Russian women skiers win gold in Turin

TURIN, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian women's skiing team has won a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games women's 4x5 kilometer relay. The team members were Natalia Baranova-Masalkina, Larisa Kurkina, Yulia Chepalova and Yevgenia Medvedeva-Arbuzova. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to the team, congratulating them on their victory against tough opponents. "Your Olympic gold is a great gift to Russian fans, and for the whole of Russia," the president said.