February 12, 2014 (Krasnaya Polyana, Russia) – A crash-filled day in the men’s 1.8km Sprint FR that concluded with a 3-skier pile up in the final, saw several big names out of contention, and while Canada’s Alex Harvey and the USA’s Andy Newell stayed on their feet, the final podium eluded them.

The day belonged to Norwegian speed king, Ola Vigen Hattestad, who posted the fastest qualifying time as well on his way to Olympic gold. Sweden’s Teodor Peterson took home the silver while his legendary teammate, Emil Joensson, soloed in for the bronze in what may have been the easiest medal of his career.

The day began with only three North Americans advancing to the heats as the USA’s Simi Hamilton joined Harvey and Newell while the five other starters including veteran Canadian Devon Kershaw, of Team Sprint Words gold fame (w/Harvey), were sidelined early – quotes and photos from the qualifications here.

The tough 1.8km sprint course claimed its victims and North American fans were left wanting as all three speed studs failed to advance the semis. Recent Olympic gold medalist Dario Cologna met a similar fate also out early suffering a fateful crash fueling speculation that his injured ankle may have flared up and could endanger the rest of his campaign in Sochi.

Harvey, touted as the strongest bid for Canada’s first men’s Olympic medal, qualified 19th and was gunning for a podium spot but failed to advance past his quarterfinal finishing fourth in his heat.

“I felt good I just couldn’t go over the top of the last hill. Offset is a bit of my dark horse in skating so I just couldn’t go when Petukov and Ustiugov opened it full throttle,” said Harvey. “I felt really good even yesterday after the Skiathlon recovering well and was 100% today. That raw raw speed, I just didn’t have it, and I don’t have it often. I’m better on courses that are more one-skate than off setting.”

American sprint king, Andy Newell, also had a disappointing day after leading the charge in the qualifier in 17th he finished fourth in his quarterfinal and thus completed his day of racing.

“I think this was the hardest sprint I’ve ever done, and I’ve done a lot of sprints. I almost made it work in challenging conditions. It was pretty slow out there and with a course like that, and a hill like that, just made things really tough. Plus with the altitude and everything you’re really breathing quite hard when you cross the finish line. I didn’t feel great in the qualifications, but I kind of regrouped and felt okay in the quarterfinal,” commented Newell.

Hamilton was also sidelined early as he finished last in his heat but the Aspen skier was in good company as Russia’s Nikita Kruikov, the Olympic sprint CL gold medalist from Vancouver 2010, was also eliminated in his heat.

Hattestad proved unbeatable in his semi final despite a challenge by Sweden’s Marcus Hellner who ended up fourth but made the final as a Lucky Loser. Russian Anton Gafarov crashed during the heat breaking his ski, valiantly continuing to the finish line but fell again with his ski half dangling.

Canadian Head Coach, Justin Wadsworth, ran onto the course, and helped Gafarov with one of Harvey’s spare skis so the Russian could continue and cross the finish line. His gesture made headlines worldwide as Wadsworth personified the Olympic spirit.

Fellow Russian, Sergey Ustiugov, aced his semi with Sweden’s Joensson making the final as well as Norwegian super star Petter Norway seemed interested at the start but then appeared to lose his usual fighting spirit and was out.

Little did the combatants and race fans know what was to come as the six finalists lined up at the start of the final. After a false start by Joensson, the Swede who usually tries to lead, was at the back as his teammate Peterson took the pole position with Hattestad in pursuit. As the race unfolded it quickly became a race of five, not six, as Joensson was not contending and it seemed he was out.

Coming into the long downhill Hattestad took over the lead as he and Peterson began to drop the others and then the unthinkable happened. Anders Gloeerson of Norway suddenly went down sliding into the fencing while Hellner behind met the same fate. Russia’s Ustiugov was unable to avoid the melee and tumbled over Hellner.

In the blink of an eye it was a two-skier race for gold and silver between Hattestad and Peterson as Joensson took over third much to his and everyone’s surprise. The three crash victims recovered and continued but the final sprint cards had been played as Hattestad won gold, Peterson the silver and Joensson the bronze.

Final results here.