Cross-country skier Iivo Niskanen won gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Games for more than 50 km and presented Finland with its first Olympic victory in South Korea.
The 26-year-old, who won gold in the team sprint four years ago in Sochi, prevailed in the “Marathon” after 2:08:22.1 hours.
Niskanen pulled in one kilometer from the finish, Alexander Bolschunov could not answer and missed the second triumph for the Olympic athletes from Russia in Pyeongchang, 18.7 seconds behind. Andrei Larkov won the bronze (OAR/+2:37.5 minutes).
As expected, the German participants had nothing to do with the decision. Andreas Katz (Baiersbronn) was 14th with a 5:10.2 minute gap. the best DSV starter, Thomas Bing (Dermbach/30th) and Lucas Bögl (Gaißach/46th) landed further back. Jonas Dobler (Traunstein) got out.
“With a’ 50 like that, you have to take your hat off anyone who can get through. The whole thing is just pig-hard,”said Katz at Eurosport, looking forward to a wheat beer and the bed. It was already the fourth medal in South Korea for Bolschunow, who had previously won silver in relay and team sprint as well as bronze in the sprint.