KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia, March 15 (R-Sport) – Russia continued its dominance at the cross-country track at the Sochi Paralympic Games on Saturday, winning the 4x2.5km mixed relay.
The host team, fielding four Sochi champions, trailed by 36.3 seconds after the third leg, before Nikolai Polukhin, who earlier won the 15km visually impaired biathlon race, charged into the lead on his 2.5km section of the race.
"We have the most responsibility in the relay because we are racing for the whole team and the country," Polukhin said. "At the start, we must not go too fast, as we could get tired in the middle of the race. We must also not go too slowly, as we could lose time. But our coaches had a good plan and it worked."
Russia's team, which included Svetlana Konovalova, Alyona Kaufman and Elena Remizova alongside Polukhin, brought the team its eighth cross-country gold and 26th overall gold of the Games.
"It is the most hard-fought medal for me and the most valuable at the Games," three-time Sochi champion Kaufman told R-Sport. "It was my first career relay and I was worried a lot before the start. The responsibility to the team and the country is much higher than in individual races."
Sweden finished second, 8.7 seconds behind the Russians, while the bronze went to Norway, a further 9.3 seconds behind.
"It was not any big surprise that the Russians won. We're glad we got the podium with the Swedes, they're our really good friends," said Norway's Mariann Marthinsen, the gold medalist from the sitting sprint.
Later in the day, the 4x2.5km open relay will take place, where Russia will be led by five-time Sochi champion Roman Petushkov.
Updates with quotes.
