World Championships - Norway win record fourth mixed relay gold
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Updated 07/03/2019 at 18:41 GMT
Norway claimed World Championships gold in the mixed relay for the fourth time on Thursday, the most of any nation.
Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, Tiril Eckhoff, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Johannes Thingnes Boe of Norway celebrate winning the gold medal after the IBU Biathlon World Championships Mixed Relay at Swedish National Biathlon Arena on March 07, 2019 in Ostersun
Image credit: Getty Images
The Norwegians came into the race as favourite after Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier, who was part of the team who won gold in 2017, withdrew in the morning due to illness.
Norway took advantage as Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Tiril Eckhoff put a strong foundation in place, fighting off the pressure from Germany’s Denise Herrmann, who skied well in place of Dahlmeier, and Lisa Vittozzi of Italy.
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Mixed Relay highlights as Norway take gold and Italy secure bronze
World Cup leader Johannes Thingnes Boe then opened his legs and put a commanding distance between Norway and the rest of the pack, which set-up Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen, who led them home flawlessly.
“Very excited and very happy for our team, what more can I say it’s a great day!” Eckhoff told Eurosport after the event.
Boe pointed out that the snow took him and the rest of the field by surprise.
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Norway interview - Boe drops skis as team reflect on victory
“That the snow and the tracks were quite hard so I didn’t have the best feeling on the skis but I heard on the tracks that the other teams were losing seconds so I knew it was heavier for everyone.”
Vittozzi did not miss a shot and skied excellently as she and Dorothea Wierer put Italy in a fantastic position but the men were unable to keep the pace and let Germany slip away in the race for silver.
Nevertheless, bronze is still Italy’s first medal in the event, a historic performance from the group.
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