Gold medalists Team ROC celebrate during the flower ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
CHONGLI, Zhangjiakou, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite being in contention with Germany for much of the race, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) won the women's cross-country skiing 4x5km relay after Veronika Stepanova made a storming run in the final at Beijing 2022 here on Saturday.
Clocking 53 minutes and 41 seconds, the ROC won its second gold medal in cross-country skiing at Beijing 2022, after Alexander Bolshunov won the men's skiathlon on February 6.
Germany got a silver 18.2 seconds behind, while Sweden beat Finland and Norway in the sprint finish to seize the bronze in 54:01.7.
At 21 years and 39 days, Stepanova becomes the second youngest medalist in the women's relay event, after Hilkka Riihivuori-Kuntola from Finland at 19 years and 49 days in 1972.
"It is a special day. It was really tough because we have a win in the World Cup, and a lot of people know we can win, so they say, 'You must win, you must win.' So I'm like, 'OK, we need a good result,' and I do what I can do," said Stepanova.
China achieved its best ever record in 10th place in 57:49.7. ■
Natalia Nepryaeva (L) and Yulia Stupak of ROC compete during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Gold medalists Team ROC celebrate after the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Athletes compete during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)
Athletes compete during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
Chi Chunxue (C) of China of ROC competes during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
Yulia Stupak (2nd L) of ROC competes during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)
Frida Karlsson (R) of Sweden competes during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Mu Yu)
Athletes of Team ROC pose for a group photo after the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Silver medalists Team Germany celebrate during the flower ceremony of the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
Athletes compete during the cross-country skiing women's 4x5 km relay of the Beijing Winter Olympics at National Cross-Country Skiing Centre in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 12, 2022. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)
