In the men’s and women’s classic sprint (1,4 km) in the Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 in Falun, Sweden we got to see two Norwegian gold medals and two bronz medals.
Women’s classic sprint
In the women’s competition sovereign ski-queen Marit Björgen from Norway won the gold before the home-nations big hope Stina Nilsson. Norway got their first gold medal of the championship and Sweden got their first medal. Norway also got the bronze medal (Maiken Caspersen Falla). While Sweden’s Nilsson beat Björgen in the quarterfinal and Justyna Kowalczyk looked good in the semifinal there was no question which nation had the strongest skier in the final. Hats off!
Finishing times:
1) Marit Bjørgen, Norway, 3.26,63, 2) Stina Nilsson, Sweden, +0,42, 3) Maiken Caspersen Falla, Norway, +0,99, 4) Justyna Kowalczyk, Poland, +1,43, 5) Kari Vikhagen Gjeitnes, Norway, +6,10, 6) Ingvild Flugstad Østberg, Norway, +10,47.
Men’s classic sprint
In the final of the men’s competition we had no less than two (!) Northug: well known clown-prince Petter Jr and his younger brother Tomas. It was, however, the 29 year old Petter Northug Jr who drew the tallest straw in this final and he got a long awaited sprint medal after goal photo against Canada’s Alex Harvey who won the silver. Norway got the bronze medal here as well (Ola Vigen Hattestad).
Resultat, sprint, 1,4 km (k)
1) Petter Northug, Norway, 3.02,35, 2) Alex Harvey, Canada, +0,05, 3) Ola Vigen Hattestad, Norway, +0,35, 4) Nikita Kriukov, Russia, +0,38, 5) Federico Pellegrino, Italy, +0,67, 6) Tomas Northug, Norway, +17,28.
Saturday February 21 it’s time for Skiathlon: Men’s 30km and women’s 15 km.
