February 19, 2010 (Whistler, BC) – Under a cloudless sky with near summertime weather, the great Norwegian skier Marit Bjoergen took her second gold of the Games. She broke away from teammate Kristin Stoermer Steira , Sweden’s Anna Haag and Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland who had formed a blistering break-away pack in the skating leg during the second half of the race.

Bjoergen flew to a 39:58:1 minute finish 8.9 seconds ahead of Haag who took the silver in the final sprint over Kowalczyk who took the bronze, 9.3 seconds back. Stoermer Steira finished fourth another 5:49 seconds back, while Finland’s Aino-Kaisa Saarinen took fifth, 42:5 seconds behind. Sixth place went to Therese Johaug, also of Norway. Canada’s Sara Renner had one of the best pursuit races of her life with a 10th place finish 1:39:8 minutes back. She was in the thick of things just 28 seconds back after the 7.5 classic leg.

After the race Bjoergen was all smiles. “I was a little bit tired after the Sprint [which she won two days earlier], so I was a little bit surprised that I felt so good. I was satisfied after the Sprint – I was going to have fun today. I tried to relax and not work too hard. When I changed skis I made it easy. I got some help from Kristin [Stoermer Steira, her teammate] and then I attacked. I had great skis, th

e wax technicians did a great job. I didn’t think the speed on the skating was that high, so I thought the chance was there, but you never know. When I saw the gap I knew I had the gold medal” she said, referring to her attack on the second last hill.

By the halfway point in the classic leg, Bjoergen had established a lead along with nine other skiers; a group that included Sara Renner. By the time the skiers hit the transition zone there were seven in the break with Bjoergen, Kowalcyk and Haag pushing an unrelenting pace.

Haag too said she had excellent skis and that she “really wanted a medal, so I had to stay on the right position on the ski, but I really had to fight. The race was tough from the very beginning to the end, from the start to the finish” after being asked if it was her skiing or waxing help that made a difference on the descents. She admitted to being tired too. “On the last hill I didn’t think I could make it. I don’t know where the strength came from.” Haag also said she likes both classic and skating, she “had a little problem with stress. I had to slow down and just make my race.”

Haag’s teammate Charlotte Kalla, who won the gold medal in the skate 15km on the opening day of cross-country skiing, February 15, fell in a tight pack on a straightway. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but I was sitting on my back and then I lost a little gap to the others.” Four other racers did not finish

Kowalczyk said that the course was not one that favoured her. “Here it is a lot of flat and a lot of corners, a very technical track. It’s not for me.” She added that the weather was too warm for her as well, and skied with her sleeves rolled up. Still, this is her second medal of the games – not bad for someone who prefers steep, cold courses.

Renner had nothing but praise. “In this race they went from the gun. I hung on as long as possible, so I am really pleased with how well I skied. I had to fight for every centimeter out there” she said. “I’m in good shape – really happy to get on the startline and have a good race. I skied well.”  She also paid tribute to Bjoergen, who took one silver in Torino, and hasn’t had the best results in the past few years. “It’s great to see her back on top. She’s a really great champion.” She also paid tribute to the groomers, the Canadian team wax technician and of course the 4,758 spectators. “My skis were just great. The track was perfect and the spectators were great.”

Other North Americans did not fare so well. Morgan Arritola was the next skier in, 3:27:8 minutes back and in 38th place. “I got a little fouled up [because of the pack], but I was 38th and the top American. I can live with that,” she commented afterwards. Canada’s Madeleine Williams was the next one in in 41st place 4:13:1 minutes back. “I’m developing coping strategies and I felt I finished really strong. I drank more at the feed station because I’m a cold weather athlete and in the 15km if you get dehydrated, it’s game over.”

Williams was followed by Caitlin Compton at 43rd and 4:25:2 minutes back. Compton had a mixture of optimism and realism. “I was really warm out there – like a nice spring race. My race was good, but I struggled in the classic portion. I’m a better skate skier, and for sure as soon as I put on the skate skis I felt incredible. I started pulling people in on the soft climbs.”

Daria Gaiazova was the next North American in 47th, 4:37:8 minutes back, while USA’s Holly Brooks was 56th, 5:40:7 minutes behind and Canada’s Perianne Jones and America’s Elizabeth Stephen were 57th and 58th.

Trondelag Region of Norway Surpasses Canada in Olympic Medals:

The Adreseavisen, a newspaper in the Trondelag Region of Norway, which is situated in the middle of the country and has a population of 400,000, has listed “Trondelag” ahead of Canada in the medal count on their front page. After Marit Bjoergen’s win today Trondelag surpassed Canada in overall medals. Bjoergen has won 2 gold and 1 bronze; biathlete Emil Svendsen has won 1 gold and 1 silver in biathlon, Tora Berger, also in biathlon has won 1 gold, cross-country skier and Petter Northug has won a bronze.

Full Results here.

Brief
1. Marit Bjoergen (NOR) 39:58.1
2. Anna Haag (SWE) +8.9
3. Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) + 9.3

10. Sara Renner (CAN) +1:39.8
38. Morgan Arritola (USA) +3:27.8
41. Madeleine Williams (CAN) +4:13.1
43. Caitlin Compton (USA) +4:25.2
47. Daria Gaiazova (CAN) +4:37.8
56. Holly Brooks (USA) +5:40.7
57. Perianne Jones (CAN) +5:50.6
58. Elizabeth Stephen (USA) +5:55.7