12.02 Germany’s Frenzel Clings On for Olympic Gold in Nordic Combined

KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia, February 12 (R-Sport) – Germany’s Eric Frenzel kept clear of a pack of rivals to take gold in the men’s Nordic combined normal hill/10-kilometer event at the Sochi Olympics on Wednesday.

Frenzel, who started the cross-country skiing stage in the lead after winning the opening ski jump, won by 4.2 seconds from Akito Watabe, who becomes the first Japanese athlete in 20 years to win a Nordic combined medal.

Frenzel and Watabe had been hunted throughout the skiing by a chasing pack who took turns in front to save energy, whittling down what was originally a half-minute lead, but could not catch up in time. That pack engaged in a sprint finish for the bronze, a race won by Norway’s Magnus Krog, who crossed the finish line 8.1 seconds behind Frenzel.

Nordic combined brings together ski jumping and cross-country skiing, with athletes earning time advantages in the skiing if they score higher in the jumping. The winner is the first athlete across the line in the skiing stage.