Cross-country skier Kalla wins first gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Games

Pyeongchang (SID) Swedish cross-country skier Charlotte Kalla has won the first gold medal of the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. After 30 km in both classic and free style, the 7,5-year-old came out ahead of Norwegian Marit Björgen, who won the competition in Vancouver in 2010 and in Sochi in 2014. Bronze went to Finland’s Krista Pärmäkoski. For Charlotte Kalla it was the third Olympic gold after her victories in Vancouver over 10 km and in Sochi with the Swedish relay. The best of a German trio that was only partially convincing was Victoria Carl (Zella-Mehlis) in 20th place. Katharina Hennig (Oberwiesenthal) was 22nd, Stefanie Böhler (Ibach) was in 25th place. Nicole Fessel (Oberstdorf), the best German distance runner, had had to pass immediately before the race due to breathing problems. "We can be happy with 20th and 22nd place. That's okay. They approached the race very aggressively. Maybe a little too aggressively," says Andreas Schlütter, sports director of the German cross-country skiers, on ZDF: "Steffi Böhler is definitely Not happy with 25th place, but it was the first race, there are still a few to come." Record world champion Björgen (18 titles), who gave birth to her son Marius in December 2015, won her eleventh medal at the start of her fifth Winter Games since 2002 - she never came away empty-handed at the Olympics. Only their compatriots Ole Einar Björndalen (biathlon/12) and Björn Dählie (cross-country skiing/11) have won more medals at the Winter Games. The 37-year-old Björgen missed out on becoming the oldest individual winner at the Winter Olympics. For now, this remains the German luger Sylke Otto, who was almost a year and a half younger in Turin in 2006.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Hockey

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Cross-country skier Kalla wins first gold at the Pyeongchang Winter Games

Suggestions

Comments (0)