KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia, February 22 (R-Sport) – Marit Bjoergen took a record sixth Olympic gold as Norway swept the podium in the women’s 30 kilometer freestyle cross-country skiing race at the Sochi Olympics on Saturday.
Bjoergen’s medal haul now matches the Winter Olympic women's gold medal record, held by cross-country skier Lyubov Egorova and speedskater Lidia Skoblikova with six each.
It is Bjoergen's third gold of the Sochi Olympics after the women's skiathlon and team sprint.
"It's incredible. We're all Norwegian and we're all on the podium," Bjoergen said. "This has been a goal for me for a long time. I thought the 30k would be hard but I've felt very good in the last days."
The silver medal Saturday went to Therese Johaug, who lost out to Bjoergen in a sprint for the finish line, with Kristin Stormer Steira’s bronze medal, the first of her career, completes the Norwegian 1-2-3.
"It's really good to take the silver medal here today and for Marit to get gold, and for Kristin to get bronze," Johaug said. "I'm good at climbing and Marit is good at flat track. I tried my best but Marit was stronger than me."
For Norway's women, the sweep comes as redemption after they finished a disappointing fifth in the women's relay.
"We weren't that good in the relay so we showed today that we are the best," Bjoergen said.
Defending champion Jusztyna Kowalczyk of Poland pulled out midway through the race after appearing to struggle with a foot injury she picked up earlier in the Games.
Updates with quotes, background.
