09.02 Back From Injury, Cologna Storms to Cross-Country Gold in Sochi

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia, February 9 (R-Sport) - Switzerland’s Dario Cologna stunned his cross-country skiing rivals Sunday by winning the men’s 30-kilometer skiathlon on the back of an injury-ravaged season.

It is the second career gold medal for Cologna, who won 15km freestyle gold in Vancouver in 2010.

In a sprint finish at the Laura Biathlon and Ski Complex in the mountains above Sochi, second place went to Sweden’s Marcus Hellner, with bronze for Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway.

The skiathlon is broken down into two stages of 15km, the first using the classical inline technique before skiers are allowed to switch to freestyle, which uses a motion similar to ice skating.

On Saturday, Norway’s Marit Bjorgen won the first cross-country gold medal of the Games with victory in the women’s 15km skiathlon.