie Scott CAN 27:13.9
36) Sara Renner CAN 28:12.1

Men
1) Mathias Fredriksson SWE 36:14.0
2) Lukas Bauer CZE 36:23.1
3) Pietro Piller-Cottrer ITA 36:31.6
4) Axel Teichmann GER 36:54.2
5) Rene Sommerfeldt GER 36:56.4
6) Christian Hoffmann AUT 36:57.9
7) Christian Zorzi ITA 36:59.2
8) Andreas Schluetter GER 37:02.8
9) Giorgio Di Centa ITA 37:05.1
10) Vincent Vittoz FRA 37:05.1

Canadians
72) George Grey CAN 39:48.1
84) Chris Jeffries CAN 41:00.3

For complete race results: www.fis-ski.com